Mavis Staples In Concert At Massey Hall
Mavis The Queen Of Gospel Soul Concert Was A Musical Journey Of Joy
Mar 22, 2009
Mavis Staples kick started her musical journey with a classic from the golden era of protest. The 70’s, For What It’s Worth, written Steven Stills of the group Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, The opening lines still powerful in their prophecy:
There is something happening here.
What it is ain’t exactly clear.
It conjures up the turmoil and images of those times
It was a fitting beginning to a concert by a woman who not only saw it all, but was one of the great voices heard through it all.
Her Songs And Stories Of Freedom Marches.
The audience at Massey lapped it up, after all many of them had grown up with the Staples Singers who were regulars on many of the pop charts, back in the day. Many of the new generations that came with parents and friends got a taste or what it takes to be a real commanding singer.
Mavis sang her songs of protest serenading the audience sometimes without the help of the mike, her strong voice punching through the music the band was laying down to reach up to the rafters of the hall.
She had some stories, telling us of the time her dad Pops Staples invited the family to go to hear Dr Martin Luther King preach and after the service and a short talk with the good Doctor, how he told them; “I like Dr King’s message and if he can preach it we can sing it”
This led to the many songs of freedom and protest that he wrote for and with his family, including walking down Freedom Road and Dr King’s favourite Why Am I Treated So Bad.
She sang it too, she sang most of them, songs they sang besides Dr Martin Luther King and on those long marches for civil rights, while they kept their eyes on the prize.
Remembering The Staple Singers
The Trio that backed her up led by the amazing Rick Holstrom on guitar, easily following Mavis down any road she wanted, be it gospel, blues, soul or rock. Being the gracious leader she was she took a backseat and let the band display their great chops, before coming back it to take us as she puts it, back in time.
She sang the songs from the Staples hits era, songs like Respect Yourself and I’ll Take You There.” Then invited the audience to take her there, by singing along.
She received a well deserved standing ovation and returned for an encore which included a powerful rendition of We Shall not Be moved, made even more poignant as she recalled the days of sitting in restaurants in the South and being told we don’t serve your kind here, she told us that when the police came to move them, how the marchers would lock arms and sing We Shall Not We Shall Not Be Moved.
The audience was on its feet before she ended the song, they wanted her to come back, she promised to do that at a later date.
James Hunter UK Soul At It’s Finest
James Hunter opened the evening setting things up for Miss Staples and what a great job he did. The man knows his Rhythms & Blues
He brought his UK soul, singing songs from his latest studio offering The Hard Way and found time to pay tribute to some of the greats who began the business including a little known gospel group called the Royals and the late great Bo Diddley.
Not only is James a fine singer displaying at various times the lessons he might have gleaned from all those Jackie Wilson and Otis Spann records he surely listened too while growing up, but the man can also play guitar and he knows how to put on a show.
It was a pity there was no dance spaces at the hall, because a lot of people wanted to dance. In short, this was another amazing show from a hall that has produced so many incredible shows.
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