Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings

September 23, 2010

Tuesday night, I saw Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings for the first time. I had never even heard of them, but my husband was really enthusiastic about attending. So, we left home early in search of good general admission seats. I will be the first to admit that my musical horizons could always use some expansion, and I wasn't entirely sure what to expect from this group, whom I could gather few clues about from their name. Obviously, Sharon Jones would entertain us with her vocal styling, and there were several members of royalty to back her during the show. But that didn't come close to the awesome funk/fusion performance that we were given.

Sharon Jones is one of the most entertaining performers I've seen. She has the fantastic facial expressions, makes over-the-top gestures with her entire body, and at one point was holding a note for so long I thought my own lungs would explode. The Dap Kings showed equal talent for entertainment as they played with their entire bodies and souls. I could see the physical and mental investment they all had in that show. They even had simple choreography that enhanced the actions of Sharon Jones.

I highly recommend that everyone go see them, but until then, put the album on hold!

Monica G.
Kearney Branch