Lisa Lisa a Hip-Hop Schoolmarm at Celebrity

Lisa Velez figured that lasting six years on the pop/R&B; scene was a milestone worth noting during her show on Friday at the Celebrity Theatre in Anaheim. Judging from the blandness of her hour’s work, becoming a seasoned trouper has taken some of the spice out of her once peppery stage persona.

Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam has some of the stuff it takes to keep things fresh, with its blend of hip-hop beats, Latin rhythmic accents and rock guitar all folded into a polished urban pop package. The New York group presented the package proficiently enough, but it didn’t contain much sass or personality.

With little to say in songs that were occasionally catchy but always generic, Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam (Velez and her regular sidekicks, percussionist Mike Hughes and guitarist Alex (Spanador) Mosely, were joined by six other singers and players) spent an inordinate amount of time trying to stroke the crowd. By the end, Lisa Lisa had turned into a schoolmarm, extorting applause by saying she would call it a night unless the crowd made her feel sufficiently welcome. After singing a brisk “Head to Toe” as their reward, Velez ended with another teacher-like command: “Everybody say good night to Lisa.”

By that time, many in an audience that was definitely not interested in an encore had already bid a tacit adieu by heading for the exits.