A powerhouse lineup made its way to Palace Theatre on Sunday night. Brittany Howard and Michael Kiwanuka announced their double headlining tour in the spring and I have been anxiously waiting for this one ever since. With a chill in the air I walked the brick walkway to take it all in.
Yasmin Williams opened the show with a captivating solo set. She sat center stage with a guitar and a board beneath her tap shoes. The music was lively and soulful.
She fingerpicked the strings over the frets at impressive speed. The melodies were gorgeous. She described to the enamored crowd how she came to play guitar with this technique – mastering Guitar Hero II – and how it led to her parents buying her first guitar.
It paid off. She was sure to acknowledge the privilege of opening for two inspiring musicians during her set. Her connection with the crowd was something I think any artist would dream of.
Michael Kiwanuka was next up with a 60-minute set comprised of some of his best songs. His voice carries what feels like a once-in-a-lifetime wisdom and a warm tone.
Projections glowed behind the eight-piece band. It featured close-ups of couples holding hands, holding babies, and dancing. It gave the feeling of love and closeness riding off of Kiwanuka’s lyrics.
Kiwanuka’s voice was steady throughout the set; almost the equilibrium of the performance in the best of ways. The variation comes in with the expansion of the brilliant backup singers and musicians that kept the night soaring between swells and swoops of emotion.
The combination of Kiwanuka as a solo artist and the large sweeping compositions make him stand out in the music world today more than most solo artists. I could tell by the equal moments of loud cheers from the crowd with strong and quiet concentration. It was a brilliant opportunity to see him at his best.
Brittany Howard took the stage after an hour of stage restructuring. Yes, that is quite a long time, but the payoff was certainly there. I did wish that Michael Kiwanuka could have taken some of that time back for his own performance while we waited between sets.
Howard, formerly of Alabama Shakes, is known for her vocal range and stage presence. There’s a toughness steeped in soul that gives her a sound that feels like it is from another time. She took the audience on a journey through funk, soul, and rock with a twist. Her powerful voice filled the theatre for 90 minutes.
She was also backed up by a large band atop risers that felt like sandy hills in front of a backdrop of a desert valley. I always appreciate good set design. She wore a gown that draped from her wrists down to her feet and danced with her arms up as she belted out the notes. It was like seeing a gospel singer, and it felt like it, too. I went from the floor to the balcony to take it all in.
It was my first time catching all three of these artists, and it felt like a gift to get such a unique experience to see them all together. Kiwanuka and Howard have voices that have held me up throughout the years, and the live performance did not disappoint. I do not doubt that we will think of them when we look back at the music of this era. I also do not doubt that they will still be heavily relevant when we do.In the end, the night was all about love. Not just finding it, but maintaining it, treasuring it, and growing it in the right places.