Category Archives: Funk

Bergenfest, Concert Review, Funk, Gospel, Soul

Bergenfest – Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings concert

Friday – june 22, 21:10  – Bastionen

The Dap-Kings, who function as Sharon Jones’ backing band and her label Daptones Records’ house band, took the stage at Bergenfest, Norway Friday 22 June  and immediately started laying the rhythm track for what was to become  a  performance that will be remembered a long time. Her guitar player announced that we were about to witness the “Dap Tones Super Soul Revue” and it was on! Sharon came dancing out from backstage like a rocket in a yellow dress.

Their songs are meant for live shows, they’re just much more vibrant in a concert setting. The James Brown influence is very promminent but her cover of a Gladys Knight song made it very evident that there were other artists that had influenced her just as much. Lovely.

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings are true originals, but they perform in a genre that lends itself to tradition. Her primal energy, combined with incredible voice, great dancing and charisma also reminds us of  Tina Turner in her heyday.

This was the second great soul concert this day,  the firs beeing the fantastic Charles Bradley concert. It must be a challenge to go on stage after Mr. Bradley, but Sharon Jones and The dap-Kings gave us a fantastic performance.

Best Songs: New Shoes, 100 Days, 100 Nights , He Said I Can

Overall rating: 5/6

-Egil & Hallgeir

Concert films, Funk, Soul, Video

Soulful performances from Bonnaroo 2012

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

Today we have picked three performances from this year’s Bonnaroo festival. Three bands that are som funky, so tight, so good that it’s hard to describe it. So just enjoy these videos, they do the artists more justice.

First out is the great Sharon Jones with the fantastic Dap-Kings. They feel retro but really fresh at the same time. I had the pleasure of seeing them in Oslo last year and in a few weeks I’ll see them again, this time at Bergenfest.

He Said (funky as hell!):

Alabama Shakes:


Next band out is the “up and coming” Alabama Shakes. Just as much a rock band as a soul outfit, but this song is soul as good as any!
Last year at this time the Alabama Shakes were only dreaming of playing a packed Bonnaroo tent. The reality at Bonnaroo 2012 was that they rocked the festival just right!

Be Mine:

Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires:

Last but not least we present Charles Bradley and his Extraordinaires. Gonna see them three times the next few months, it’s going to be fantastic.

This band doesn’t care if they’re playing for 5,000 people or just five, Charles Bradley and his companions are in it to perform and completely brings the house down!

Heartaches and Pain:

– Hallgeir

Funk, Music Calendar, Video

Today: Stevie Wonder is 62

Stevland Hardaway Morris (born May 13, 1950 as Stevland Hardaway Judkins), known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist. Blind since shortly after birth, Wonder signed with Motown’s Tamla label at the age of eleven, and continues to perform and record for Motown to this day.

Superstition:

Among Wonder’s best known works are singles such as “Superstition”, “Sir Duke”, “I Wish” and “I Just Called to Say I Love You”. Well known albums also include Talking Book, Innervisions and Songs in the Key of Life. He has recorded more than thirty U.S. top ten hits and received twenty-two Grammy Awards, the most ever awarded to a male solo artist.  In 2008, Billboard magazine released a list of the Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists to celebrate the US singles chart’s fiftieth anniversary, with Wonder at number five. (from Wikipedia)

Living for the city:

Other 13 May:
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