D'Angelo and The Vanguard: The Second Coming Tour

WOW! All we can say is WOW! Yes, we went into D’Angelo and The Vanguard’s The Second Coming Tour with high expectations; and THEY. MET. EVERY. SINGLE. ONE!!!

Now, we’ve been rocking with D’Angelo since the Brown Sugar album, we swooned with the world when they discovered Voodoo; we even covered that tour! So, when he swooped in like a superhero to save R & B music in December 2014 with Black Messiah, we knew that the coming tour would also help to get live music off of its respirator; because how many concerts can you attend that are filled with useless filler, props, needless pyrotechnics, and lip-synching before you need a good dose of R & B? And we mean, REAL R & B performed live with a rocking band?!? 

D'Angelo performs during The Second Coming Tour at the Royal Oak Music Theatre. (Marissa Pierce/Phashion Phish)

The show began with “Ain’t That Easy” and proceeded to excel from there. Through song after song D’Angelo and The Vanguard gave the audience what they came for; an amazing night of REAL music. Oh yeah, and with some real swag! D’Angelo worked the crowd with energy and a clear love of performing; not to mention an unmatched, cool confidence that we don't think another singer could present AND then back it up with a worthy performance. We’ve been to many a concert where the performers were just going through the motions, but that was NOT the case here. You can feel the love that D’Angelo has for this music and it transcends beyond just the performance. The quick smiles here and there and interaction with The Vanguard shows a musician and songwriter that is meant to be here, doing this, and enjoying every minute of it. 

D'Angelo performs during The Second Coming Tour at the Royal Oak Music Theatre. (Marissa Pierce/Phashion Phish)

D’Angelo and The Vanguard continued through the set with fan favorites including, “Brown Sugar”, “Sugah Daddy”, “Betray”, “Chicken Grease”, the transformative “Untitled”, and our favorites “Really Love” and “The Charade”. Just as the songs are important, the music has such a special role at a show like this; because just as lyrics tell a story so does the music. D'Angelo has built an amazing band that helps to tell that story; and along with D’Angelo on vocals, guitar, and keyboards you also have Charles "Red" Middleton, Jermaine Holmes and the firecracker Kendra Foster on vocals, Keyon Harold on trumpet, Kenneth Whalum on tenor sax, Cleo “Pookie” Sample on keyboards, Isaiah Sharkey and Jesse Johnson; yes THAT Jesse Johnson on guitar, bassist Rocco Palladino who filled in for his dad, the master Pino Palladino, and Chris “Daddy” Dave on drums. 

D'Angelo and Jesse Johnson perform during The Second Coming Tour at the Royal Oak Music Theatre. (Marissa Pierce/Phashion Phish)

Isaiah Sharkey performing during The Second Coming Tour, with Charles "Red" Middleton and Rocco Palladino in the background at the Royal Oak Music Theatre. (Marissa Pierce/Phashion Phish)

Jesse Johnson performs during The Second Coming Tour at the Royal Oak Music Theatre. (Marissa Pierce/Phashion Phish)

Jermaine Holmes, Charles "Red" Middleton, and Isaiah Sharkey perform during The Second Coming Tour at the Royal Oak Music Theatre. (Marissa Pierce/Phashion Phish)

Kendra Foster performs during The Second Coming Tour at the Royal Oak Music Theatre. (Marissa Pierce/Phashion Phish)

D'Angelo performing during The Second Coming Tour at the Royal Oak Music Theatre. (Marissa Pierce/Phashion Phish)

The crowd rocked the ENTIRE time and of the many shows we've been to the last few years; this was one where the crowd was not actively taking photos or video. They were really there to enjoy the music and be in the moment, which was SO refreshing! D’Angelo and The Vanguard’s The Second Coming Tour is just further validation that an album 14 years in the making is worth the wait! 

The Second Coming Tour also features an AWESOME opening act in Meg Mac. First of all she’s touring with D’Angelo, so that is one hell of a co-sign! We really enjoyed her song “Known Better”, because everyone can feel the quintessential “you don’t realize what you’ve got ’til it’s gone” and "I'm sorry that you were stupid" song. She also took us to church with “Grandma’s Hands”. Her powerful voice definitely sets the stage for much success to come. Her EP MEG MAC is definitely worth a listen. You can find out more about her here!

Meg Mac performing as the opening act, during The Second Coming Tour at the Royal Oak Music Theatre. (Marissa Pierce/Phashion Phish)

D'Angelo and The Vanguard perform during The Second Coming Tour at the Royal Oak Music Theatre. (Marissa Pierce/Phashion Phish)

It Was Worth the Wait!

14 years . . . that is how long we've toiled about our daily lives; having to listen to questionable music from questionable artists. All while clinging to the masterpieces that are Brown Sugar and Voodoo, as we waited for the next album from D'Angelo. On December 15 our prayers were finally answered with the release of the long awaited Black Messiah, from D'Angelo and The Vanguard. 

Now many will remember the perfect storm that was Voodoo, as it catapulted our beloved impresario to new heights. We witnessed his greatness live at Chene Park in Detroit during the Summer of 2000, we grasped at nuggets of music and performances that have been delivered along the way; so we like everyone else gave a collective sigh as we downloaded the album (of course we pre-ordered the vinyl version), pressed play, and engulfed ourselves in the first track, "Ain't That Easy".  

The songs on Black Messiah drip of love and living, not just existing. Songs like "1000 Deaths" and "The Charade" show a certain relevancy in light of the Mike Brown and Eric Garner cases. With lyrics like, "All we wanted was a chance to talk/'stead we only got outlined in chalk" on "The Charade", we get a sense of why this album was released with such urgency; because we are living in urgent times.

"Really Love" and "Another Life" get reflective on matters of the heart as D'Angelo speaks from his soul, "I just wanna take you with me/To secret rooms in the mansions of my mind". 

"Betray My Heart" speaks to the strength and sincerity of love; and it's endurance with lyrics of depth, yet simplicity, "You don't ever have to fear/That my love is not sincere/I will never betray my heart".

The 12 songs of Black Messiah string together a tapestry of what we like to call "real life music", it's not a gimmick or a hot new sound, but what we are all living, everyday; whether we may realize it or not. From hot buttered love, sweated out on a thick R&B track (and don't get it twisted; this is real R&B, not the pseudo pop, R&B mix that's been masquerading as R&B as of late) to the protest of humanity's ills in the lines of a song, we have been handed a complete work of art. Or better yet, from start to finish what we have on our hands is a breathtakingly beautiful piece of musical art. One that doesn't sound dated, or out of place. Black Messiah was released at the right time, right when we needed it; living up to its expectations and name. 

Black Messiah, D'Angelo and The Vanguard. RCA. 

Purchase the album online here.