LUCY PEARL

02.09.01
S.O.B.'S
NYC

Following in the flashy footsteps of artists such as P-Funk, Chic and Prince, R&B supergroup Lucy Pearl had the packed house raving to their classics-in-the-making. Core members DJ Ali Shaheed Muhammed (ex-A Tribe Called Quest), singer/guitarist Raphael Saadiq (ex-Tony! Toni! Tone!) and new addition Joi (who recently replaced ex-En Vogue diva Dawn Robinson), rocked like a well-oiled machine with their loose, sexy grooves and air-tight performance, backed by a full band.

Combining the sweaty, party-inspiring sounds of '70s funk, soul/R&B and hard rock with a glammed-up, electric visual appeal, the ultra-dynamic Lucy Pearl demonstrated why they are quickly becoming one of the hottest live acts of the new millennium. The smooth, mellower flow of their spring 2000 self-titled debut gives way to a raw, more unleashed sound and vision when fleshed out on the stage with live instruments. Anyone capable of resisting the group's soulful jams and inviting spirit should have their pulse checked immediately.

Shaking her wild, red-feathered petutti like a tall, beautiful bird-creature from Venus, Atlanta's Joi had the crowd enthralled with her natural, provocative sexuality. The soul siren's unaffected, easy moves complimented the music with mouth-watering sexiness just as Saadiq's confidence channeled the strong stage presence of the entire band.

Joi's infectious smile radiated pure sunshine about the room, intriguing us all to the point of craning our necks to catch a better look at her. Vocal interplay between Joi and Saadiq was flawless, soaring above DJ Ali's master mixing and the solid foundation of silvery guitars and muscular backup singing. The sweltering, multi-ethnic atmosphere of beautiful people rocking to the band recalled the height of glamour and decadence of New York City in the '70s.

With a packed-to-the-gills S.O.B.'s and boundless energy flowing between the crowd and the band, things weren't about to cool down. Whether the eight-piece band were pounding revved-up, hard-ass funk down to the earth's core or gliding through blue, soulful waters, you could see from the several hundred smiling, bobbing heads that everyone in the room was experiencing the same pure joy of what they were seeing and hearing in this intimate setting.

- Hal Miller

This review was originally featured on FUBU's Y2G.com.