As a fan of soul music, I was immediately drawn in to the hype surrounding British singer/songwriter Amy Winehouse. It truly is amazing how well the 23-year-old channels jazz greats such as Etta James and Billie Holiday. However, her ability to shift her voice into heartbreak and drama transports us to an era where girl groups like the Chiffons and Shangri-Las ruled the airwaves.
On April 26, Winehouse opened for the English new rave band, Klaxons, at Popscene in San Francisco. Entering the venue, the vibe was apparent; more than half the crowd was there for Ms. Winehouse. With the recent release of her second album, Back to Black on the rise, the crowd was ready and anxious to be intoxicated by the sultry retro soul the songstress is known for.
Winehouse, unfortunately, was also ready to be intoxicated. Upon gracing the stage with her presence, she skipped the expected, "Hello San Francisco!" and instead offered a kiss on the lips to anyone who would buy her a Jack and Coke.
After the first number, it was clear that Ms. Winehouse began drinking well before she came on stage. Her vocals were sloppy and distant. Her eyelids were heavy as she gripped the mic. But, the crowd didn't seem to mind. They were all in awe of her presence (or possibly, her massive beehive hair-do) and were quick to get excited when she sang, "Me & Mr. Jones," and the "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" melody-laced "Tears Dry on Their Own."
The audience rejoiced when the tune to Lauryn Hill's "Doo Wop (That Thing)" came in for a quick cover. This was Amy's time to shine. She could have easily proven to us that she is at Ms. Hill's level but instead traded verses with her male backup singers and handed them the moment to steal her show. A moment that held promise, ended in disappointment.
As if almost planned, after another request of alcohol (this time, two shots of tequila), Winehouse went right into her hit, "Rehab." The audience almost seemed to agree that she didn't need rehab, singing along with her, "No, No, Nooo..." Winehouse's smashed vocal chords begged to differ.
The short set ended with "You Know I'm No Good," a track made popular with Winehouse's appearance on Ghostface Killah's late 2006 release, More Fish. As soon as the horns hit, I knew that was the highlight of the evening. The horns were impeccable; they gave me chills. It has to be noted that the band backing her up or, in this case, holding her up, were the amazing Dap Kings, who normally play with soul sister Sharon Jones. In the few moments Winehouse's voice actually reached its strongest it was only to keep up with the band.
I am well aware of Amy Winehouse's infamous drunk performances widely viewed on YouTube. However, I walked in to Popscene giving her the benefit of the doubt hoping she knew the importance of winning over an audience to keep loyal fans jonesin' for more. Unfortunately, Winehouse failed. No one asked for more and on my way out all I heard was how amazing the band was. Change your ways, Amy. Seeing such promising talent burn out so soon would be a shame.
The above video is concert footage of Amy Winehouse @ Popscene in San Francisco; April 26, 2007
