Bettye LaVette
Roy Kasten- RFT"Great singers in jazz, blues and soul have regularly taken on the Great American Songbook — but then again, so has Rod Stewart. So forgive Bettye LaVette, the most devastatingly emotional singer on the planet, if she bypasses that hallowed ritual and stalks the British Rock Songbook on her latest album. Do you really want to hear LaVette, whose career has gone stratospheric after decades of industry neglect, tackle the hits of Led Zeppelin, Ringo Starr, the Stones and Pink Floyd? Yes, you do, if you still care about the pure power of interpretive singing too muscular and self-possessed for genre distinctions, the undiluted vocal force of a woman who approaches some classic rock songs like a struggle with cosmic forces — and body slams them all.— Roy Kasten"
9 p.m. Friday, August 6. The Old Rock House, 1200 South Seventh Street. 21-plus: $32.50. 314-588-0505.
I so rarely go to a concert, though last night I saw Lady Gaga at The Fox. She was fabulous. The dancing was extravagant, the crowd dynamic....and the speakers were loud. My ears are still ringing this morning. Lady Gaga is a real talent who will just get better and better. I just hope she keeps coming to see her fans in St. Louis!
You know I have never been to a performance at The Sheldon until last night. I had the treat of seeing Bettye LaVette in concert....and you know I had never heard of her before last night also. What a surprise and treat to see Bettye at The Sheldon. She is a blues dynamo! She recently performed at Kennedy Center Honors and President Obama's Inaugural Concert. Wow...check her out on the YouTube at the bottom of this post.
