San Francisco Can Not Take Its Eyes Off Sharon Jones & The Dap-kings

Sharon Jones and I have a history

Sharon Jones and I have a history. My first Venus Zine assignment was a review of the sassy diva and the Dap-Kings on her 100 Days, 100 Nights (Daptone) tour almost three years ago. Marred with technical issues and "not enough reverb," the show had some rough edges. This time, however, while holding steady at #15 on the Billboard Charts with the new LP I Learned The Hard Way, the soul singer held it down and heated it up all night at a sold-out show at San Franciscos Warfield Theatre. Joining her onstage was an extended line-up of nine Dap Kings, two back-up singers, and a guest string quartet.

Guitarist Binky Griptite was once again master of ceremonies, who riled up the crowd and led the Dap-Kings warm-up before Jones took the stage. Outfitted in a fitted turquoise dress decorated with fringe and sequins and topped off with attitude Jones opened up the show with hits "If You Call" and "Without a Heart." Later, sexy renditions of "Let Them Knock" and "She Aint a Child No More" were crowd favorites in a set that lasted well over two hours.

Audience participation was in top form this evening, as usual at a show by Jones and the Dap-Kings. The first stage guest for the evening was a guy wearing a bandana who bumped and ground against Ms. J while she sang the lyrics "I just want to know your mine" to him. His soulful dancing got the best of Jones at times, causing her to crack up and look at the audience with a jibbing humor.

The singer then selected twelve ladies from the audience to dance and sing along to "Tell Me," and when some of the women started to wander around the stage to check out the band, Jones was quick to put them back in line and set them straight. "This is my stage, ladies, remember that," she said, a proclamation that inspired hooting, hollering, and laughter from the excited audience. A few impromptu audience guests made their way on stage by their own inclination and were welcomed by Jones each time.

If I learned anything about Sharon Jones this time around, it was that everything I already knew before was just as true: this woman was meant to be a performer. With an amazingly powerful, rich voice and a stage presence that is nothing if not incendiary, Jones has found her calling. For their part, the Dap-Kings are a great, steady presence to the lively stage affair that Jones creates, and their musical talent is exactly what Jones needs to make her shine. Like all good musical love affairs, its safe to say that even after all this time, we could not take our eyes off of Jones.

Venus Zine is the leading source for coverage of women in music, art, film, fashion, and DIY culture. Venuszine.com is the daily updated companion to the quarterly, internationally circulated magazine. Venus Zine and venuszine.com feature interviews with legendary artists (Yoko Ono, Patti Smith, and Kim Deal) in addition to edgy and up-and-coming musicians, designers, writers, actresses, and DIY entrepreneurs.

by: VenusZine

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