I was finally able to check off one longtime item on my concert-going bucket list at the Corning Museum of Glass on Jan. 30. That’s when the legendary Mavis Staples played one of the best shows I’ve seen in recent years.
For more than 60 years, the Grammy Award-winning Staples has been one of popular music’s most-admired singers. Beginning with her family gospel group the Staple Singers through her recent Jeff Tweedy-produced solo albums, Staples has earned acclaim for her passionate voice and powerful stage presence.
The show, part of the Corning-Painted Post Civic Music Series, was the second one of Staples’ “Livin’ on a High Note” tour, which takes its name from her latest album coming out Feb. 19 on the Anti- label. The record features new songs written by contemporary indie-rock artists such as Neko Case, Ben Harper, Ben Harper, Tune-Yards and Benjamin Booker. Much of the set was devoted to the new material – the title track, written by Valerie June, was a particular highlight, as was Aloe Blacc’s “Tomorrow.” I can’t wait to hear the new album, so I can get more familiar with the songs.
This was only the second date of the tour, so the band was still learning their parts. Luckily, a dapper roadie named “Speedy” kept on bringing out music stands as needed for the new songs.
Staples, 76, was backed by her longtime touring trio – guitarist Rick Holmstrom, bassist Jeff Turmes and drummer Stephen Hodges – as well as singers Donny Gerrard and Vicki Randall. I’ve been a longtime fan of Holmstrom’s work – he’s been pushing blues guitar in new directions on his solo albums, and he does a great job replicating Pop Staples’ tremeloed guitar style – so I was psyched when he played a lengthy instrumental while Mavis was taking a break.
Early in the set, Staples played a pulsating version of Funkadelic’s “Can You Get To That” which she covered on her 2013 album “One True Vine.” Another standout moment: “Friendship,” a song from the recent Pops Staples album, “Don’t Lose This,” for which he laid down tracks in 1990 and which Mavis and producer Jeff Tweedy finished for release in 2015. Gerrard did a great job covering Pops’ vocal part.
Several times during the evening, Staples paid tribute to her family’s past, with a great version of the Staple Singers 1971 crossover hit “Respect Yourself. Even better – and definitely the highlight of the night – was the rousing, inspiring “Freedom Highway,” which the Staple Singers recorded in 1965 at the height of the civil rights era. It was at that moment I wished we were standing in a big tent rather than seated in a modern auditorium.
Throughout the night, Staples was in fine voice, graciously interacting with her bandmates and the fans and showing a keen sense of humor. It’s great that she’s still releasing vital new work at this point in her career – she’s definitely not one to rest on her considerable laurels.
Eschewing an encore, Staples ended the show with another Staples Singers classic, “I’ll Take You There.” First released in 1972, the song was the Staples’ best-known hit – its call-and-response lines make it a perfect set-closer, one that enabled Mavis to further connect with the audience and leave on a high note.
– Jim Catalano