Rain Dance

The sky was pouring Friday afternoon as I was heading home from work. I really wanted to see Tanika Charles play a free show at the Harbourfront outdoor stage. Finally, it stopped raining though the sky was still a dark gray. I took a chance and headed down to the lake. Luckily, the rain held off the rest of the night and the show wasn't canceled.

Ms. Charles was her usual high-energy self and led the crowd through several funky numbers. Most were preceded by a short, funny story about their origins. Both the songs and stories detailed a rather eventful romantic life but they make great dance songs including Soul Run and Endless Chain. Her "working for the man" song Parkdale got cheers from locals who know the area quite well. But I missed her women back-up singers. Though her band covered well, a man singing falsetto didn't have the same R'n'B group vibe. And they certainly didn't do any of the Supremes-style choreography.