Ari Lennox – Powerstation March 10, 2020

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There was an autumnal breeze in the air outside Auckland’s Powerstation on Tuesday night but Washington, DC r&b singer Ari Lennox was determined to raise the temperature on stage inside. And she, along with the sold out crowd did just that, sweat and steam rising from the crowd and the stage.

Lennox released her debut album, Shea Butter Baby just about a year ago on J Cole’s new label, Dreamville Records. It seems Cole may be on to a winner.

Lennox and her tight trio of musicians (guitar, keyboard, drums) got the show underway with a slow, sultry Chicago Boy, the first track from the album. The 28-year-old was sounding and looking great, wearing a skirt slit up to her waste, exposing her right leg.

“You’re all real cute”, she commented in between songs and there seemed to be a genuine connection between her and her fans.

The plucky Broke was up next and generated the first singalong of the night.

Afterward Ari again seemed taken with the audience, at one point saying, “You all might be the greatest of all time”.

The hits kept coming…a sexy Cold Outside, from her 2016 EP, PHO, I Been, a fine ballad that had the crowd singing and Up Late, an excellent slow jam with jazzy leanings that showed off Ari’s voice.

A couple of the tunes seemed based on a solid groove, but not much else, but for the most part Ari, her band and her songs kept the crowd enthralled.

An hour later, Ari left the stage, but returned quickly, quipping, “Just kidding!” as she launched into BMO and a bit of “gitchy gitchy ya ya”

After a raunchy Backseat it was all over with Ari Lennox proving to be a talent worth watching (and listening to).

Marty Duda

Ari Lennox Set list:

  1. Chicago Boy
  2. Broke
  3. Whipped Cream
  4. Cold Outside
  5. Goat
  6. I Been
  7. 40 Shades Of Choke
  8. Facetime
  9. Up Late
  10. New Apartment
  11. Speak To Me
  12. Shea Butter Baby
  13. BMO
  14. Backseat
Marty Duda
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