I saw Blood Orange and Grace Jones at The Greek Theater Saturday night. Blood Orange sounded even better live than he does on his records. Every member of his band was stellar: the sax wasn't schmaltzy, the rhythm section was tight, and his two backup vocalists complemented his vocals perfectly. He switched between keyboards and guitar, and he owned the stage. He was opening for an icon, but he performed like a headliner. Chamakay sounded especially amazing. When I see a song I love, and the live rendition makes me love it even more... that's proof that I've seen a great show.
Grace Jones' music was funky and fun, but she's so much more than just music. Like Bowie, Bjork, and Kate Bush, she transcends looks. She's a living canvas, and she's constantly transforming. When she smashed cymbals together during a song, she hadn't brought them out there just to play them. She fanned them out from each side of her face, completing a visual persona that looked like a mix between a peacock and a dilophosaurus. She also had as much fun with the audience as maybe any performer I've seen. Great show!
Blood Orange: Chamakay
