“I can only give you the energy that you give me.”

That was Me’shell’s preface to a roughly 50-minute set before a crowd of about 300 at Detroit’s Majestic Theatre Oct. 19. And while the reserved exchange of energy that followed left a little something to be desired by myself, a visiting Clevelander who’d heard about the legendary vigor of Motor City audiences, hardly can it be said that the petit wunderkind doesn’t at least try to hold up her end of a bargain.

Decked in navy chinos, a baby blue Adidas warm-up jacket and a multicolored patch newsboy cap pulled just atop her closed eyes (a la Rudy from Fat Albert), B-girl-cum-jazzster Me’shell led her seven-piece crew in what, like her latest studio release COMFORT WOMAN, turned out by end to be more a smoky, stream-of-conscious jam session than a tediously plotted presentation. Amid formal titles transitioned with instrumental grooves, the show’s overall effect -- no doubt in part given to the freshness of her newly assembled touring band – was just slightly undercooked compared to 2002’s COOKIE shows, but nonetheless organic, peppered with funk and generally enjoyable.

Half the show’s 10-song set list came from Me’shell’s new release. And while the crowd was by and large unfamiliar yet with these tracks (released only five days ago), they were invoked to decent effect. The dreamy soundscape of a synth-embellished Good Intentions effectively set the mood of the show while the slinky sexiness of Come Smoke My Herb and the wah wah riffs of Body easily engaged the audience.

Of course, the crowd gave up applause and more confidently bobbed their heads and swayed at the first bars of familiar fare like PEACE BEYOND PASSION’s The Way and PLANTATION LULLABIES’ Outside My Door, the latter sang with all the sentiment of a newly smitten admirer, yet now – an unbelievable10 years after its release – also with the tongue-in-cheek cynicism of a person who’s been disappointed in matters of the heart.

For me, just one of Meshell’s gifts is her ability to tap familiar emotion in her audience. This was perhaps best at work during BITTER’s Fool of Me, which I’d totally wager conjured a couple teary eyes in the place. But Meshell was probably at her most effective in Detroit with the bass thumping of COOKIE’s GOD.FEAR.MONEY and its crowd-pleasing outtake Quinten Mack, which she removed her cap to perform (much to the delight of the audience), revealing a close crop of cornrows.

It seemed the set ended as abruptly as it began (in a strange mix-up, Meshell’s band played before the scheduled opening act, an Ivan Neville-led Soulive), but the crowd -- led by yours truly… ahem -- was able to get Me’shell’s band to return for the encore performances of the reggae-infused Love Song #1 and Fellowship, both from COMFORT WOMAN.

Her band members each bring remarkable talent to the stage. As always, longtime lead guitarist Allen Cato was brilliant, and new drummer Chris Dave, new backup vocalist Sy Smith and keyboardist Raymond Angry (who replaced the amazing Frederico Pena earlier this year) offered shining moments. Experience together will bolster their team delivery. One additional suspicion of mine is that Me’shell wasn’t feeling too well. Her bouts with epileptic tremors triggered by venue lighting are roundly discussed. At one point, she requested that all lights be dimmed – “especially that one,” she laughed, referring to an already fairly dim ceiling fixture, the bulb pattern of which may very well have created a disorienting staccato effect to someone looking at it from the vantage point of the stage.

All in all, a decent show. I think Me’shell is capable of better, but also capable of much worse.
[This message was edited Tue Oct 21 7:09:47 PDT 2003 by Lammastide]