Report: Charles Bradley live at The Corner Hotel 31st March 2015
A show by Charles Bradley, the ‘Screaming Eagle of Soul’ is special. Not just because of the wonderful music and the highly charged energy he exudes, but because of the sorrow and joy of his life story which he imparts through his songs and in the chatter between his songs. His tale of becoming a star after a life on the streets at the ripe old age of 62 is no secret, and these tales of struggle and woe grip and captivate the audience.
The expressions on his face tells a thousand words and his words offer a tiny insight into his life experiences. And that’s without his raw, fierce voice and extravagant dance routines.
His band starts the show with an instrumental piece and Bradley appears soon after in a slinky, skin tight shirt and glittery jacket. Launching into a collection of well-known songs like ‘How Long,’ and ‘Victim of Love,’ the music is interspersed with Bradley reflecting on going to church as a child, where he offers to take the crowd.
Halfway through the show, Bradley disappears off the stage and re-appears wearing a royal-purple all-in-one pantsuit complete with silver trimmings. Now he seems to ramp things up and delights the crowd with his signature sensual dance moves. It is obvious why he was respected as a great James Brown impersonator in New York for many years.
“Brothers and sisters, I’m on the stage for one reason – to make you happy. If there’s something I’m doing wrong, please tell me.” He is a little too far away to be certain, but it looks like there are some tears glistening in his eyes. Singing ‘Lovin’ You, Baby,’ he flirts with members of the audience, looking right into their eyes while he croons.
In ‘Confusion,’ Bradley treats the audience to a comical yet elaborate dance routine, complete with splits. “I’m gonna give it to you raw. Do you want to feel it raw?” he asks the squealing crowd suggestively.
He asks his band to “break it down” so he can speak to the audience, and he does so with a chilling seriousness. “If you’ve got a dream, don’t give it up. It took me 62 years to get here.”
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‘Why Is It So Hard’ is another heartfelt song that tells the truth about Bradley’s struggles in his homeland, America. He sings about the ‘land of milk and honey,’ and his own experiences of desperation and conflict.
Charles Bradley gets off the stage and jumps down into the crowd, where he walks through a sea of adoring fans who take it in turns to rub his head and hug him. It’s another reminder that he has not come from a superstar background and that he has an immense appreciation of his fans.
This is a more personal and serious performance than other shows of his. While there is the cheeky Charles Bradley swinging his hips, womanizing the crowd and smiling sensually, another side of Charles Bradley is performing tonight – the serious one who wants to get his message across, to thank his fans and to count his blessings for the path his life has taken.
