Maxwell @ House Of Blues Boston 9.3.09
“Somebody in here is going to get some tonight.” That’s really the only conclusion you can get after experiencing R&B maestro Maxwell’s hour long set of bedroom ready music at the House Of Blues in Boston. The mostly female audience was getting in the mood and since they all cant go home with the singer/producer, somebody else might get lucky. Touring in support of his first new album in 8 years, Blacksummers’night, Maxwell quickly demonstrated that he hadn’t lost a step when it came to his stage show. Part of Samsung’s Summer Krush tour and being taped for broadcast of ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel show, tonight’s concert was more a spiritual experience then an R&B show for more than a few in the crowd. Good music can have that effect. In fact it’s supposed to.
Great artists build and cultivate their relationship with the audience. One couldn’t blame the fans if they were dealing with abandonment issues when it comes to Maxwell. This guy is the musical equivalent to a husband who went out for a pack of cigarettes and didn’t come back. But he has been working on getting back in the house. A brand new album with him, an incredible set at the Essence Music Festival (where he was also over an hour late) and a BET sponsored warm up tour last year served as roses and candy. And the people went for it. The break had not drastically changed things between him and the audience. And that audience tonight was by a non scientific estimate was 80% women, proof that his sex symbol status was firmly in place. Maxwell knows how to work that persona to the hilt. In fact he seems to revel in it, exchanging smiles and glances with the crowd to create an intimacy. (As intimate as you can be with 1900 people). From the offers of foot rubs to the pledges to waking his woman up in the morning mid coitus, he is all about playing on his sex symbol status to take his performance over the top.
It works. Tearing a page from the same playbook as Prince and Marvin Gaye he led the crowd on a journey. Its his performance that separates him from many of today’s R&B artists. He melds music with a flair for the theatrical with great results. He has always plied the soul man/ sex god tradition of R&B and tonight was no exception. Only a few cats in R&B can demand that some panties are on stage as he did before he started “Till The Cops” and they come flying from all sections of the room.
Backed by a tight 9 piece band, Maxwell’s show should be a required class for all modern R&B singers. But all the smooth moves in the world wouldn’t mean a thing if the music wasn’t powerful. What has always separated Maxwell is the fact that he makes classic soul music without ever feeling dated. He effortlessly moved through the highlights of his 5 album discography. “Ascension: Don’t Ever Wonder”, “Bad Habits”, “Pretty Wings” and “Fortunate” (the best R. Kelly record that R. Kelly never did) were all present, accounted for and lovingly sung along to. His version of Kate Bush’s “This Woman’s Work” sounded lush in his able hands. Still one of the most courageous covers of all time, “This Woman’s Work” was one of the stand outs of the night.
His music does what its supposed to…connect. Half way through the show I look across the room and see what has to be the most beautiful woman ever. Standing under one of the few lights in the crowd seemed to give her a halo. The angel effect was even greater when she smiled. In her face you could see the joy that comes from good music. What was making her smile? One of the better R&B/Soul performances that Boston has seen in a while. After an 8 year break from recording Maxwell hasn’t lost a step. Now he just need to work on time management and he can get his keys to the crib back.
