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Concert review: Mavis Staples
Photos by Anne Tangeman/Special to The Star
Gospel and soul legend Mavis Staples mesmerized an
enthusiastic crowd of 450 Thursday night at the Folly
Theatre.
Staples, who achieved acclaim in the 60s and 70s
with her familys group, the Staple Singers, and in later
decades with her solo albums, worked the crowd like a
revival-meeting preacher, never letting the audience
forget her spiritual roots.
After more than 50 years of singing live, Staples easily
proved she still possesses one of the most unique,
soulful voices in music today, transcending genres and
inspiring saints and sinners alike.
Following a 30 minute informational talk by Bill
Shapiro, host of KCUR "Cyprus Avenue," Staples took
the stage with her three piece band and three backup
singers, including sister Yvonne.
Staples started her "service" with the eerie and moving
"Down in Mississippi" and then "Eyes on the Prize,"
both from her recently released album, Well Never
Turn Back, a thought-provoking collection of Civil
Rights era songs and spirituals produced by Ry
Cooder.
The audience was still as she broke into one of the
albums best offerings, "Jesus is on the Mainline". Her
lips quivered for a moment, seemingly attempting to
contain her feelings before letting out her trademark throaty bass. Clearly moved herself by the inspirational song,
her eyes welled up before she removed the mic from the stand and started talking to the audience. "You dont need
no cell phone" to contact Jesus, she said.
With a shout, she encouraged everyone to "Call him up yall!" as the song reached its crescendo. Several members
of the audience stood up or offered a witnessing shout of "Amen" in approval.
Staples then topped herself with a breathtaking version of the Bands "The Weight," which also featured her sole
male back up singer. Staples and the singers then took a quick break while the backing band kept things rolling.
While they were extraordinary musicians, particularly guitarist Rick Holmstrom, who did an admirable job of filling
Roebuck "Pops" Staples musical shoes, the audience was clearly ready for more Mavis.
She quickly returned for a run of 70s Staple Singers, genre-crossing hits that originally brought the band to pop and
soul fans, including "Freedom Highway" and "Respect Yourself". By the time she launched into "Ill Take You There,"
half the audience was on its feet clapping and moving to the music and in one explosive moment, during the last
verse, the remainder of the house stood up and joined in.
Her encore began with "On My Way" from the new
album. Towards the end of the song, she stepped away
from the mic, still singing very audibly, showing her
legendary vocal power. Staples closed the show with a
stirring rendition of "Will the Circle Be Unbroken", with
the audience, still on their feet, singing along. A few
fans rushed the stage, and Staples greeted them, still
singing, touching every hand she could reach.
| Anne Tangeman, Special to The Star
Setlist: Down in Mississippi, Eyes on the Prize, For
What Its Worth, Little Light, Jesus is on the Mainline,
The Weight, Why (Am I Treated So Bad?), Freedom
Highway, Respect Yourself, Ill Take You There, On My
Way, Will the Circle Be Unbroken?