Janelle Monae at Tripod on June 29th 2011
Review: Aisling O’Brien
Photos: Natalie Byrne
The hottest ticket in town last week was for Janelle Monae on Wednesday. The Kansas native had Tripod rammed, on and off the stage. Her mammoth production dwarfed the venue. With 14 performers on stage, things could get a little chaotic, and they did but in a good way. Every singer, dancer and musician has their place in this spectacle.
Fresh from a superb appearance at Glastonbury, Ms Monae had a lot to live up to. Arriving on stage concealed in her trademark cape and belting out Overture followed but Dance or Die, we’re off to a flying start. She doesn’t interact with the audience much, a trend which continues throughout the gig. I feel that it adds a certain mystery which adds to the feeling of the performance.
As well as playing her own tunes she adds in I Want You Back by The Jackson 5, which goes down a storm, My Cherie Amour by Stevie Wonder and Take Me With You by Prince. Sometimes I can be wary of covers but she pulled it and everything else out of the bag.
Rounding up the show with Cold War and Tightrope. The crowd were showered with monochrome confetti in keeping with the perfectly co-ordinated costumes on stage, which all had a retro/mo-town type feel about them. It is clear to see that everything of this production was intricately thought out and choreographed.
The crowd waited in anticipation for the encore as the band made their way back onstage. We are treated to Neon Valley Street, The Family Stone’s Underdog and War of the Roses, all packed with as much energy and fun displayed throughout.
After the encore, Janelle and her ArchOrchestra come back on stage and each member is introduced to the beaming crowd. Although this is her third time playing Ireland, I think this has a feeling of a breakthrough gig, and one we’ll all be looking back on saying ‘I was there’.