Mavis Staples – ASB Theatre April 19, 2017

 

Mavis Staples, aged 77, proved why she is one of the most important voices of the past century, keeping the work of her father Pops Staples, alive and making it relevant to today’s audience during her show at Auckland’s ASB Theatre.

One person who is aware of the significance of Mavis Staples’ work is Tami Neilson, who opened the show.

Tami and her crack band, including guitarists Brett Adams and Neil Watson, was positively brimming with excitement about sharing the bill with one of her idols.

Like Mavis, Tami was brought up in a musical family and, like Mavis, she paid tribute to her late father by performing his songs. Of course she has plenty of her own tunes to show off as well and they all sounded fantastic.

I spoke to a few audience members after the show who had only heard Tami’s recorded work and never seen her perform live. They were truly blown away by her vocal power and passion in a live setting.

Tami will be touring soon…be sure to catch her.

Mavis has a hot band with her as well. Although there are only three instruments, they make a heavenly sound…guitarist Rick Holmstrom, bass player Jeff Turmes and drummer Stephen Hodges along with backing vocalists Vicki Randle and “Deacon” Donny Gerrard.

Of course its Mavis’ iconic contralto that is the centrepiece of the show. When I last saw her a few years ago, she sounded like she was fading a bit, but this time around finds her singing as strong as ever.

Of course there were plenty of Staple Singers hits…Respect Yourself, If You’re Ready (Come Go With Me), Touch A Hand, Make A Friend and I’ll Take You There.

Her performance of Talking Heads’ Slippery People was an early highlight.

“That David Byrne!” she exclaimed after rocking the house with the tune she and her family recorded back in 1984.

There was plenty of love in the house as Mavis engaged in banter with the audience.

“We love you, Mavis!” someone called out.

“I love you more!” she countered.

Her mission was clear:

“We are here to bring you song joy, bring you some happiness, inspiration and some positive vibrations”, she told the adoring crowd.

And that’s just what she did…whether she was regaling us with tales of banana puddin’ or marching with Dr Martin Luther King in Selma, Alabama, Mavis was totally enthralling.

By the end, everyone was up on their feet clapping and singing along to I’ll Take You There.

The encore was, of course, The Weight.

I would have loved to have seen Tami join Mavis on stage to share a verse with her idol, but it didn’t happen.

Nevertheless, a truly inspiring evening of music.

Marty Duda

Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Chris Zwaagdyk:

 

Mavis Staples set list:

1. If You’re Ready (Come Go With Me)
2. Take Us Back
3. Slippery People
4. What You Gonna Do
5. Respect Yourself
6. Get Together
7. Love And Trust
8. Freedom Highway
9. One Love
10. We’re Gonna Make It
11. Touch A Hand, Make A Friend
12. Dedicated
13. I’ll Take You There
14. The Weight