Kevin Martin | Tech Section Manager

2/15/02

It's not often that a guy like me goes to a concert. Musicians come and go and as expensive as it is to get decent tickets to see one, it's some times just not worth the trouble.  Sometimes however, when an organization offers you a "most expenses paid" trip to see a famous rock star in concert, you'd be a fool to not go.

This past weekend I traveled with a group of RU students to Hampton, VA.  Our plan for the weekend was to have some fun, and to see the final non-televised performance of Janet Jackson's All For You tour.  When the Washington Post said "[The tour] contained enough wattage to power Washington through its next blackout." they weren't kidding.  Even though held in the relatively small Hampton Coliseum, the performance was highly energetic and active.  And that even holds true for the opening act Genuine.

Genuine kicked things off, wearing red and white outfits, with a large tapestry of him in the background.  His troupe was bouncy and manic with lots of break-dancing and bouncing around the stage.  Though the performance was amusing, I came to two conclusions: first is that the backup-singers mean more then Genuine himself.  They should fire this crowd touring attention hound, and hire someone less determined to be sexist.  My second conclusion was that I'm not convinced what I was hearing was live. There were enough inconsistencies and obviously recorded parts to convince me that most likely if they really were singing, it was with the mics turned off. I'm not saying they are total frauds like Milli Vanilli, but their "live" show, is far from live.  I found the side-show break dancers who preformed off stage between sets to be more realistic, and very deserving of whatever the tour was paying them.

After Genuine left, the aforementioned break dancers had some fun in the back of the auditorium while the stage crew worked hard and fast to setup the stage for Janet.  If you are nasty, call her Miss Jackson.  Oh well, she's Janet to this boy who grew up with her music.

Janet Jackson is a very talented performer, adored and enjoyed across all national and racial barriers.  All groups of peoples were there to enjoy a fabulously dressed Janet, dance, sing, seduce, and perform on stage.  I can recall at least 5 different sets and outfits on Janet that evening, which gave her a change rate of about once every three to four songs.  Janet wore clothing ranging from leather fit for kinky sex, to soft cottons perfect for dancing.  The songs ranged from her entire repertoire.  Most of my older favorite songs were there, as well as many of her newer pieces.  Kyanne, one of those attending the concert with me noted that many of the songs she performed were from her previous "Velvet Rope" tour.

Those of you who read this article soon after it's publication will have the wonderful chance Saturday February 16, 2002 to watch Janet's final show of this tour on HBO.  If you haven't gotten a chance to see the show, it's well worth watching if not taping.  Though I don't see how you can get the full effect of Janet via TV, the concert, in my not so humble opinion, is well worth the time and possible expense to see.  It's not often a female singer brings quote like this one from the Washington Post: "Janet Jackson KO's Madonna."

Ratings:

Genuine

Dancing 8/10
Music 7/10
Realisim 4/10

Janet

Dancing 9.9/10
Music 9/10
Realism 10/10