She is the face and the leader of the group Sade, and its show was its first in Kansas City in nearly two decades. Early on, she apologized for that gap and promised to make up for it. the ensuing two hours she and the band that bears her name lived up to her promise, delivering a performance that was as elegant and soulful as it was stirring and opulent. She would also shower her crowd with gratitude and affection. "I feel very loved," she said about halfway through.
Understatement and humility are in short supply these days; Sade issues them in abundance, artfully and sincerely.
Backed by her sixpiece band and two backup singers, she emerged from an opening in cheap nfl jerseys the stage floor, singing "Soldier of Love," the title track of her most recent album. From there she went back nearly 30 years, to her first hit, "Your Love Is King," then "Skin," another track from "Soldier." would perform five tracks off that album, and fill the rest of the 22song setlist with some of her bestknown and most popular material, starting with "Smooth Operator," which came early, and including "Sweetest Taboo" and "By Your Side," which came late.
There was plenty to look at all night, starting with the star of the show. Sade turned 52 this year, and she's as radiant and lovely as ever. She embellishes her exotic appearance with cheap jerseys from china endearing stage mannerisms. During the uptempo numbers, she danced playfully, sometimes in unison with band mates. For half the show, she was barefooted. She changed wardrobe a few times but, as fits her personality, she favors gowns and suits, not "costumes," like the divas.
The visual choreography was also a treat. The stage was equipped with lifts and trap doors and surrounded by a threesided curtain/scrim. Several times it was dropped around the band, who then performed amid the videos that were projected upon it. night the video screens that flanked the stage from way up high flashed closeups of the photogenic singer, the band or other images. After "By Your Side," a burst of confetti splashed upon the first dozen rows up front.
All that was entertaining, but it was secondary to the performance of Sade the singer, who still has one of the most evocative and versatile voices in popular music. can shift effortlessly from pop to jazz to strains of rock and funk ("Paradise").
Several times, the crowd of about 7,000 rewarded her with a loud, visceral ovation. None was louder or more sustained than the one that followed her dramatic rendering of "Jezebel," which she performed on her knees at the front of the stage.
Other highlights: the crackedheart delivery of "Is It A Crime"; the slowgrind rendition of "Sweetest Taboo," which included a few blasts of blues harp; the spinetingling "Pearls," which provoked a few tears; her backup vocalists' version of "Nothing Can Come Between Us"; and "By Your Side," the best honeyedpop song about love and friendship since "You've Got A Friend."
After that one, she took some time to introduce and praise and tease everyone in the band. After each introduction, she bowed towards him. A few got a hug or a kiss. They would all leave but return, she in a cherry red gown, for the finale: "Cherish the Day."
She would finish the song high atop one of those lifts, as if on a pedestal. It seemed like an uncomfortable place for someone who seems less interested in stardom and eminence than in exhibiting the traits, beyond her stunning voice, that make her such an appealing star: grace, glamour, modesty, wit, sincerity, genuineness. the world can't manufacture more Sades, it sure needs the real one to come around more than once every 20 years or so.
John Legend: He brought a 10piece ensemble with him, including three vocalists/dancers and a threepiece horn section and then showed he has no problem filling an arena with his take on soul and R His onehour set included a cover of Adele's "Rolling in the Deep," "Alright," "Let's Get Lifted," "Ordinary People" and "Green Light," which aroused some loud crowd participation.
Sade setlist: Soldier of Love; Your Love is King; Skin; Kiss of Life; Love Is Found; In Another Time; Smooth Operator; Jezebel; Bring Me Home; Is It A Crime; Love Is Stronger Than Pride; All About Our Love; Paradise; Nothing Can Come Between Us; Morning Bird; King of Sorrow; Sweetest Taboo; The Moon and Sky; Pearls; No Ordinary Love; By Your Side. Encore: Cherish the Day.
Timothy Finn, The Star
Tim, your usual "spot on" review. Great show, visually and musically from Sade. Her band almost stole the show a few times.
Legend only hit on a couple of moments during his set and he sure made it all about him. He barely acknowledged his band at all.
Very small crowd overall most likely due to do the last album and her popularty peaking in the 80
Lastly Tim why does this Sprint Center, as new as it is, not have a better system to get people inside? It is like a "clogged drain" trying to get thousands of people in two entrances. Every show has a large group of disgruntled fans trying to fit into only two entrances well before showtime. As new as this place is how did they design such a crappy entry system to an 18K arena?
Tim glad you got to review this one. This was my 100th concert of the year and the Sade show is in the top 2 thus far. Definitely one of the best stage shows (production, sound, choreography) that I seen and I seen Roger Water Wall, Janet Jackson Rythym Nation, AC/DC last 2 shows, Tina Turner last show, Kiss front row, McCartney just off the top off my head. I agree with JB she a wonderful entertainer (and classy)and her voice has great range but she doesn overuse it. Great band great sound great presentation. This is a show that I won forget.
Jorgey the Grand St. side of the arena always has longer lines I went to the Oak St. side and there was no line. But I agree that one of Sprint Center main design flaws is that it only has 2 entry points.
NEXT POST
On the way: some yacht rock Michael McDonald and Boz Scaggs will sail into Starlight Theatre on Oct. 7, a Friday. Tickets on sale this Friday. Before rap star Snoop Dogg made a disappointingly lethargic and brief appearance, Afrobeat act Hearts of Darkness displayed boundless passion and energy, qualities largely absent in the headliner's perfunctory performance. All fifteen members of Hearts of Darkness played as if they had something to prove. Backed by a DJ and a couple of hype men, Snoop Dogg seemed to be coasting on past achievements. Les Izmore of Hearts of Darkness Although most of.