Janelle Monae and her tight band were playing for about 150 lucky people in an intimate setting at legendary producer Bob Clearmountain’s Berkeley Street Studio in Santa Monica. It was a KCRW’s invite-only performance, and a part of Morning Becomes Eclectic.
The mood was already set with free beer and wine when the band entered the stage. Surrounded by Roland keys and Marshall Amps, Janelle and two backup dancers entered stage Illuminati style with hooded cloaks. The beautiful intro of “Suite II Overture” from her major-label debut The ArchAndroid led into the irresistible “Dance Or Die” which is possibly my favorite song of 2010. The energetic “Faster” follows seamlessly and merges with “Locked Inside”. Then they bring it all down, Janelle and guitarist Kellindo Parker share the stage and performs the beautiful simplistic Charlie Chaplin song “Smile”. Their pure craftsmanship spellbinds the audience and makes your neck hairs stand up in ovation. Janelle’s performance is very theatrical, but it never gets pretentious. They’re all dressed in black and white tuxedos, in something that can be described as strict Art Deco/loose Rockabilly esthetics. It’s not retro, more timeless. The energy level peaks again with the punky “Cold War”, and it’s entertaining to watch her playful drummer showing off with the sticks. “Tight Rope” follows, and is along with “Dance Or Die” best in class of 2010. Janelle’s Stax moves are fun to watch, and it’s impossible to stand still while taking it all in. She’s like an energy bar, with huge lungs in a petite wrapping.
After a Q&A with KCRW Music Director Jason Bentley, they enter the stage again with the psychedelic, rocked out opus “Mushrooms & Roses”. This is where the band really blooms, and her fantastic guitar player Kellindo Parker channels Hendrix & Eddie Hazel from Funkadelic. Her set ends with “Violet Stars Happy Hunting” and “Many Moons” from her Fritz Lang inspired Metropolis, Suite 1: The Chase EP. The show even features a James Brown cape moment, and even though it’s easy to compare her to JB, I see more Screamin’ Jay Hawkins references. They have such contagious energy, and there is never a dull moment with their seamless transition between songs. This was a showcase in rock, soul, R&B, funk and jazz, and Janelle always leave you hungry for more.
The session engineered by Bob Clearmountain will air during Morning Becomes Eclectic on Friday, July 2.
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