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08.06.03 01:50 AM
Dwele doesn't deliver
So I have just come in from dragging Donald to see a Dwele concert with me at SOB's. And lord knows I have been praising this cat, and still I feel his music, but truth be told he is no powerhouse singer. One of his background singers even stood him up, and boy did Dwele throw him shade for that. I'm sure Donald will tell this story better in pictures than I can in words. I bet those pics will be up in a few hours. I'm saying, the music was stirring, but Dwele is no D'Angelo or Bilal. His range is lacking, and his riffs are a little trife. Don't get me wrong, I still like the album. It's refreshing. It's something different than the mass marketing machines are feeding us, although this cat is signed to the major Virgin label. It was still nice to see a live band, and nice to see someone at least try to scat and pay homage to Stevie, The Tempations, and Marvin Gaye, but to be quite honest I wasn't astounded.
After the show, and boy was it short, it was the after party for Donald and I, but I'll let him tell it in pictures.
posted by lynne | link to this |
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Comments
As much as I've heard people prasing Dwele and his whole style, I've never heard anyone talk about what his live performance is actually like. Now that I've read this post I guess I'll be skipping his show whenever he comes back to Atlanta. Excellent CD or not. I guess that means no tour album. LOL. Laughing even harder when I imagine this grown man with a CD released throwing shade on his own BACK-UP singer (who was probably just trying to help his ol' sorry ass set along).
posted by Nadine G. | August 6, 2003 8:34 AM #
And that's why I haven't purchased his CD. I haven't really jumped on the neo-soul bandwagon for this very reason. The cats some people are praisin are just straight wack to me. I jumped on the Jaguar Wright bandwagon & I got burned. lol. Her CD freakin sucked!
posted by Timi | August 6, 2003 5:57 PM #
lynne i said practically the same thing on friday night and was almost thrown from a moving car as it sped along the west side highway.
*nothing worst than being upstaged by a background singer.
posted by kevinrscott | August 6, 2003 7:24 PM #
by the way you look great on page 76 on the latest vibe...killing them red boots.
posted by kevinrscott | August 6, 2003 7:26 PM #
Thanks for the heads up -- Dwele's album has a very mellow vibe to it -- I didn't think he would be blowing like Bilal.
posted by Antonio G | August 6, 2003 9:42 PM #
well, now i know not to break my neck to go see him when he comes to the chi...but, i still like the cd...
don't you hate when folks don't stand up to live performances...it's like reading an amazing book and seeing a crappy movie of it (think, beloved).
btw. i heard anthony hamilton last nite on the quite storm....LOVIN HIM...have to go get the cd...
posted by nappi | August 6, 2003 11:45 PM #
well...you can pretty much tell from his album that his range isn't that great, nor a D'angelo, nor a Bilal. he's just a laid back cat. i wouldn't go to a show of his expecting a LIVE/ENERGETIC show (i've been checkin for him since 99), he's just not the type. the album IS dope, and it's ok if his live show isn't cuz that's one less thing i have to spend money on. *lol*
posted by britni | August 7, 2003 12:45 AM #
Looking for pictures of Ms. Johnson? They're up! I tell you, the boys just can't take her - lookin' so fine and dapper! Up in Chi Chiz commanding all the attention from the boyz - heffa! *HUGZ!* Honey, I had SUCH a good time! We definitely need to hang out more.
Let's try this: http://www.bococa.com/wednesday.html (scroll to the very bottom)
posted by Donald | August 7, 2003 1:27 AM #
Donald - I had a great time too, see my post on your site.
Kev - Thanks for the props for the VIBE pic. Funny, I actually think you can see the boots in the pic better than you can me.
Rest of all a y'all - I still like the Dwele CD, and I will still listen to it. I just think you had to be a hardcore Dwele fan to enjoy the show. I guess I shouldn't have expected D'Angelo or Bilal, given his laidback vibe, as Antonio suggested, but when I go see a show, I want just that, a show. I don't really feel like I got one. And don't go doing a scat session, if you ain't Rachelle Ferrell and her brother Russ. OK, that's not fair, there's no one comparable to those two when bundled together. It's just...damn, I don't know what it is. Let me stop being so critical.
posted by lynne | August 7, 2003 2:17 AM #
Lynne, after several recommendations, I decided to pick up Dwele album and give it a listen. First, it had too much rhythm for me to fall asleep to it like Kem so I decided to play it in the car. Although some songs were good, I found myself longing to just to hear him sing without the multi-layered background which are often used when the lead singer is lacking vocal strength. I think I will give it another listen but it is not grabbing me.
posted by james | August 8, 2003 6:18 AM #
so which is it more disappointing for you? to see a bad show after loving a great album, or buying a lame album after an amazing show?
I'm leaning toward the latter; at least that way you always have the music even if you know it's all production...
posted by gwen | August 10, 2003 6:52 PM #
Jason (negroplease) and I were discussing how we didn't even think Dwele's album was all that memorable. I guess I wouldn't expect much from a live performance. He's an all right singer, but nothing to write home about.
posted by monique | August 11, 2003 9:34 PM #
Dwele is magnificent...your right he's not like D'angelo...commerical is one thing that Dwele is not. If you really listen to his album he's not "blowing" he's smooth with his and I was at SOB's and he was cool. Forget about the background singers he was my main event!
posted by IOpEnMiNdS1 | October 5, 2005 11:17 PM #
Lynn your right Dwele does not have the range to compare to Bilal or D'angelo, Rember Dwele was an MC before he started singing and what attracts me to him isn't just his voice it's his whole style of music. He produces most of it himself and it is like nuthin i've heard before by any artists.
posted by YungGenius | January 9, 2007 12:54 PM #