Live
Charles Bradley: XOYO, London 14/11/11
Walking down the stairs to the basement of the club you could sense the atmosphere, which was electric tonight, as one of the last true soul men standing was in town - the young funk & soul crowd, the type that pack a Craig Charles deejaying set, had turned out in their droves.
I managed to catch the last few songs of Record Kicks act Hannah Williams & The Tastemakers and she was doing her warm-up slot to the letter. "Liberties" is gorgeous slice of soul, complete with horn section, backing singers and a string quartet!! This gritty ballad really highlights the angst and vitality this girl can muster and the immortal line "You Only Want Me When I'm On My Back!" raises a few squeals of delight from her fans. Closing number "Don't Tell Me" is a JB inspired belter and by this determined performance the band will have no doubt converted a few more to their cause. A spirited set from this young and exciting band.
A barrage of cool 45's was next, courtesy of promoter and DJ Adrian Gibson & cohort, who kept us in the mood and with a taste for more. The place was heaving. Charles had only ever done two shows in the UK but his reputation was growing fast from the excellent response to his latest album "No Time For Dreaming".
Backing band The Extraordinaires (or was it the Menahan Street Band?) came on first and warmed up with some muscular funk & soul workouts. When Charles did come on he got a rapturous welcome by ladies and gentlemen, it was definitely showtime! People gawped with mouths open as Bradley did his thing, which comprises of some neat disco moves and some microphone gymnastics, straight out of the godfather's stage act. That blood curdling holler coupled with a unique and husky voice that shone on "I Believe In Your Love" with it's uplifting chorus made us all believe the sentiment. The tough, sinuous rhythms and the precise interplay between the players is nothing short of a wonder to behold, led by guitarist Thomas Brennock whose in the Dap-Kings squad, but now running musical operations for Charles. His solid no waffle guitar style is reminiscent of Steve Cropper and this, along with the horns and excellent drumming, makes the band thoroughly convincing NYC boys playing like they come from the deep south!
Charles is about the nearest you'll ever get to that old skool song & dance man. The young crowd feel the spirit of JB coming from him, pretty much like kids back in the 60's who witnessed Hendrix for the first time… Plenty of 6/8 tunes to really allow Bradley to exercise his impressive lungs - "Loving You Baby" conjures up the emotional intensity Otis Redding was capable of. Also what you quickly realise is these songs sound as good as the golden classics of soul we all know and love, they're that good, believe me!
Album title track "No Time For Dreaming" is equally impassioned too with it's cutting hooks piercing like a thin blade. "How Long" is Bradley in full 'angst mode,' the screaming eagle of soul had landed on this blinding piece of social commentary, again in the popular 6/8 time signature with some beautiful mournful trumpet wailing out. If this music doesn't hit you in the gut and make you move then something's wrong with it, and you! Charles Bradley at 62 shows no signs of running out of gas and you don't have to have JB scholarship to appreciate this extraordinarily special guy. The new Godfather is here!
PHOTOS: LINDA CHARLES
Words Emrys Baird
