If you haven’t seen Sharon Jones live, you should. Not only are you missing out on her powerful soul shout vocals and the Dap-Kings‘ ultra tight funk, but Jones is a fantastic performer. Even with seven other musicians on stage, Jones dominates the spotlight. She struts and shimmies across the stage – dress tassels flying – with almost manic energy. It’s almost as if James Brown had been reincarnated as a middle-aged woman. 
It’s hard to believe she’s not 25 and this is actually her second, third or fourth career. But as much kinetic energy as she has, it is her presence and charisma that captivates the audience. She banters back and forth, stops, poses, and then whirls around with more high-spirited attitude. This level of playful sass just isn’t adequately captured on her albums. While her albums are good, they sometimes seem a bit too retro, too polished, and trying too hard for a certain sound. However, with the horns blasting and the bass thumping along, it doesn’t feel dated at all.
Ms. Jones obviously feeds off of and reacts to the crowd, singing and preaching to them. If they don’t give her what she wants, she lets them know. With a packed house and a sold-out show, the Crystal Ballroom’s bouncy dance floor was shaking and it didn’t take long before she was pulling the young and enthusiastic crowd on stage with her. Sometimes it worked, with the fans being the perfect foil for her attention. Other instances just made it clear that Ms. Jones had better moves and could shake her ass faster then any of the pretty young things that tried.
As someone who grew up listening to 60’s southern soul decades after Stax Records had declared bankruptcy and its biggest stars died, broke up, or faded to relative obscurity, it’s a pleasure to see live funk and soul all gritty and sweaty. Sure, some of those artists made comeback albums, but it’s not the same as catching someone at the peak of their popularity, when they’re playing hits just released last year, and when the crowd is made up of fans but also people just out to have a good time.
Go for the music or go for the show, it’s worth the cover either way.
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings: website | myspace | @ virgin mobile 2008 | @ monolith 2008
Photos: Virgin Mobile Festival 2008
