Live Review: Kelis, Jones Jr

A couple of lads from Sydney who coincidentally share the surname Jones come together as Jones Jnr to give us their rather electronic  take on deep, smooth soul and R&B vibes. 

Thundamental’s DJ Morgs works a laptop and turntable to give us sampled beats that mine the dusty vinyl of yesteryear to spin retro fragments of sound into modern groove. Meanwhile, Ev Jones works the crowd with a cheeky smile and cheesy dance moves that come across as a little twee. As Jones croons his way through the set his vocals impressively ooze plenty of soul, emotion and power as it’s needed.  Playing tunes off The Soultape 2 they really get cooking when they play Without Me. There aren’t too many local acts pushing this sound and this makes Jones Jnr sound pleasingly fresh.

This year Kelis’ delicious album Food provides the R&B singer with a soulful makeover that gives her critics plenty of food for thought.  No longer the dive-esque electro house glamamazon that came to Australia a few years ago, Kelis has a penchant for reinvention and with this incarnation she strips it all back for a more mature and honest approach. Still there’s no denying Kelis loves her bling. She sparkles in a sequined dress on a stage draped in gold lame.

The show kicks off with a cover of Nina Simone’s much loved Feeling Good which allows Kelis to show off the deep smoky huskiness of her voice.  As they reel off tunes from her latest album, Kelis and her band nail a classic funk soul sound. Breakfast is always the most important meal of the day and Cobbler sees her dealing Mariah Carey-esque squeals that showcase her vocal range to brilliant effect.

The funky strut of Friday Fish Fry with flourishes of afrobeat feels instantly classic. Reflecting on the past Kelis acknowledges that she’s been in the business for sixteen years but is pleased that her fans still look ‘pretty cute’. Jaunty funked up versions of Millionaire, Trick Me and Milkshake put a Motown spin on old hits while 4th of July and Bounce are turned into pulsating jazzy workouts.  A stunning version of Labri Siffre’s Bless The Telephone is an encore comedown.

Floyd wistfully ends the show with Kelis wanting to be blown away but fans who danced the night away were well and truly.