West Side Story: Bilal and Choklate at the Highline Ballroom
The wind whipped so viciously Saturday night in New York's Meatpacking District, I was forced to take cover in a Maritime Hotel alcove as I advanced the final block to the Highline Ballroom. Unprepared to cede my few valuables to the boot-lifting gusts, I removed my earrings and my iPod earbuds and slipped both into my back pockets. Having rekindled a rocky rapport with New York Sports Clubs just a few weeks ago, I felt reasonably confident I could forge forward and when I finally arrived to the bi-level performance space, there were quite a few buppies, bohos and a smattering of white folks awaiting headliner Bilal and upstart Choklate.
With only one independent release to her name and Seattle residence, Choklate still claimed a few ardent fans at set start and quickly charmed the many more unaware with her unassuming brand of soul. Perched on a stool centerstage with her sole accompanist, acoustic guitarist Shelton Garner, seated at her left, Choklate opened with "Thank You." Augmented by adlibbed appreciations for Bilal, his management and the crowd, she quickly closed the cool distance between opener and diffident New York audience. Although confessedly nervous, Choklate comfortably addressed the crowd at length between selections, cracking up the ballroom with her unvarnished honesty and self-deprecation. She tackled 8 songs in all, showcasing her gravelly voice and her nuanced delivery throughout and wrapping her impressive set with an improvised number.
The soul brother of the hour made his appearance at 10:34 PM, his band already 4 minutes into a groove. He looked much like he did when I saw him kill in the very same venue in August but his temperament was distinctly different. In the many times I have heard Bilal live, beginning with Atlanta's Music Midtown Festival in 2001, I have never observed him so ebullient, so seemingly happy to be on stage and demonstrably appreciative of his fans. And it was an eager cabal assembled. I had to restrain myself from cursing out one hyper young lady who screamed requests for "Soul Sista" at every lull. Word to all concert goers, excepting Meshell Ndegeocello, most artists will perform their hit singles. No need to burst the eardrums of your fellow concertgoers or nag the artist. As I expected, Bilal eventually lowered the stan in question's blood pressure tackling "Soul Sista" last and satisfised the rest of us with the 13 preceding songs ranging from Sa Ra's "Hollywood," whose lyrics he forgot, to the J Dilla-produced "Reminisce" to unlikely throwback "All That I Am," sung along note for note by the audience. My only complaint were the levels. I mean the sound man's incompetence made for a frustrating hour and a half. The guitar, keenly played by Michael Severson, was too prominent and Bilal's mic, as those of his two backing vocalists', was too low, . You just could barely hear him and from his expressions and contortions it was clear he was sanging. The highlight for me was "Love Poems," my favorite song from 1st Born Second, after "When Will U Call." Oh for a return to decent major label soul songwriting. But with a parting "I Love Y'all" to the crowd, the concert soon came to an end expelling us all back into the whirlwind.
Set List: (Choklate) Thank You, Never Change, Dedicated to Music, Wish I Hadn't Told You, Bigger Than You, Incredible, Improvised Song (Bilal) Look Good?, Something to Hold, Got to Be Cool, For You, Hollywood, Let it Go, Reminisce, All That I Am, Sometimes, All for Love, Fast Lane, Make Me Over; ENCORE: Love Poems, Soul Sista
*Photo from Bilal's August show at the Highline Ballroom
Tags: Bilal, Choklate, Concert Reviews, Music, Soul
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