James Brown @ House Of Blues (1/12/2006)

"This is the man who took the wet out of sweat," preached Danny Ray, MC of the night, to a packed House of Blues audience. All eyes focused on the man in question; the man spinning and sliding with the dance moves of a 20-year-old. The man was James Brown.

The Godfather of Soul (now 72 years old) strutted his way across the cluttered stage towards his microphone and pulled off his classic dip with the stand, topped with a partial split. What could have been more amazing to the audience? Watching Brown get behind a Korg keyboard to join in with his band? Or the fact that at his age he's doing splits? Whatever the case may be, James Brown certainly hasn't lost his touch as one of the most pioneering entertainers of the past 40 years. "A man's gotta do his best when he comes to Chicago," said Brown as he flashed his classic smile. That same smile has logged many, many miles. From commercial highs to legal lows, James Brown has somehow managed to remain James Brown. His music continues to be celebrated by all genres of music and his reputation as "The Hardest Working Man In Show Biz" still carries meaning to his fans.

With Brown and his backing band decked out in suits style points
had to be awarded. The team of four female vocalists (one solo) and two female dancers provided reason enough why Brown was a happy 72-year-old on stage. It was Las Vegas and the Big Band all wrapped up into one. Brown served as conductor for most of the night, piloting his band through some funk and soul. The audience--ranging from early 20's to 50's--hung on every note. They came for the hits and that's what Brown gave them; "Living In America" and "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag, Pt.1" shook up the House of Blues.

Tipping his hat to another legend of R&B and soul, Brown paid tribute to Ray Charles by going a cappella with Charles' 1955 hit single "I Got A Woman" before having the band join him on a swaying version of "Night Time Is The Right Time".

It's difficult to demand Brown to be the artist he once was in his youth. It probably wasn't important to the audience that Brown often left it to his band and female dancers take on much of the show's load. At times, the music became background to the flash, but Brown seemed to know just when to grab the microphone. The sexuality of his music hasn't faltered or aged. Brown engaged in a steamy call-and-response with his female singers during "It's A Man's Man's Man's World". It was almost voyeuristic as the audience watched Brown slip off each singers' little black dress with his words.

By the end of the night, Brown gave nearly 2 hours of showmanship. "I Got You (I Feel Good)" sent the audience home with what they came for in the first place--a good time. In recent times, the likes of Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, and even Neil Diamond have undergone artistic rebirths in the mainstream. Both bio-films for Cash and Charles re-introduced the artists to a music world more interested in packaged TV artists. James Brown may never become the latest fad again or capture the attention of this generation's of teenagers. For right now, there is only one James Brown, and for a Thursday night in Chicago, James Brown showed up to entertain.