Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center @ the University of Maryland, Dekelboum Concert Hall: Mavis Staples

 Mavis Staples is living musical royalty.  Born in the summer of 1939, every inch of her 85-year-old body (and she's just a little peanut of a person) reverberates with joy, and grace and then...  She opens her mouth and suddenly Howlin' Wolf appears!  I don't know how she sings on key through such a range and even more impressive variety of tones.  She can begin a phrase in a bluesy bullfrog baritone and rise up to something sweet and crystalline.  Best known for her passion raspy shout-singing executed with equal finesse whether in the service of Gospel, Blues, or Civil Rights folk songs, she also has an amazing soft and nuanced side when she wants.  

The concert lasted just over an hour and 20 minutes.  She was joined on stage by three musicians (drums, bass and electric guitar), two back-up singers and an ASL interpreter.  At times she caught herself and took a breath, but then came just as or even stronger.  Between the 12 songs she shared little vignettes from her past stories involving collaborators like Etta James and David Byrne.  After singing "Friendship" (which received a standing ovation from the audience) she relayed through teary eyes the fact that this was the last song her father "Pops" Staple ever sang.

A few years ago I had a ticket to see Aretha Franklin perform at the Kennedy Center.  It was meant to be the keynote performance for the Washington National Opera's annual Gala.  She got sick and was substituted by Cynthia Erivo.  Attendees only found out on the night of the event.  Cynthia is amazing, but she's no Aretha.  And then Aretha died.  I can say I didn't make that mistake with Mavis, and I am so glad that I had the chance to see this national treasure perform live.

Unlike the incredibly disrespectful lesbian couple sitting in front of me, I didn't take out my phone to take any photographs.  They were so annoying that someone from the staff came down (3 row from stage center orchestra) to tell them to knock it off.  These people knew what the ground rules were and just decided that somehow they were entitled and copyright law didn't apply to them.  Arrogance is why our world is going to hell in and handbasket... [Now, breathe and step carefully off of the Soap Box.]

This image was taken at an earlier concert performed at the University of Chicago with some of the same members of her ensemble.  [L-R: Katie Hodges, Sophia Williams, and Rick Holmstrum]