Allen Stone was raised by a preacher and then someone played him Songs in the Key of Life and now we have the tradition of Motown living within a long-haired ginger. According to the wisdom of Cartman, gingers have no soul ... so, this is all very strange. For when Stone opens his mouth and releases that angelic voice onto the world, I picture the sun rising over the horizon. The whole world wakes up when he sings “Consider Me” off his most recent album, Building Balance, released on November 8 last year. My birthday. I’m a scorpio.
I wonder what comes after this soul explosion we are in the midst of? Will it lead to an emergence of angels unlocking the heavens so we can all escape this flaming ball of terror that we live on? I doubt it. The angels aren’t coming, but at least you have songs like "Brown Eyed Lover" to help you get through the damnation.
Listen to "Miscommunicate" off Stone's latest album. You'd think he kidnapped Stevie Wonder and secreted him into the studio. This cut even has the harmonica lilts we've grown fond of from the Motown legend's classic period.
With a track like "Warriors," Stone gives us an anthem to close out the album that has the tempo of one last serious night of dancing and celebration. With his ability to hit the highest notes capable by male earthlings, a song like "Warriors" breathes life into your bones. With Samm Henshaw. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 18 at Culture Room, 3045 N. Federal Hwy., Fort Lauderdale; 954-564-1074; cultureroom.net. Tickets are $29.50 via ticketmaster.com.
Stay ahead of upcoming shows with New Times' South Florida concert schedule.
Black Violins
Dillard High alums Black Violin have managed to pair classical violin and hip-hop to create soulful magic that we should put in a spaceship outfitted with massive speakers and shoot off into space to bump that shit in the stars for the aliens to hear. I’m just saying, they’re really good.Black Violin has been around for a while and to see them gain the prominence is a good sign. The duo are multi-string instrumentalists that give their listener something special that touches the heart. They released an album in November entitled Take the Stairs with the single "One Step," a heartfelt record that reminds us that we have plenty of soldiers in the fight for damn good music. Then go check out the song "Showoff" — they take their string playing to a whole new level, creating an almost trap dance record that mixes their classical senses with the modern world. 8 p.m. Friday, February 21 at Broward Center for Performing Arts, 201 SW Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale; 954-462-0222; browardcenter.org. Tickets start at $16 via ticketmaster.com.