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Review: Al Green saves souls, sells new songs at Guthrie
Jon Bream, Star Tribune
March 30, 2004GREEN0330


Al Green, America's greatest living soul singer, came to the Guthrie Theater on Monday with a mission. Make that two missions.

The Rev. Green, who founded his Full Gospel Tabernacle in Memphis in 1977, came to spread the word of the Lord. He also came to spread the word about his new CD "I Can't Stop," his first secular album with Willie Mitchell (his producer in his early '70s heyday) since 1976.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer accomplished both missions with a soul-sational performance that was consistently joyous, often electrifying and ultimately uplifting. By the end of his 70 minutes onstage, Green may have planted the seed for a third mission: To turn the Guthrie, which is slated to be razed in favor of a Walker Art Center parking facility, into the Full Gospel Tabernacle North and have the Rev. Green preach there regularly. It would be as important as the nearby cherry-spoon sculpture.

Green concerts often turn into a frustrating tease. He'll start songs, especially old hits, and never finish them. Or, more exasperating, he'll start a hit and then turn into a choir director and let the audience sing the rest of the number (as he did at his last Minneapolis appearance in 1996). No such disappointments at the Guthrie, partly because of the excellent acoustics. He would occasionally sing off-mic and be heard loud and clear.

He purred and cried, he screamed and soared, especially that crowd-pleasing falsetto. Twice, he stepped back from the mic and let loose with some fancy melismatic run, surprising himself, and then proclaiming, "Where did that come from?"

Green, who turns 58 next month, is the consummate soul showman. With one foot in the Pentecostal church and the other in the School of Otis Redding, he could sell even the most banal lyrics (such as the new single "Rainin' in My Heart") with his seductive style, pliable voice and megawatt smile. He has more charisma in his pinkie finger than a ballot full of Democratic or Republican candidates.

With his expressive face, athletic running in place and feverish, tear-off-the-jacket pace, he whipped himself into a holy-roller frenzy at the Guthrie, the likes of which have been experienced there only for the musical "Gospel at Colonus" and Green's 1986 Guthrie concert. Sweat dripping off his brow, Sammy Davis-sized diamonds gleaming all over the place, he tossed roses to the faithful. And his singing was equally exciting -- that languid phrasing, those audacious slurs, that heavenly falsetto, all adding up to passionate testifying, whether about love or the Lord.

"Amazing Grace" and "Nearer My God to Thee" were as satisfyingly stirring as "Let's Stay Together" and "Love and Happiness." On "For the Good Times," Green managed to seamlessly meld the secular with the sacred.

The concert, which was as much a spiritual celebration as a soul performance, may have been a bit short; the two young male dancers may have been unnecessary, and a few favorite oldies ("I'm Still in Love with You,"Call Me," to name two) were not included. But, at night's end, the smiles on the concertgoers' faces were as joyous as Green's.

With the way the rock 'n' soul reverend saved 1,300 souls on Monday, there's no question that he could save the Guthrie itself. Can we get an "Amen?"

Jon Bream is at 612-673-1719 or popmusic@startribune.com.



i wish i was theeeeerrrrre!!!!!

I thought about going until I saw the price that he wanted for the seats.

lovemachine said:

i know....$75!

I saw him twice live (once free...actually both times free..but with my parents who are fans) and while I enjoyed him both times, the second time felt very short and the background singers did a lot of the singing (he said that he wasn't doing so well). And quite frankly I'm surpsied that he is turning 58..he seemed older up there. YOu should keep in mind the scond time I saw him I had already seen Prince and Madonna live while the first time I was right before those shows so maybe I was jaded since it doesn't get much better than that. I love the new album and will wouldn't mind seeing him live...but $75!