Brown can still tear up the air with his funky tunes
I have to admit I was skeptical.
Seventy-year-old James Brown played the historic Hollywood Bowl last night and I wondered how is he going to entertain 18,000 people? He did more than that, he got thousands on their feet.
At 9:15 p.m., the Godfather of Soul marched onstage in a shimmering black suit, silver sequins crammed onto his lapels and his trouser seams, with huge rings on his fingers. He looked slim and when he sashayed and undulated, doing his trademark fast footwork, the audience went nuts.
For the first 45 minutes, he performed songs from the 1950s, tunes which were nostalgic and sweet and beautiful. Backed by the big band, Soul Generals, Brown sang, shouted, and prowled the stage. He needed to catch his breath several times but what septuagenarian wouldn't?
At one point Brown was joined by the legendary 82-year-old jazz drummer, Louis Bellson, who was helped on stage but effortlessly pounded the drum kit. Yeah, he's really 82.
The greats have died, Brown said. Sammy Davis Jr. is gone, Dorothy Dandridge is gone, all his heroes are gone. "I hope I'm your hero.
"America has moved on. Music has moved on," he said matter-of-factly.
"Thank God I'm here, Thank God the Hollywood Bowl is here." He bowed. "Thank you for a beautiful life."
After a 50-year career, Brown showed that he hasn't lost the ability to tear up the air. He screamed that waaooooo, a sound that would leave lesser mortals hoarse. He was hip and the music was funky.
"I'm not drinking, I'm not smoking, but I can make love tonight" he told the audience and the audience roared its approval.
For the second set, Brown emerged in an inky blue, sparkling suit and sang in a raspy voice, This is a Man's Man's Man's World, followed by I Got You [I Feel Good] and closed with Get Up [I Feel Like Being A] Sex Machine. The latter was a rocking 25-minute version in which Brown was joined by Go Go dancers.
Everyone was on their feet.
A couple next to us was well on their way to making a child. There were people smoking up a few rows behind us, and the L.A. night was warm but not too much. James Brown was amazing.
And I left my skepticism on the wooden benches of the Hollywood Bowl.
