Macy Gray: Candid singer, Seattle crowd are in sync
Macy Gray lives in the same psychedelic, candy-colored music world as Prince, and she also shares his dirty-minded fascination with sex.
Wednesday night at The Showbox, the wild singer-songwriter proved that she can put on a nightclub show as fun, surprising and sensual as Prince, or anybody else for that matter. In her first outing in two years — a short tour launched with only minimal publicity — the sunglasses-shaded, frizzy-haired singer revealed songs from her upcoming CD, "The Trouble With Being Myself," to be released in May, as well as highlights from her other two albums, "On How Life Is" and "The Id."
Accompanied by a tight, funky, versatile band, she launched the nearly two-hour set with a tune that laid it all out about her — "Relating to a Psychopath."
The disarmingly honest performer later sang about smoking weed, drinking, carousing and then some, and even dedicated a song to the male sexual organ, to the delight of the packed crowd.
The many women in the audience seemed to strongly relate to Gray's songs about men, like the universal complaint, "Why Didn't You Call Me?," and the half-serious "Gimme All Your Lovin' Or I Will Kill You."
Even with all the sex and clowning, Gray showed that she's one of the best torch singers in R&B, with a stunning version of her breakthrough hit, "I Try." A great song about an obsessive relationship, it showed a vulnerability just beneath her swaggering, sexy persona.
Among the new songs were "When I See You," a '60s-influenced romp reminiscent of
Prince's "Raspberry Beret," and an aching but darkly funny ballad, "She Ain't Right for You."
The swirling "Sexual Revolution" was one of several songs that was stretched out to give the band time to shine. They rocked on "I Can't Wait to Meetchu," an extended "Oblivion" and a cover of Blondie's "Rapture."
Gray worked the crowd brilliantly, drawing them into her world by encouraging them to sing along and dance, and by talking about the songs, the new album and her feelings. "Seattle," she said before leaving the stage, "you made my world tonight."
The show was opened by a singer-songwriter from England with the single name Lamya, who was accompanied by a guitarist. She sang original and cover songs in a rich, soulful voice and connected with a crowd anxious to see the headliner.
Patrick MacDonald: 206-464-2312 or pmacdonald@seattletimes.com
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