Firm enough to be supportive, yet soft enough to relax in
with enough leg room for any normal sized adult. Yes, this was definitely going
up high on my internal list of “Most Comfortable Seating at a Concert.” The
Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore is a place fitted ready for a play. I’m talking
Hamlet not Madea going somewhere new. As
more concert goers poured into the main concourse, a vast majority middle aged
at best and Caucasian, I began to even question if I was in the right place. Yes,
I was judging hard, and shame on me for it. I just couldn’t help thinking if
this was really where Leon Bridges was about to tear down the house with a
great performance? It was.
Leon Bridges, decked in a light plaid pattern suit jacket
paired with black slacks, came out and turned the setting on its head. We went
from sitting at an artsy theatre room to a local back alley blues joint. All of
this done through the music. Leon Bridges is gifted enough to sound exactly the
same live as he does in your headphones or car stereo. His clean, crisp, and
clear voice helps to promote his old school 1950s style. The crowd also
changed! The former soccer moms and newly made grandparents were now screaming
teenagers dancing the night away. It was fun.
Bridges’ band members were not missing out either. He was
backed by one female singer, a bass/organ player, one drummer, two guitarists,
and an amazing musician on the tenor saxophone. All of them were very
professional, and seemed to enjoy the moment, which was Bridges completely
owning his performance. Songs like “Coming Home” electrified the crowd’s body, and
records like “Shine” soothed listeners’ souls. So much so that the audience
seemed unbothered by Bridges’ lack of stage presence, often remaining centered,
and his average James Brown influenced footwork. It didn’t matter to them. It
also stop mattering to me that some songs would sound like the last. The
repetitiveness of music technicalities was out shined by the consistent feel
good vibe pouring out from the stage.
As the band initially ended on a perfect climax the people erupted into cheers for more through high
pitched whistles, frantic “Leon” chants, and an unwavering standing ovation. So, out they came for an encore showing. Walking
out of the venue into the chilling night breeze, I added this high on another
internal list of mine; Leon Bridges on “Most Fun at a Baltimore Concert.”Follow @dj_treble
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