So I'm at this James Brown concert over the weekend and I have to admit, I had James Brown all wrong. It was great. The man is in his seventies, and was more active than I am. I had assumed that he would just hammer throughhis hits, then take off.
     But I was wrong.
    It was phenomenal. He has probably the tightest, hottest band that I have ever seen. He had them dressed up in matching black suits, but with these Cap'n Crunch tassel things on their shoulders. They followed his every move, watched his every step, and were so on top of every of James Brown's little hand gestures and mid song directions, that I feel confident in saying that whatever they are being paid, it isn't enough.
    James Brown was so on top of his game, and in his element, that he was capable of making each song not just a played-like-the-record retread, but a full on grade A funk jam. I would be surprised if there were any more than two songs that lasted less than five minutes. Most went on for more like ten. It was not a concert, it was a SHOW. Had dancers, (really just choreographed strippers who were at one point wearing only a black bra and black panties, with the initialsJB on the ass) and an MC and a guy that handed him a silk handkerchief that he used to wipe his face on. It was first class all the way. The whole thing reminded me of Frank Sinatra. Not in terms of the music, but rather in the way he was treated by his organization. James Brown is the Boss. Period. He ordered them around, had them take extra solos, play little country licks, or do whatever his whim was at that particular minute. He just reeked style, and treated his band with nothing but respect. But never, at anytime, did anyone, ever, do anything that would displease Mr. James Brown. Thats the rule: Don't screw up around James Brown.
     He is out of his mind though. He went on a five minute mumble, first on the importance of education and then somehow morphed into a discussion of Janis Joplin, and the various people that had been slated to play her in the planned Hollywoodbiopic. Then later, in the middle of a song, stopped everything to talk about hurricanes, and then tsunamis, then yelled at a spot light guy, then warned the audience about somethingthat sounded a lot like, 'hurricanes in Illinois'. It was all really crazy, and fun, and it only added to the experience.
     So here is my advice to you: Go see James Brown. Right now if you can. Why are you reading this when you could be out watching James Brown right now? Go quick, because nobody that old can keep that up forever.