I'm Paul Mooney, batches! (James Brown-related)
mannybolone
Los Angeles, CA 15,025 Posts
Contrary to the vicious accusation that I never get out to live shows, I went to the James Brown "Soul on Top" show at the Hollywood Bowl the other night.See? I keeps it real! (Of course, #1 it was the Hollywood Bowl and #2, I didn't actually pay to go since #3 I wrote about the show for the LAT but hey, I got out).Here's the thing: the big band portion of the show (read here for background) was fine...kind of snoozy at times b/c they did too many ballads and really needed at least one more uptempo track. THEN, JB started doing a few of his songs, with his band, the "Soul Generals" and brought out her:...who sang a version of "This Bitter Earth." It was For one thing, she looked like Morticia + Katherine O'Hara and sang like a vaguely tone-deaf Janis Joplin. Seriously, people were all snickering at the performance...she was that terrible. Then I realized: oh snap, this is James Brown's WIFE. Which explains a lot.And further justifies why nepotism is a bad, bad thing. But I went from laughing at Tommie Rae to remembering that she had accused JB of beating her while he was high on drugs and that she tried to leave him and take their young son with her and then I felt bad for her. Even though she really was a bit of a train wreck on stage. Anyone else catch a JB show of late? I'm assuming she's at all of these.
Comments
with severe gynecomastia.
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/jabrown1.html
I mean, it's James fucking Brown. No matter what, he's the man. And he knows how to play to a crowd. But yeah, it was awkward when Tommie Rae hit the stage - shit was surreal at times.
If I'm not mistaken, a similar thing happened on that TV tribute to James when she came on the stage?
Scratch that, that was "Strangelove" on VH1
"for the benefit of their carriers"...
I've never seen a kid look so bored at disney world!
I saw James play about 4 years ago, and not only did he let wifey have a solo, but he had his son on guitar...I don't think they even had dude's amp turned on for most of the show.
*shudder*
Yeah, I guess "This Bitter Earth" wouldn't be as bad as listening to a butchered version of Etta James (if I wanted that, I'd go listen to Xtina).
Any negativity from her falls to the waistside when I think of James ripping shit during "It's a Mans World"
and Louie Bellson was like a jazz version of Sophia from the golden girls.
Sharp
Seriously. Dude has Parkinson's too and he was still drum soloing?