POP MUSIC AND JAZZ REVIEWS : Jeffrey Gaines Provocative at Largo
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Tracy Chapman . . . Richie Havens.
Black folk-singers remain a rare breed in pop music, but the genre boasts an important newcomer in 26-year-old singer-songwriter Jeffrey Gaines, who mesmerized the audience on Friday at the Largo.
Gaines came on like a traditional troubadour, but he was vocally daring--sort of Sting-like in his use of offbeat phrasing, veering off the standard melodic lines at unexpected moments.
The show, featuring material from his debut album “Jeffrey Gaines,” wasn’t quite what you’d expect. He neither probed the black experience nor approached romance in the usual sunny, hopeful way. Rather, he tackled uncommon themes, such as the anguish of dealing with an alcoholic parent and unwanted babies. On songs such as “Fear,” “A Dark Love Song” and “Love Disappears,” he unflinchingly explored the dark underbelly of romance.
While it wasn’t an upbeat show, Gaines’ set was very entertaining--in a provocative, unsettling way.
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