WYCLEF JEAN @ Metropolis

By Sinbad Richardson - There You Have It Folks! - 02/28/2008

“Like this Montreal! Like this!” Wyclef bounced his arm before a growingly tired Metropolis crowd. The set began with the enigmatic performance of an unfamiliar melody on a grand piano. The crowd knew the song but I did not. Wyclef wore a carnival mask and a black plastic jacket which he tore off as he stood up. Strangely, the piano kept playing, and then the beat kicked in. Before long, everyone at the venue had their hands in the air and were completely enthused. Any resistance to the energy in the room was beat with a cover of House of Pain’s “Jump Around.” This first part of the show was awesome -- it felt like one of those parties that you always remember and use to compare every other party you ever go to. “I never play the same show twice!” Wyclef said to his die hard fans who had returned for the second night in a row.

Then a roadie handed him a guitar and the show took a new direction. We heard the more soulful side of Jean with songs like “Gone Till November” from way back and Bob Marley’s “No Woman No Cry” sung from a Brooklyn point of view. After setting up a laid back atmosphere, however, it proved difficult to bring the crowd back up to the bouncin’ dance hall stylings of the final part of the set.

Overall, the performance was on point for Wyclef, if not for the out-of-time changes of pace. There was an unsettling political overcast which was heightened during “Wyclef For President.” Haitian flags flew and Obama was praised. So far so good, but the air was pinched by comments about Bush Jr. and the tragedies of war in relation to the situation in Iraq. It was difficult to balance the freedom of beats that just take over and the harsh reality that is the mess left behind by George W. Bush. Should we be getting our political opinions from musicians? Maybe, but not in between waving your hands chanting “I came to get down, so jump around!” Sense-escaping beats and political messages can be mingled but it was not achieved at the Metropolis last night.

Wyclef’s voice was accessible, inclusive and most of all energetic, and this show was on point if not for small bumps in the road. It was like one of those parties that you remember as being awesome except for a brief, extremely awkward moment.

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