Life has been nothing short of crazy lately but, as most
Michael fans know, nothing soothes the soul like a good dose of Michaeling.
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| the Who's Bad guys |
The first time I went to see Who’s Bad was in 2011, at BB
Kings here in NYC. That day just happened to be my birthday so, it was a
special treat for sure. At the time, I
had just made a ton of great MJ fan friends and seeing this band was just one
of many events that we frequented. Recently my life has changed so much in
terms of what I do on a day to day basis, so this time I really had to push
myself to go. After working almost a 70 hour work week, I found myself sitting
at my desk on a Friday night still having paperwork to do. At 7:30 I finally
pulled myself together and made my way to Brooklyn to meet up with good friends
of mine.
The show was slated to start at 8pm but, Who’s Bad didn’t
come on until 2 hours later. The opening act was pretty cool though (Kwame
Bones) and performed lots of fun songs like Stevie Wonder’s “Superstitious” and
the Rolling Stones “Satisfaction”. When Who’s Bad came to the stage, we were
totally amped up and ready to ROCK!
The Who’s Bad show has several points that make the show
super enjoyable and something that I will see time and time again. First of
all, the band is awesome. It’s one thing to listen to Michael Jackson music in
a club setting but, to hear the music played live and to see band members
interact, dance, sing background vocals, AND play instruments is pretty much
unheard of. The two background dancers were also a great addition especially for songs like "They Don't Care About Us," "Thriller," and the Drill.
I have to talk about Taalib York, the lead and main tribute artist who performs as Michael.
I have never been a fan of the tribute artist or the “impersonator” in general but, I was so impressed and touched by Taalib’s performance. On stage he seemed to be himself and wasn't on stage trying too hard to be Michael-esque, had on just the right amount of makeup, and didn't try to change his speaking voice (that I could tell) to mimic Michael’s in any way. That being said, Taalib captured the essence of Michael Jackson and totally embodied his spirit and on stage personality- not to mention his interaction with the audience was great. He is also very down-to-earth and came down to take photos and chat with family, friends, and fans. I left Brooklyn Bowl last night with an extreme feeling of gratitude. I believe that when Taalib is on the stage, he is a vessel for Michael’s performing spirit to shine through. For that, I am grateful that he has dedicated a part of his life to doing this show for the past ten years. Not every tribute artist can evoke that type of feeling in a fan (and I’ve seen my fair share of these type of shows).
Overall, it was an exhilarating time and just what I needed. They perform all of the hits and even some unexpected songs. I would love to hear see them perform some different songs but, that may come in time I suppose. I plan on seeing them again whenever they come to town and recommend the Who’s Bad Ultimate Michael Jackson tribute band show to any and all MJ fans.
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| (love this place) |
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| (me with Taalib) |
You guys, going to see that show last night was like hitting the reset button for me. I just needed it. I needed it and I am so thankful to have the passion and love for Michael in my life that I do. It's something that has kept me sane and helps put so much into perspective for me. What has your experience been with tribute bands? Have you ever seen Who’s Bad before?
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Before seeing Who's Bad for the first time in 2012, I wasnt even remotely interested in impersonators. I didnt even know there was a difference between that and "tribute artists" until I met local ones, namely Mikette, Moses Harper, Gritty James and Aamir Smith. Since seeing Who's Bad I have come to appreciate what they do. There are far more lifelong fans who have not had a chance to see Michael perform live in person but these guys are pretty much the next best thing in my book. I am completely blown away each and everytime I see them. The band is phenomenal and dont get me started on the horn section, those guys next to Taalib himself are the Life of the Party! I am seriously counting down the days for when they come back to NYC.
ReplyDeleteWho's Bad came to NYC during my birthday week in 2013. What a gift, so I know exactly how you feel. :) The first time I actually saw them was July 2012. I was in shock and could not believe my eyes and ears. It was as if my dream came true seeing a Michael Jackson Concert. I love them so much. Such down to Earth people.
ReplyDeletehello everyone how are you gays doing
ReplyDeleteI saw a Michael Jackson tribute artist (Micah Isaacs) the day before my birthday this past year. What an amazing birthday! I saw Who's Bad a couple of years ago. My husband said to me after the show, "You must have enjoyed the show. You were sitting on the edge of the seat throughout the entire show!"
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