My date with Maxwell on Oct. 17

Yes, you read the title right. I had my own personal date with Maxwell. Yes, there were thousands of other women there and yes they were all screaming for his sexy, grown man self.

But that doesn’t matter.

As far as I was concerned, I was the only woman he was singing to Saturday night at the Sleep Train Pavilion in Concord, CA.

Am I a bit delusional to think that he was singing about me when he sang Stop the World?

Perhaps.

But I stand by my belief that he was singing only to me!

Seriously, having seen Maxwell several times before this, I must say this was his best show to date. When those screens opened up and he hit the first note, I knew this would be a night I wouldn’t soon forget.

And forget I haven’t.

There’s something that happens when Maxwell puts the mic up to his mouth and sings about doing a little Sumthin, Sumthin and Getting to Know Ya – everything around ceases to exist and you are transformed to another world.

The focus becomes on one man singing words you wish a “real” man would say.

There’s a line in Love You (the one song I wanted to hear, but he didn’t sing) when he says “Honey baby tell me I can be your man,” where I think, dang, it would be really sexy if a man really said that to me!

Back to the concert. Maxwell performed songs from all of his albums, but of course the focus was on his latest release Blacksummer’snight (where the aforementioned Love You comes from).

The show opened with Phoenix Rise (an instrumental tune on Blacksummer’snight) and moved on to Dancewitme (from his first album Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite).

But the song of the night (for me anyway) was Stop the World. My anticipation level was high because every single time I hear this song, I literally begin to imagine the world stopping while I’m with that special someone.

“Let the world rage outside/'cause when I’m here with you/the world stops for me/the world stops for me/and then extraordinary, ordinary things/things I can’t explain with subtext/the world stops for me”

See what I mean?

From the first note of Stop the World, my tunnel vision zeroed in on Maxwell and didn’t cease until the encore. That might have been because he followed Stop the World with . . . Til the Cops Come Knockin’ (another one of my favs). That has to be one of his sexiest songs ever!

I’m sure there were some babies made that night after people went home. Yes, a Maxwell concert is “that” kind of show.

Chrisette Michele and Common

Although the night most certainly belonged to Maxwell, I have to mention Chrisette Michele and Common’s performance.

I’m familiar with Chrisette’s first album; unfortunately she only sang songs from her new CD Epiphany. It turns out that was perfectly fine because I now want to buy the album.

Common is a sexy brotha and was an excellent addition to the tour. I’ve always enjoyed Common’s music because his style and flow are unique, and he isn’t one to do something because the next man is.

He had the crowd on its feet for most of his set, but especially when he took a trip down hip-hop memory lane – Tribe Called Quest’s Bonita Applebum, Wu Tang’s CREAM, Biz Markie’s Just a Friend, the Notorious B.I.G’s Juicy and Dr. Dre’s Nuthin’ but a “G” Thang (featuring Snoop) – all brought back memories of great hip-hop moments.

Along with rapping, Common is also a break dancer – that had to be one of the highlights of his show. If Common comes to town again, I will without doubt check him out.

It’s not too late: Maxwell’s tour ends Oct. 23 in Baltimore. Click here for more information.

Upcoming concerts alert:
En Vogue, Oct. 28-30, Yoshi’s Oakland. Tickets are $50.

Husband and wife Kenny Lattimore & Chante Moore, Nov. 13-15, Yoshi’s Oakland. Tickets are $40.

More Ledisi, less Musiq

I’ve had a busy, concert filled few days. Thursday, I checked out Musiq and Ledisi at the recently restored Warfield in San Francisco. Downstairs is standing room only with some tables, while upstairs is all seated.

There used to be a time when I didn’t mind standing for hours waiting for my favorite artist to perform. These days, if I have a choice between standing or sitting, I’m sitting!

Ledisi hit the stage with extremely high energy, wearing all black and some serious black stiletto boots. I don’t know how she jumped around on stage for almost an hour, but she rocked it. She even made reference to her attire – “I’ve been hanging with Prince! Can’t you tell, I’ve got on my boots!”

I must admit, I’m not a true Ledisi fan. I have a few of her albums on my iPod, and I tried to really get to know her music before the show, but I still wasn’t familiar with many of the songs she sang. It didn’t matter though because I was grooving the entire time she was on stage.

Ledisi gave a heartfelt performance, speaking to the audience about how she really thought about leaving the business, but she pushed on and is now a two-time Grammy-nominated artist. Her voice is funky and jazzy, and she definitely gives her all when she’s performing.

I wish I could say the same about Musiq. I’ve been a fan since Aijuswanaseing and have all his albums. I’ve seen him a few times before and didn’t leave disappointed.

Unfortunately, Musiq wasn’t quite right this time. I don’t know if it was because his band was too loud or if his voice was off. Whatever the case, I left feeling like Ledisi should have been the headliner.

After waiting 52 minutes for him to appear, Musiq began the show with his first single, Just Friends and from there launched into Half Crazy. When he got to For the Night – which is my jam – I felt like he was doing more dancing than singing. I also noticed you couldn’t really hear the backup singers that well.

