“Holy Saddle Shoes Crusaders, It’s Janelle Monae!”
Tuesday evening I ventured into Arlington’s Iota Cafe for what was to be ” a really big shew“. Yet even with the quaint venue’s unseasonably decor of Christmas lights, I remained for what was to be nothing short of a revival. Bad Boy’s latest signing and Outkast protégé, Janelle Monae transformed Iota into Metropolis and I, boys and girls, was it’s Lois Lane.
Now I had already been sold on Ms. Monae via “the space” and youtube. Yet this was my first time witnessing the barely 5 foot phenomenon live and now I can truly testify, “that I’m a believer!” I have officially converted to Janellenism or Monaeism , you decide. On Monae’s album “Metropolis, The Chase Suite”, released August 12th, she portrays Cindi Mayweather, an android on the lamb after falling in love with a human named Anthony Greendown. According to the new century rules, androids cannot love, so therefore Cindi is being hunted and faces disassembly.
Monae plays out Cindi’s adventure onstage in a full-out production as if she was hosting a musical version of “The Outer Limits”. The smoke and a spot/strobe light that emanates from the back of the stage makes Monae appear as if she’s just landed on earth. By all accounts she gives off every inkling that she’s of the supernatural kind. She stomps and writhes in robotic fashion to her futuristic hip hop-a-billy anthem “Violet Stars Happy Hunting.” which has been likened to a more bouncy “Hey Ya”. Donning her signature white tuxedo, Colonel tie, and slick pompadour: Monae along with drummer YoungPete and guitarist Kellindo , waste no time shaking up the congregation. It was as if I was in a deleted scene from “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” featuring Monae as Prince and Shirley Bassey’s lovechild.
Monae rushes the stage with reckless abandon, without caution to literally throw herself into the wind. She leaps, spins, marches and kicks over the mic stand repeatedly from the moment her first saddle shoe hits the dusty stage. If asked I would have sworn I saw cartoonish “Kapow’s” and “Shazam’s” materialize within the smoke as she fearlessly launched into her current single “Many Moons”. “….Moon’s is an infectious tune with chords reminiscent of Gnarls Barkley and a sample from Sesame Street. I mean how can you go wrong with the Sesame Street. 1-2-3-4.5-6-7-8-9-10 11 12.. Monae ends the song with a pulsating conscious rap
“…Moons” was followed by my favorite “Sincerely Jane”, ..the audio equivalent of an after-school special that depicts tales of urban plight and has our heroine asking ” are we really living or just walking dead now?” over a soulful marching track embellished and bathed in a lush string arrangement.
Janelle Monae’s on-stage antics may rival the moves of James Brown, the theatrics of David Bowie and the liveliness of Latin soul queen La Lupe. But let’s not forget this ATLIEN can sing. I mean anyone that can flawlessly take on “Smile”, the 1936 classic written by Charlie Chaplin, John Turner and Geoffrey Parson’s, while adding tasteful flavors is a force. Monae’s luscious, clear and classic vocals accompanied by guitarist Kellindo’s sick twangs was the calm amidst her thunderous performance.
Monae ended the set with “Letting Go”, the underground hit she contributed to the Purple All Stars Compilation produced by Big Boi. Monae channels Michael Jackson on the pulsating dance track with simplistic lyrics about the freedom of being fired that allows one the opportunity to pursue ones dreams. She then, in true rock and roll fashion; bumrushes through the exit door onto the street and into the arms of the 18 and unders who weren’t allowed into the show.
A consummate rockstar onstage and gracious off, Ms. Monae; smiled, laughed, signed cd’s and took flicks well into the evening. Since last year she has made believers throughout the East Coast, The West and even in Oslo, Norway. And most notably with the Diddyman himself, which in that action alone has once again validated his credibility as a tastemaker.
Janelle Monae is hands down an electric talent and gem who hails from the land of pyramids, funk and plenty of green. (the smoking and edible kind) Her original brand of hip hop, funk, theatre, science fiction, and rock and roll is daring and fresh. She is a sonically charged time-traveler who is equipped to lead the revolution to save us all from the diluted and copycat offerings we are fed by today’s ailing industry. She has proven in her unabashedly and unapologetic way that she is future soul’s superhero.
