Steeped in soul

I'm a big fan of soul music, so when I heard Lee Fields & The Expressions were coming to town I naturally decided to go and check it out. I did hem and haw about it since I was working an early shift, but I figured getting up at 8 a.m. instead of noon didn't make the day that much longer ... Anyway, on to Fields, who was bringing his straight up sound to Ritual. Like Sharon Jones, his music comes directly out of the 1960s and 1970s and labels like Hi. Opening up were local crew Slim Moore & The Mar-kays.

Moore has a reggae background, while The Mar-Kays are another Souljazz Orchestra project. They did their set in a traditional way, with an introductory instrumental and a turn from backup singer Mary Caruso. They really dig Syl Johnson and covered Is It Because I'm Black? and Concrete Reservation, along with Mavin Gaye's What's Going On.


Slim Moore & The Mar-Kays at Ritual, May 4, 2012

Slim sings!


Slim Moore & The Mar-Kays at Ritual, May 4, 2012

Singalong action!


Slim Moore & The Mar-Kays at Ritual, May 4, 2012

Lee Fields took the stage in a pair a pair of aviator shades, black suit and what looked like a chartreuse waistcoat and tie (at least under the stage lights -  they do funny things to colour). Here's the man himself!


Lee Fields & The Expressions at Ritual, May 4, 2012

Singalong action! I recognize drummer Homer Steinweiss  from his time backing Sharon Jones, but the other Expressions are new to me.


Lee Fields & The Expressions at Ritual, May 4, 2012

"Put your hands in the air!"


Lee Fields & The Expressions at Ritual, May 4, 2012

A soul-stirring night!

• Show reminder: Eight and a Half and The Gallop perform at Zaphod Beeblebrox; The Reverend Horton Heat, The Real McKenzies and The Brains rock Ritual; The Hornettes bring the funk to Irene's; Loudlove rocks the Rainbow. The Elmdale hosts No Fly List, New Age Soldier and My Favourite Tragedy. Animal Confession, Gini Sigler and One More Me are at the Avant-Garde Bar.