Jalylah Burrell

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Seattle-bred, Brooklyn-based cultural critic Jalylah Burrell riffs on anything and everything.

Eric Roberson Live

Posted 09/25/2007 at 10:57 AM | Comment?

Eric Roberson at the Temple Bar, Los Angeles (9.6.07)

Tonight, Eric Roberson kicks off a two-night birthday celebration and soul spectacle in New York City. The veteran independent artist and accomplished songwriter will headline SOB's this evening with the aid of unnamed special guests and has invited J recording artist Emily King to host his monthly indie soul showcase Wednesday. Having caught Roberson play to a rapt multiculti bunch at LA's Temple Bar just a few weeks ago, I can provide a hint of what to expect.

I slid into the Temple Bar, something of an emergent incubator of progressive soul, 'round midnight to the sight and sounds of Roberson and his bandmates in full stride. Guzzling Gatorade and darting around the stage in jeans, a crimson polo and cream blazer, Roberson treated the sceney savants and couples present to a quick tribute to the late producer, J Dilla, whose former roommate, Common, was at that moment wrapping up a sold out show elsewhere on Wilshire. Then Roberson led his musicians--dubbed the "pajama gangstas" for the eve on account of their bed-ready apparel --through two selections ("Pretty Girl" and "Too Soon") from his Valentine's Day release, ...Left. Even having come off much more vital in performance than on record, it was something of a relief to next hear older Roberson tunes: a CBGB'ed "Find A Way" followed by the infectious "Couldn't Hear Me" in all it's charming wit. Despite their languorous appearance, the pajama gangstas were no slouches, latinizing and dub'ing, "Couldn't Hear Me," in an extended breakdown for all get downs right on into ...Left's stand out track, "Been in Love." Still the best was yet to come; Roberson an enthusiastic and conscientious performer paused to improvise a song using as raw material a few random words and phrases shouted out by wily fans. The end result posthumously titled, "Work in the Morning", inconspicuously patchworked, "grits", "peace", "have to go to work in the morning", "streets of Jersey", "spaghetti" and "enchanting", into a pretty satisfying ditty, easily validating Roberson's hard won EMI publishing deal. The show crescendoed with a "Party Like a Rock Star" vamp and after the obligatory band exit and fan frenzy, Roberson and company returned to deliver in encore two more songs ("Right Back to Me" and "Past Paradise") from his excellent album, the Vault 1.5, and one song, "Previous Cats", written by Roberson for the enduring and ever popular Musiq.

Here are some pics from the performance (Click on pics for larger views):