We got a couple of very different takes on the Jan. 9 Lauryn Hill show at the Orange Peel.
Here’s a dispatch from Jake Frankel:
The Lauryn Hill who’s often been portrayed in the media as estranged and uneven was nowhere to be found at the Orange Peel. Instead, Asheville fans were treated to a vibrant Jan. 9 performance that showcased the astounding skills and charisma that have earned the emcee/singer world-wide acclaim.
After a decade out of the spotlight and with no new album to support, Hill dug heavily into her old Fugees and Miseducation catalogue. But L-Boogie didn’t just rehash the old hits; she revamped them with eccentric new arrangements that were sometimes staggering in their diversity.
The opening cover of Bob Marley’s “Forever Loving Jah” (Hill is married to Marley’s son, Rohan) integrated rock, soul and swing into its reggae foundation. She similarly flipped the script on “Lost Ones,” transforming the tune into a dancehall banger before it almost took a distressing turn into metal-guitar territory. Frantic versions of Fugees classics like “How Many Mics” worked well, giving Hill a chance to show off why many fans consider her to be the best female rapper in history. She also went ahead and spit Wyclef and Pras’ verses – laying to rest any doubts that she could do justice to the songs without their help.
But R&B tunes like “Ex-Factor” suffered under the sped-up pace, losing the subtle sexiness that helped give them there poignancy. While the creative takes on her classics were always interesting, sometimes it seemed fans would have been happier to get the chance to swivel their hips and sing-along to the old versions they knew and loved.
Still, the room was fiery with folks who came out despite the threat of snow, and Hill seemed to sincerely appreciate and feed off of the love. She worked the sold-out crowd like a true master of ceremonies, repeatedly improving shout-outs to Asheville and joking that “the ‘ash’ in the name of the town might come from crowds who know how to burn down the house.” She was joined on stage by a proficient 12-person ensemble, but the group of musicians and singers didn’t seem to rise to her level of skill. Strangely, several of them looked like a rag-tag group of hipsters who had been plucked off the streets of Williamsburg — it was a stark contrast to Hill, who came out dressed in a classy black jacket, an assortment of gold bling, and a big furry red hat. You never would have known that she was suffering from a cold until she revealed it; she looked healthy and youthful — especially for a mother of five — and all but the highest singing notes remained in her firm command.
She got better as the 90-minute set went on, and absolutely brought the house down with an encore version of “Doo Wop (That Thing).” Hopefully the rumors of a new album and a more sustained return to the spotlight will come true. Despite a few failed experiments in remixing, on this night Hill proved that she still has “that thing” that propelled her to stardom all those years ago.
And here’s some thoughts from Kim Roney:
“I wanna be where the people are…”
I started with minimal expectation when I heard Lauryn Hill was playing the Orange Peel. “I’d like to go, sure. Could be fun to see her do the old favorites —don’t you think?” The expectations started to pile on the day of the show, as Sunday threatened to end under a thick blanket of snow.
Hearing of her reputation for tardiness, I asked the question-of-the-day: Who’s opening for Lauryn Hill? Needing to entertain a large crowd for an indefinite time, it makes perfect sense to start the evening with a dance party! Whitney Shroyer started the evening off on the right foot, warming the sea of people with funk and soul sounds familiar to many Ashevillians looking for a Saturday-night dance partner.
The transition around 10:30 led me to believe show time was near. The touring DJ was, however, fixed on having a hip-hop sing-a-long, which made me realize I still had a bit of a wait before the princess would take stage. The onslaught of references to our current location started, as the DJ called out “Asheville!” in an attempt to encourage crowd participation. I get just as excited as the next person when an out-of-town artist makes reference to my home while they’re on stage, but over and over and over again? It’s not like it’s under the sea!
Add to that the constant halting of the music for audience sing-a-long, and I wonder if even half of the set had actual music being played.
Before running totally out of air, the DJ was joined on stage by the rest of the band members —14 total. We were really sure show time was near when Nas’ “If I Ruled the World” came over the speakers, complete with Hill’s vocals. Not live vocals, mind you, she was still not to be seen on stage for another 20 minutes after that!
Like other shows on the tour, Bob Marley’s “Forever Loving Jah” was the opening song. The Princess floated onto stage, still wrapped brightly in her winter coat, scarf, and magenta-rimmed hat. The next hour and a half, the Orange Peel was filled with fans screaming along to their favorite Fugees and Lauren Hill songs.
Similar to the times any song from the Little Mermaid is played near a group of 2 or more 20-something girls, you can count on the fans to out-sing the original vocalist! The cover of “Killing me Softly” was a bit over the top, which is to be expected from a soul diva, and “Doo Wop” was a rushed finish, but overall well sung.
From a musician’s perspective, it seems Ms. Hill could be one for making waves. I’m still not sure the need is justified for three guitars, two bass players, two sets of keys, full-on drums, and a dj, as well as the back-up singers. If I were the crab telling the Princess how to stay relevant and make her diva dreams come true, I’d have to suggest simplifying the sound and finding something to build empathy with your audience other than the name of the town. Oh yeah, and write some new stuff that will grow and last with your audience, or you might end up a fast has-been, remembered by the fans who learned your songs when we were kids.
Here’s the original blog post:
Ms. Lauryn Hill took the stage at 11:43 p.m. last night, according to Twitter reports. She then wowed the crowd so much they stopped tweeting…
Watch mountainx.com for full reviews, and check out these shots from Rich Orris.
A few dispatches from Timmy Smith, aka SocialLifeAvl (these were originally 140-character tweets):
“As for the Lauryn Hill show, it was EPIC. Don’t believe the negative blogs. Voice was clear, she showed emotion, & got better late in show
She performed new material that can sustain her career, good radio music. Because she is Lauryn Hill, you kinda don’t want hear new music.
In a concert that is. She has so many hits that you wanna relive her old records. I believe Fugee La was the peak of the show. Mad energy
Last nite I saw so many smiles. I saw love, friendships, relationships, support, and honesty. Definitely a nite to remember.”
Read his full review on his blog.
Some of the early Twitter traffic was based on the singer’s apparent tardiness:
From @robinplemmons: So, the rumor is Lauryn Hill is running late cause she’s playing angry birds. #halloweenversion #LHAVL
From @robinplemmons: Just heard that Lauryn Hill is running late cause she’s watching herself on Sister Act 2. #LHAVL
From @robinplemmons: An informant just informed me that Lauryn Hill is running late cause she’s double clicking her mouse. #LHAVL
From JAR_E: I hear that Lauren Hill is running late because she’s coming all the way from 1998. #lhavl
concert review: http://jimmyquetron.studentbs.com/2011/01/11/lhavl/