DIVINE BROWN @ Cabaret Du Musee

By DJ Solespin - Eclectricity - 02/20/2009

I have been a big fan of Divine Brown since her debut CD was released a few years ago, when a copy of Love Chronicles arrived at CJLO.  Since then, I have played her music steadily on my show and waited patiently for her February 20th Cabaret Du Musee concert.

I arrived at the venue to see opening act Sean Jones in the lobby meeting, greeting, posing and signing copies of his This Is Love CD.  I did not wait long to get my copy signed.  I missed his performance, but was content to have met him and for the autograph.

Not too long afterwards, I walked through the doors to hear the sounds of Divine Brown and company.  She was backed by two singers, three dancers and a small band.  There were a lot of people on both floors of the venue.  I chose to stay on the ground floor near the bar for an easy exit at the end of the show.  It was also ideal to objectively view the concert.

The initial crowd reaction to “Old Skool Love” was textbook.  I was surprised that she performed it so early in the set.  It was possibly the third or fourth song.  I am not sure if this happens at all concerts now, but the majority of the crowd raised and pointed their cameras and phones to the stage and sang along.  It was a touching moment.  I was nostalgic, remembering playing the original and reggae versions to the song on my show weeks after returning to CJLO in 2006.  I did not expect to hear “Old Skool Love” so soon in the night and worried it was a mistake.  I wondered if she ever performed the reggae version for audiences as well.

Songs like “Meet Me at the Roxy”, “Bebe” and “Twist My Hair” were all performed and received.  Vocally, Divine Brown was in fine form.  Her voice was powerful or sensitive when need be and there were no bad notes.  I realized early enough that I was in the presence of one of Canada’s finest urban vocalists.

The choreographies were simple enough for her to join her dancers for a few tunes.  She introduced a guitarist that did a blistering solo.  I was amused by his antics while playing.  The young man in the black leather jacket had a nice mix of confidence, determination and subdued flamboyance while playing. 

The concert ran longer than I expected or was prepared for.  Clocking in at nearly over two hours, I felt that Divine Brown truly gave the audience their money’s worth.  The finale was another surprise, but the seeds were planted throughout the show.  The guitarist and rock music sound gave the impression that Divine Brown had either a rocker past or at least an interest.  Her performance of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” made me a believer.  Seeing and hearing one of my favourite female urban music singers covering one of the most iconic arena rock songs of all times will be marked as one of my best concert experiences for 2009.