Lyfe saved the show

The Lyfe Jennings performance at Tempo nightclub was nearly a disaster Monday. The show was supposed to start at 8:30 p.m. with opener Rudy Currence. When I arrived at 8:45 p.m. they had just begun letting people inside the club on Wilkinson Boulevard.

We were hustled outside to the back patio on a muggy night. Not good. Apparently, the club was prepared for an acoustic show, but the neo-soul singer brought a band. The club owners spent the day hustling to get all the sound equipment and they were still doing soundchecks when customers arrived.

We waited for at least an hour for doors to open. Lyfe was only scheduled to perform for 30 minutes. As much as I support club Tempo, this was turning into a bad night.

About 10 p.m. local fave Rudy took the stage. I've seen him numerous times, but this wasn't one of his better nights. I sat there trying to convince my friends that he was a really a good live performer.

Lyfe, however, saved the night. If you've never heard of him, he has a gravely soulful voice and sings about his life experience. His current single is "Sex," about girls coming into their sexuality.

Lyfe opened the show with Tupac's "Keep Ya' Head Up." Then he moved on to cuts from his upcoming album "Phoenix." It's an album about relationships. From what I heard Monday, the album mostly deals with relationships that ended. My favorite cut was set to Sam Cooke's "Change Gonna Come."

On stage, Lyfe connects well with his band. They're as charismatic as he is, but they don't try to steal the spotlight. Although most of his songs are slow they give the songs enough oomph to keep the show spirited.


After the show, the line stretched out the door for autographs and he patiently signed them all and posed for pictures.