Nikkole/ Performing at The Mint / Los Angeles, California / September 27th
Reviewed by Tori Kyes
Nikkole
is not just your average female singer / songwriter / producer. In fact,
her performance at The Mint in Los Angeles on September 27th proved
that in case you accidentally lump her under the lackluster popstress
category, you shouldn’t. She deserves to be recognized as the talented
Grammy-nominated pop/neo-soul powerhouse that she is. If for whatever
reason you don’t believe me, ask the standing room only crowd in attendance
at the sold-out show on Sunday night.
When it was time for the Nikkole to come on, her band mounted the stage first, dressed to the nines and looking like a perfect fit for the classy, old-school ambience of The Mint, as they began playing a cool, funk/soul intro. Her back up singers appeared next, dropping off party beads to various audience members on the way to the stage, and setting up the fun vibe that was set to ensue.
Once Nikkole appeared, the funk/soul began with the first single off of her third studio album, Creolepatra, entitled “Exotic,” which is a true testament to Nikkole’s exuberant and fittingly “exotic” personality, as well as her ability to make you dance. In fact, she spent much of the first track warming up the audience, encouraging folks to dance and sway to the music.
She then moved through a few fast numbers with “Drive You Crazy,” “Wach U No,” and “Waiting,” before settling on the sultry sound of the Grammy nominated song “Breathe,” which quickly became a personal favorite. Apparently it was a crowd favorite too, which was evident from the cat calls and the “I love this song!” comments resounding from my neighbors.
“Breathe,” starts off slowly, as the tinkling of the ivories are allowed to reverberate through the crowd in one of the most beautiful piano entrances that you will hear. Just when you thought the sound could not get any more powerful, it was followed up with compelling complementary guitar swells, tugging just slightly on your heart strings. While the instrumentation was moving, Nikkole’s vocals intertwined with the powerful lyrics, “I wanna blow like the wind / Catch my breath again / Learn to live free from the voices within,” which were particularly emotive and spoke to many who are facing hardships in their lives.
Nikkole honored a fan’s request from her sophomore album, Girl Like Me, and performed a great rendition of "Amazing," touching on the redeeming grace of powerful, amazing relationships. This song sends a loud message that Nikkole’s vocal talent alone puts her very close to being included in a special class reserved for artists such as Mary J. Blige and Mariah Carey. She even broke the song down in the middle to truly give you a sample of her pitch perfect five octave range.
“Gon’ Bounce,” a fun, hip-hop induced track that introduced us to her rap skills, which, although unexpected, she managed to pull off with ease.
Nikkole ended the second half of her set with two notorious songs, the first being “I Really Need You,” showcasing the true harmonic abilities of her backup singers, Wallace Hall and Amy Jones. The next song “Love was Made in Heaven,” was originally recorded and released with Everette Harp, and it feels very reminiscent of early Motown. “Love Was Made In Heaven,” a song which has occupied a spot in the Top 10 of LA i-Tunes, and has received double Grammy nominations proved to be a crowd favorite. A live saxophone instead of relying on a backing track, would have greatly added to the overall performance of this particular song.
In closing out her set, Nikkole amped up the vibe again with the funk-infused “Are You Satisfied.” In the middle of the song, she took the time to introduce her amazing band, offering all of them the beautiful introductions and solo shots that they deserved.
At The Mint, Nikkole proved she was more than just another gorgeous woman with a voice. She has talent, she spans genres, and she offers something unique in an often over-saturated, over-looked market. She introduces something new to the world of Neo Soul and she’s not afraid to have fun by letting her rap, R&B, and funk tendencies shine through on their own merit. Add to that a solid, top-notch band with perfectly tight timing, and you have an amazing show that should not be missed.
Sept 27th, 2009
Riveting Riffs wishes to thank The Mint and SE Entertainment Records for making it possible for us to review this Gig
Los
Angeles based writer Tori Kyes is the CEO for plastick.media a digital
entertainment group that specializes in new media for the entertainment
industry (digital marketing, cutting-edge video, press / public relations,
design and branding).
Visit Plastick Media online.
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