At one point, he left the stage and came back apologizing for the “technically difficulties.” Whatever those “difficulties” were, they weren’t fixed because the band was still too loud.

Musiq started to lose me when he went into an extended version of Teach Me (off his latest Luvanmusiq). The song went from four minutes to 20 because he decided to take a break and change clothes. While we waited, one of his backup singers introduced the band.
Musiq returned in a new outfit and a piece of candy in his mouth.

He politely ate it (while checking his phone) and the band kept playing Teach Me. Oh, I forgot another reason the song was so long – he decided to have a man moment, explaining why men are the way they are. I didn’t have a problem with that, I just think he should have had this man moment and not changed clothes.

After singing a new version of Who Knows (stick with the old), he went into Don’t Change. That ended up being the best song of the night – and the last song I heard because my friend had to go to work.

I usually stay until the end, but this night, I didn’t feel bad leaving before hearing B.U.D.D.Y. I hope Musiq can overcome those technical difficulties and pull it together for his next show.

***Concert alerts!***

Chante Moore
I saw Ms. Moore when she did a guest appearance for Norman Brown during the JVC Jazz Festival. That woman has pipes, so I can only imagine how great she’s going to sound at Yoshi’s.

Mary J. Blige
I’ve already seen Mary earlier this year and I’m pleased she’s coming back because my seats we horrible for her previous show. If you’ve never seen her, she’s worth every penny. The last two times I saw her, my behind never saw the seat and the last time I felt like I was going to pass out because I was singing and dancing so hard!

Maxwell
He’s back! Well, can you really be back if you haven’t released an album in seven years and still don’t have one out? Nevertheless, he’s touring and I bought my tickets before they went on sale. I just hope he releases a single before he comes to Oakland Oct. 28 and 29.

Kenny Lattimore @ Yoshi's July 3

I began my Fourth of July weekend with one of the most underrated vocalist of my time -- Kenny Lattimore. I purchased tickets to the first of his eight shows at Yoshi's in Jack London Square, Oakland (there's a newly-opened version in San Francisco), and spent the entire week excited about spending an evening with a man whose voice I enjoy listening to.

I love Yoshi's. The venue is intimate and there's not a bad seat in the house. The sound is always perfect and everyone I've seen perform there has always been on point.

I also love Kenny, and this is the first time I've ever seen him live, so the fact that I was blessed with the opportunity to see him at Yoshi's was exhilarating.

From the first note, Kenny had me hooked. "Come to me/Come closer/I'm feeling your love/All over," he sang -- and I sang right along with him (not as loud as I usually do when I go to a live show because, as I stated before, Yoshi's is intimate and I didn't want the couple sitting next to me to say, 'Hey, we came to hear Kenny sing, not you.'

From Come To Me (off his third album Weekend) he moved onto Days Like This (on From The Soul of Man). The transition was seamless and the audience was into him from beginning to end.
Other songs he delved into included Climb the Mountain, Never Too Busy, I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know (which sent chills all up and down my spine!) and Beautiful Girl (from the The Best Man soundtrack).

Kenny has a voice that pulls you in and doesn't let go. When he sang "If I ever leave you baby/You can say I told you so/And if I ever hurt/You know I'd hurt myself as well" it felt like he was singing from a personal experience that has stayed with him despite being married for more than seven years.

Nothing is better than seeing an artist sing with so much raw emotion that you feel it in your soul.

Kenny took probably his most well-known song, For You, and sung a different version, which had a more gospel-feel to it. He then launched into the version we all know and love. The show's closer, Weekend, was just what the audience needed to get amped for the drive home.

At the show's end, Yoshi's announced that the first 50 patrons who wanted to stay for the 10 o'clock show would be admitted. Seeing as though my girl and I didn't have to work the next day, we jumped at the opportunity. And I'm so glad we did!

The 10 o'clock show was much better than the 8 o'clock (and lasted a lot longer), and even Kenny alluded to this when he said he rushed through the first show because he was so focused on time. During the short break in between shows, it appeared him and his band (who sounded phenomenal and was easy on a sista's eyes) regrouped and were better prepared this time around.

At the end of his set, Kenny obliged the audience by taking requests (thanks to the sistagirl who asked for my all-time favorite Can't Get Enough from the Love Jones soundtrack). Other requests were Forgiveness, Make Believe and an a cappella version of Well Done. If you haven't heard this song (it's on From the Soul of Man), look it up on iTunes and just imagine what it sounds like sans music.

I won't speak on the woman who sung a duet with him (I think she forgot she was singing with a married man).

In addition to sounding better than his CDs, Kenny is sexy as hell! Yes, that is Chante's (Moore) man, but good lawd he looks delicious in person! He had an engaging personality and the crowd was really into what he had to say.

If Kenny comes to your area, definitely check him out. The money you spend is worth every last cent.

During the show, Kenny said his new album is called Timeless, and should be out soon. (There's are still tickets available for his Yoshi's performance on July 6.)

Because he's married to a fellow singer, he said the couple spent the last few years focusing on Chante's album. Being the loving and supportive husband he is, he plugged her album -- Love the Woman.