Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings in the Dallas Palladium Showroom

My expectations for Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings at the Palladium Showroom in Dallas were high. Even though they specialize in Motown funk, they were one of the “buzz-bands” at SXSW this past Spring. I had wanted to catch them in Austin, but logistics were not in my favor. I’d seen some performance videos, and heard some mighty praise from others, but I’d yet to see Sharon Jones for myself.

When I arrived at the Palladium Ballroom, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals had already taken the stage. They just about burned the place down. The crowd was whipped into a frenzy by Grace’s fiery performance.

After the usual wait for set change, The Dap-Kings started their set. I was skeptical of the whole “retro” vibe and thought it might turn cheesy. The term “show band” kept popping into my head as the Dap-Kings played their Bobby Blue Bland introduction and frothed up the crowd in anticipation of Sharon Jones’ arrival onstage. The band sported a full horn section, background singers, and a little dose of attitude.

Sharon Jones hit the stage like a spark hitting a gasoline spill. Her energetic performance lit up the stage. The crowd swooned as she worked us, never standing still. The fringe on her sequined and fringed dress was always moving and usually flying straight out as she twirled. She pulled men from the audience up on stage and danced closely with them as she sang. One tall and shy guy kept adjusting his glasses as she sang “If I Give You My Love” close in.

She pulled many women from the audience up for “How Do I Let a Good Man Down”. It turned into a shimmy-fest, with Sharon spotlighting small groups and encouraging them to dance as they shimmied offstage. The audience loved it, and encouraged the women to keep hamming it up.

Songs from “The Hard Way”, their recent release, dominated the set. Her performance was genuine, and she lit up and connected with smiling fans. I was lucky enough to scoot close enough to rest my elbow on the stage while trying to capture some images with my phone camera. Just about every shot was blurred; she was covering every inch of the stage. She closed with “100 Days, 100 Nights”, with just about everyone dancing along.

Yes, my expectations were high for this show – and they were exceeded by a fringed dynamo in a sequined dress. It was a fun, fun show. I’m looking forward to catching Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings the next time they swing through.

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