Recap: John Legend | Orpheum Theater

I hadn't planned on going to the John Legend concert since I'd seen him before, but when my obsessed fan and Fab! Friend Michelle told us there was a way for us to see the show and meet John Legend and support a great cause I was all for it! Shout outs to Road Manager Savannah!

After passing out flyers for his Show Me Campaign we headed to our seats to first hear opening act Vaughn Anthony who is actually John's younger brother recently signed with his label Home School along with new artist Estelle. The main challenge of getting Vaughn's career to take off is that he sounds so much like John...duh their brothers. But I've met the guy on another occasion and they seem to be complete opposites. I think there's room for both of 'em in this industry. He also sings back up. Total crush on the man...if you couldn't tell, but unlike his brother he is most certainly TAKEN.

His songs are available on I-Tunes and he performed my favorite "Wish you were here" and tore it up! I heart you Vaughn! ;)

"How I wish you were here...."um I'm here...row 15...

After his set came Rafael Saadiq...I kinda forgot who he was...yeah I know I am so wack! But when he came on with his rockabilly self, his back up dancers in suits and so animated I was like ooookay. I can get into this. Then when he took his shirt off and tucked it in...I dunno that hit me for some reason. Maybe it was the tattoos and the glasses...whatever, but the song that is still on my mind is "Love That Girl." Perfect warm up for the man of the hour.

Rafael Saadiq stylin'

Rafael Saadiq takin' it off!!!

John did an uncanny entrance by coming in through the crowd at the base of the auditorium and was walked onto the stage in leather jacket and shades. He had this whole confident almost stand-offish kind of vibe, much more so than previous concerts I had attended where his raw musical talent shined through. Here were flashing lights stages, costume changes, and different placements. It wasn't bad, just another evolution of his music.

Right after John hit the stage

He kept us hype throughout the evening first hitting us with classics of "She don't have to know" and mixing it up with "I can change" then a little bit of "Stereo"...for a minute there we were in hyper drive. I couldn't catch my seat even if I wanted to!

John lets Vaughn take the spotlight for a moment
.
Getting intimate on "Everybody Knows..." I got this one on repeat in my Nano.

Final number "If You're Out There"

After the amazing show we were invited back for a meet and greet. It really was us getting in a line and getting to take either a picture or an autograph. Very regimented, very quick. Completely opposite from the Common listening party. They wanted us out with a quickness and you could tell he was absolutely exhausted. But at least I got to say hey. Although my "heart" still belongs to Vaughn ;)

BostonFab! and John Legend

Shout outs to those who had better seats than me...YBWS, Alicia and 9 Alarms, Salih - sorry the seats were so tight for ya man. :) See you at Dwele? (Jan. 23)

Stay Fab! :)

12.02 John Legend | Orpheum Theater

John Legend performs with Raphael Saadiq at the Orpheum Theater (1 Hamilton Pl, Park Street)

Tickets are $46 - $60.50

To purchase click here!!

10.1 Common | N.E.R.D.| Orpheum Theater

Okay so...I've been holdin' out a lil' on this one just because I didn't want to share him with anymore people than necessary, but under diress I feel compelled to let you know that mybabydaddy COMMON will be in town October 1 along with N.E.R.D. at the Orpheum Theater (1 Hamilton PL, Park Street)

Photo: Don't worry baby...I won't let THEM come between us (lol)...

Tickets are only $35 - $39.50

And are on sale NOW!!

For tickets click here!!

See why I was holdin' out!

Still luv you tho! :)

5.16 Wanda Sikes | Orpheum Theater

This Friday, Wanda Sikes, known for her roles on HBO's "Curb your Enthusiasm" and working with Chris Rock on Pootie Tang, will be performing at the Orpheum Theater (1 Hamilton Place, Downtown Crossing).

(photo credit: eventimagecenter.com)

Tickets range from $37.50 - 45.00

For tickets click here!!!

Recap: Erykah Badu and The Roots | Orpheum Theater

Last night was my first Roots and Erykah Badu concert and I was in for a much needed soul, hip hop, funk revival. I had never been to the Orpheum Theater (115 Hamilton Place, Downtown Crossing), which is just off of Tremont street, but it proved to be a great venue for this type of show. The old theater w/ hip hop played to the idea of yin and yang…opposites truly attracted as the blended crowd of patrons were buzzing with the vibe of ‘anticipation’ that something special was about to take place.

(Ummm yeah so I was kinda far from the stage )

The Roots started performing promptly at 7:30 and refused to allow us to stay in our seats with the rendition of “You got me” guitarist Capt. Kirk took it to another level with playing rifts that scaled the walls. They had one serious jam session that went on for quite some time, but no one minded. After only 5 or 6 songs they finished off their set and left the stage. I thought they would do at least a few more songs, but they were probably getting ready for the afterpaty.

After a 40 minute wait with no other acts, or even a DJ on stage, we waited for Erykah to grace us with her prescence. When she finally showed she did so in true dramatic fashion with a beehive wig and black layered mini dress. Very fab.

It is rumored that the beats of her latest album were created completely off of her apple lap top, courtesy of lessons from her young son, so she had the lap top on the stage so just before each song she would press “enter” to drop the beat and then the rest of the band came in. There was other odd behavior; her fascination with beating a drum and touching synthesizer keys for no apparent reason. She seems to be in love with sound at this phase life, but hey...that's why we love her. Strange as she may be at times, but few great artists are every really normal.

To my delight she mixed old favorites like “Mamma’s Gun” with new joints like "Amerykahn Promise", "Soldier" and my new favorite "Master Teacher", even though I had to text somebody for the lyrics that she kept reapeating - for anyone else who goes to her concert and get’s confused it’s “I stay woke” not broke, doke or folk…I really should have listened to the new album before the concert...my bad :)

(Erykah...so beautiful)

She continued to make it a show, with antics like taking off her wig (girl I woulda to, it was hot in the audience, I'm sure it was burning up on the stage!!!) and she demonstrated the complexity of a dysfunctional relationship red ball as she performed "My Eyes are Green". I gotta say though...I was really feeling like she was me and a certain someone (maybe a few certain someones....) were that ball...I know I was not alone in my sentiments.

The entire night I was so proud of Boston, the show was basically sold out with one a few staggering seats here and there, and they stayed on their feet for the entire night despite the rise in the temperature due to the constant body movement.

Was it a perfect performance? Hardly, some songs could have been shorter, she did drop the microphone a few times and things were at times off beat, but overall this experience, though shared by many, was made intimate through her sounds, her words and her lyrics and even though you may not have understood it all you still felt the love, you still felt..."Hip hop…is bigger than religion…hip hop...this on is fa Dilla…"

So fab!

5.8 Erykah Badu and The Roots

(Photo credit: www.Amazon.com)

Next Thursday Erykah Badu is kicking off her New Amerykah (Vol. 1) tour with special guest The Roots at the Orpheum Theater (1 Hamilton, Pl, Theater District). Tickets are $45 - 55 dollars, which is a bargain for these big acts!!

To get tickets click here!!

Jill Scott | Orpheum Theater March. 9

I hope you've already signed up for the Baileys sponsored Jill Scott after-party, because word on the street is that tickets are SOLD OUT! ( I told you to get 'em while they were hot!)

If you can't see Jill for free - don't fret - you can still catch her live in concert at the Orpheum Theater ( 1 Hamilton Place, Theater District) Sunday, March 9. The show starts at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets range from $40 - $60

Click here for tickets