I'm Lovin' It

Bettye Lavette

The Big Sound plays Motown covers for fun every other month. Saturday night, they were opening for Bettye Lavette. It might not be their biggest crowd at 300, since their packed shows at The Great Hall probably approaches 400 or more. But it was a more diverse, mainstream crowd and so was probably their biggest stage.

As the full 26 member took to the stage including 8 singers, the size of the band caused some astonished murmurs from the crowd. From the opening number Dancing In The Street sung by Tanika Charles to the closing Ain't No Mountain High Enough, they had the audience singing along to every tune. There was some dancing to the side, but not a lot. This older set was more comfortable seated and clapping along.

All the singers were great, especially a new male crooner: tall and imposing in long dreadlocks, with a velvety smooth voice. But Maylee Todd was a towering stand-out. I have mentioned her stage presence in Big Sound previously and she topped those appearances. The crowd stood up 3 times and it was all on her numbers. The first and last, I Want You Back and Ain't No Mountain, may have been because these are admittedly great songs. But there was no doubt when people spontaneously leapt up on their feet, hooting and hollering, half-way through her slow scorching take on Who's Lovin' You (Jackson 5) that she was on fire.

Tanika Charles

The headliner was Bettye Lavette, a soul singer from the 60s who, like Lee Fields, found success much later in her career. She came up on stage belting out a high note. For the rest of the night, she treated the crowd to what felt like an intimate concert. She would tell personal stories in between every song. Her singing had a wonderful conversational tone even on the big notes, due to the phrasing and emotion she brought to every verse. On slow numbers such as Choices, Isn't It A Pity, and Love Reign O'er Me, she played to her strength. Her uptempo songs were less successful, with the exception of You Don't Know Me At All, because her band seemed unable to find that higher energy level.