Nikkole / The Key Club / Los Angeles / February 20th

Reviewed by Susan Ferrari

There was a non-stop beat on the night of February 20^th, during the NBA All-Star weekend at the Key Club in Los Angeles, where the singer/songwriter /producer Nikkole was on the bill opening for Bobby Brown. The crowd warmed up before and between artists with a generous mix of hip-hop and old school favorites courtesy of DJ Unknown, whose banner declared “We shake buildings worldwide.”  DJ Unknown did not fail to deliver on his promise, seeming to know just what the audience wanted at every moment.  He was helped by the host of the show at the microphone, who urged the audience to get into the music with every change.

Nikkole and her band took to the stage determined to keep that high energy flowing and immediately launched into a tightly choreographed set of songs, reflecting her disco, R&B, and hip-hop influences.  Flanked by her male and female backup singers, Nikkole danced confidently while reaching out to the audience on the dance floor.  Her singing voice spanned several octaves, from a low growl to screaming notes in the upper range, and she used that dynamically in every song. Her band, consisting of bass, drums, guitar, and synthesizer, worked hard with a no-nonsense style, while the rhythm section played as a unit throughout the set, and the guitarist occasionally stepped up with a blistering solo as a counterpart to the vocals.

Nikkole and her musicians were able to stretch out on the downtempo songs, including her current single, an R&B ballad about love lost with a yearning chorus called “I Wanna Be.” Another ballad, “Love Was Made in Heaven,” was a crowd-pleaser with its lush harmonies.  She introduced the funky song “Lollipop” by saying that she had picked it especially for this gig, perhaps referring to the majority of Bobby Brown fans at the venue. It seemed natural to follow that playful, sexy tune with “Are you Satisfied?” during which she asked “Are you feeling me?”  Nikkole and her backup singers drew the crowed in with their desire to deliver the song, ending dramatically with their arms upraised.

The highlight of the set came at the end as the band continued to build a groove. Nikkole ended with another of her singles, “Gon’ Bounce,” and it was on this song that she hit, literally and figuratively, her highest note. The long, extended coda gave everyone in the band a chance to take their music to the next exhilarating level. It is clear that Nikkole is a skillful songwriter as well as a performer and she has put together a band that is comfortable and convincing with her material. They were a fitting opening act for the main attraction of the night.

The room, including the VIP tables along the walls, was close to full when Bobby Brown finally came on stage just before midnight. It was a family affair for Bobby, as his sister was there celebrating her birthday and his son sang with him.  His larger than life presence was what everyone was waiting for, and it didn’t take long for audience and musicians to get re-energized by the music of this legendary hip-hop and R&B pioneer of New Jack Swing.

Susan Ferrari is a musician and writer. She currently reviews shows for Riveting Riffs in both Boston and Los Angeles.