First off, the atmosphere at this gig was immense. Everyone was up for a good time yet it was fantastically relaxed also. When D’Angelo [9/10] made his appearance without a support act, you could tell he loved being there and just wanted to perform and show off what he had been working on for some time now. At the beginning of the show, the star had quite a few outfit changes however still maintained an effortlessly cool composition which radiated throughout the audience.
The Second Coming tour started off with songs from the most recent album Black Messiah, including ‘Prayer’, ‘1000 Deaths’ and ‘Ain’t That Easy’. These tracks along with most others, emanated a truly smooth yet Rocky element whilst sticking to their Soul and Funk roots. An excellent introduction to his show which instantly captivated everyone in the venue.
Alongside this, D’Angelo’s band were completely on point. D’Angelo himself plays the guitar incredibly well, with a specific tone which is like no other. The band at this gig though, with Jesse Johnson from The Time predominantly playing guitar and Pino Palladino on bass, was electric. Every single note was spot on particularly in the two encores they supported. The band was so in time with each other and D’Angelo, particularly when they played twenty-five Rocky beats after the second encore without warning. Plus the atmosphere in these breaks was incredible, with the audience stamping their feet so much the floor was vibrating.
As well as playing songs from his 2014 album, D’Angelo also played some of the classics from what is in my opinion his best album – 1995 Brown Sugar. Getting the crowd involved from the balcony to the sides, the title track ‘Brown Sugar’ got everyone feeling the extremely Jazzy beats. With the backing singer and dancer flowing with her 70’s Funk vibe in her kimono, I felt as though I was stepping back in time. In the company of D’Angelo’s voice which is so sensual, this was definitely a hit with all the couples in the audience.
In my opinion the lighting of the show did exactly what it needed to, it was noticeable but simple and not overpowering yet helped get the party started along with so many encores which felt like the whole audience was being teased by the soulful and smooth D’Angelo.
Everyone was able to have a good boogie, as well as getting down and Funky. Towards the end of the show, he finished with the incredibly soulful vocals of ‘Untitled/How Does It Feel’ from his 2000 Voodoo album. Whilst the rest of the band moved off stage, we were able to have what felt like a one on one show with D’Angelo, with him playing the keys plus guitar, all himself. This really showed off his talent, and according to sources he did this whilst producing his last album – playing all the instruments himself.
Overall, I would definitely want to see D’Angelo again, being a massive fan of him myself. However, even if you had never heard of him before, the talent he releases is one not to be missed, especially for the lovers of old school Funk, Soul, Jazz and Rock.
