Concert Review: Grace Jones; Of Montreal; Dengue Fever

Excerpt from Variety.com ~ Underneath the headdresses and oversized outfits, floating above rhythms from 30-year-old dance floors and Jamaican nightclubs, a commanding Grace Jones provided a finely tuned display of humanity in a 75-minute set Sunday, her first U.S. show as part of the tour in support of "Hurricane."Colorful, precise in the execution and entertaining, the return of Jones -- it was her first L.A. appearance in more than 20 years, following the release last year of her first album in 19 -- was warm and uplifting, a tribute to the substance New album "Hurricane" supplied the first two numbers: the autobiographical "This Is Life" and "Williams' Blood." She delivered both with a command and intensity not fully realized on the album. The former's talk-sung lecture on taking control enhanced the resilience of the tune; the latter number provided a reminder that Jones was an innocent at one time. By following the rookies with the classic "My Jamaican Guy," Jones proffered the idea that the dance music filter she created 30 years ago remains operational and fulfilling -- there is more to this artist than shock value and dance beats. Technology advances, social mores evolve, and an already sensual voice gets huskier, but the framework remains unchanged even as newer, non-Jamaican artists become her collaborators, among them Brian Eno and the team of Wendy and Lisa. CONTINUE READING...