Post by Daniel Harris
Photos by Leo Wilson and Daniel Harris
This past Thursday, Washington, DC’s Howard Theatre played
host to a very soulful evening with recording artist and Detroit native,
Dwele. This event proved that the city’s
restoration efforts didn’t just restore the physical building; it also restored
the theater’s reputation as a hub for quality entertainment.
In its heyday, The Howard Theatre was a popular spot for
amazing artists to showcase their incredible talents. Once called “the people’s
theater”, The Howard Theatre has played host to Ella Fitzgerald, Duke
Ellington, James Brown, Sarah Vaughn and Lena Horne. Thursday’s event helped to
solidify The Howard Theatre’s historical reputation.
Before Dwele took the stage, the audience was treated to the
sounds of up and coming R&B artist, John Michael. The local native really
demonstrated why he was the right choice to be the evening’s opening act.
As his set began, John Michael made a cover of Miguel’s
“Quickie” his own, adding a very honest and classic quality to this song. Much
to the delight of the crowd, John Michael’s performance of this Miguel hit did
not include the now infamous “leg drop”.
With so many of today’s R&B artists focused on theatrics
as the mainstay of their show, John Michael’s smooth vibe returned his audience
to the days when good music was the backbone of a performance.
As Dwele takes the stage, it is immediately clear why his
career has experienced such longevity. As mentioned earlier, live performance has
become a lost art in today’s R&B. Many shows are full of theatrics and
unnecessary nuances that do little to highlight the artist’s musical abilities
and talents.
With Dwele, the art of performing was ever present.
Throughout his set, Dwele displayed an incredible level of showmanship, playing
to every member of his audience, making the ladies swoon and becoming an “audio
Hallmark card” for the gentlemen who couldn’t put their feelings to song.
As if his stage presence wasn’t enough to entertain the
packed theater, Dwele takes his show into the audience, giving them a very up
close and very personal performance. Fans of Dwele got to join him in their
favorite songs, sneak a hug from the performer and even pose for on the spot
photo ops with the soul star.
For most of the 20th century, The Howard Theatre
enthralled audiences with music, dance and comedy. Thursday, both John Michael
and Dwele did their part to ensure this legacy will continue well into the 21st
century.
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