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You Got The Feelin'- James Brown at the Hackney Empire

Wearing an electric blue silk suit with derigeur coiffed stay pressed hair , he exuded style class and that sweet undertone of savage rebellion that underpins the enigmatic spirit of a true legend .

His voice smoother than a shot of Laproaig and twice as potent as three Jack Daniels on ice carried the dreams, aspirations and guts and tears of seven decades of musical crafsmanship. Here was a Master at Work.

The stage was wide but had a refreshing and easy simplicity. As the crowds edged closer closer and closer still moving to that hypnotic beat all that mattered for two glorious hours were the scorching embers of his soul. James Brown was on fire ! As he rallied the crowd :
"Look at me know what you see, you see a bad ...."The sliding guitar and bluesy sax kicking into his scorching vocal.

The raw edged honesty of "Please Please", the balllsy optimisim of "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" and the tender pathos of "Baby Don't Leave", were recieved with noisy applause and adoring looks by a vibrant and highly charged crowd eager to please their Soul Captain.

The dance routines were infused with sponteous rythm busting and shimmy's to make your heart spin. The all female line up of backing singers offering a fresh feel good touchiness to Brown's smacking vocal.

Back flips and soul spins were in abundance and the Rythmn and Blues Section of the band added some luscious touches to some old time faves' as well as performing some glossy instrumental pieces in between set changes. "The Night Train", provided some bold opportunities for some improvisational madness and the "Yows" and "yeahs" from the
Boogie King made you gasp for air .

As he funked his way through "I Feel Good" the crowd roared . Then a tempo change and the blushingly tender : "This is a Man's World " silenced the fans into docile submission.

At more than 70 years old Brown sounded tight, fearless and bristling with passion.
There was no need for self reproach or wearing down James wasn't holding back as he knocked out song after song with cold sweat and crunching soul shuffles.

I left the Hackney Empire wild and deleriously happy , realising only years later that I had been part of history watching an iconic musican at play. It was real and thrilling and in your face fantastic . James Brown ; super bad, the orignator of soul and dance music . His legacy an enduring fan base : testament to his creative genuis and unrivalled brilliance.

"Gimme some more !"

Learn more about this author, Saira Karim.
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