So much for autumn, it was a positively balmy summer’s night that greeted those who made it to Charles Bradley’s second Melbourne headline show at The Corner Hotel. If James Brown is the godfather of soul, Charles Bradley is its first cousin. Multiple costume changes and a super tight backing band that features members of Dap Kings, Menahan St. Band and Budos Band were just two of the key factors that made this such an entertaining evening.
Opening act WILSN, or Shannon Bush when she gets a parking fine, was the only support. The VCA graduate has a strong and classically trained voice and her 30-minute set – accompanied only by a guitarist – nicely killed a bit of time before the big show.
The curtains drew back to reveal Bradley’s backing band that consisted of, from right to left, two guitarists, bass, drums, organ, saxophone and trumpet. The six musicians jammed out for a good three minutes until a crescendo that heralded main man Charles Bradley taking the stage. He was dressed in a shiny red suit – something Elvis would have worn in his Vegas days – that had a gold sphinx on the back. The biggest cheer for Bradley from the sold-out Corner Hotel audience came when he dropped into the splits, folding forward with the mic stand – the athleticism of the 67-year-old was something to admire. His 2007 single The World (Is Going Up In Flames) was an early highlight and only 30 minutes into the set, Bradley left the stage for a good three minutes with his backing band locking into a driving surf rock rhythm.
Bradley returned to stage having changed costume into a much lighter black pant-suit, which heralded a tempo change as Bradley moved into the down-tempo dulcet grooves of Lovin You, Baby from 2011’s No Time For Dreaming. The respect and adulation tangible in every applause was not lost on Bradley, who seemed very genuine in his gratitude for it. The sheer number of people in the room made it hard to truly groove out but most people danced a little. Tonight’s performance was deeply enjoyable, with all in attendance knowing the man on stage possesses a talent and soul that does not come along very often.
BY DENVER MAXX
Loved: The musicality of the night.
Hated: The cocksucker that refused to move when I returned to my spot after going to the toilet.
Drank: Dry ginger.
