[dropcap]S[/dropcap]ince 2003 Soulelujah has been more than a dance party. It’s been a refuge for those seeking truer sounds from the soul underground, an explosion of throwback styles that over time seem increasingly modern once again. A few years ago people were tripping themselves over a so-called “soul revival,” but in truth, soul never went away. It was nestled in places like ZuZu in Central Square, Cambridge, an intimate club made larger by the music and the endless line to get in that stretched along Massachusetts Avenue every Saturday night.
Now with soul and funk crew Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings rolling into the House of Blues this Saturday night, the stage is set for Soulelujah’s after-party exhale. The Dap-Kings’ Fernando Velez will be in Cambridge after the show to spin some soul, Latin, and funk 45s, joining resident DJs Ty Jesso and Claude Money at ZuZu and its latest expansion zone (due to the night’s popularity), the Middle East Upstairs.
To get us warmed up for Saturday, we reached out to Soulelujah’s Sean Quinn for a primer on everything Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, and he even hooked us up with two pairs of passes to see Jones and her soul crew at the House of Blues. All you have to do is email DAP-KINGS to michael@vanyaland.com, and we’ll select two winners (good for two tickets each) by Friday morning. Date night is set.
[NOTE: These are hard tickets, and will be left at Zuzu for the winners to pick up on Saturday after 5pm. If ya can’t get the tickets ya’self, don’t enter the contest!]
Meanwhile, Quinn has the low-down on the new Queen of Soul.
“This is a pretty good representation here,” he tells Vanyaland. “I tried to put one cut from each album, plus one from the back up singers, and one from lead sax Neal Sugarman.”
“Retreat,” off 2014’s Give The People What They Want
“I chose this live version because it gives you a chance to see the whole band, and also Sharon’s new look after her recent battle with cancer.”
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“There’s a cool animated version, too”
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“Genuine,” off 2011’s Soul Time
“In 2011, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings put out Soul Time — it was a collection of previously non album cuts, 45s and unreleased stuff.”
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“Better Things,” off 2010’s I Learned The Hard Way
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“This was the music video they made for that record, it’s got a weird intro, music starts around 1:15, but “Better Things” is the stronger cut.”
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“100 Days 100 Nights,” from 2007’s album of the same name
“Strong cut, strong video.”
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“How Long Do I Have To Wait,” from the 2005 album Naturally
“More Conan, a good representation of how they run the show live.”
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“From the same album, another strong cut: “How Do I Let A Good Man Down”
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“Pick It Up, Lay It In The Cut,” from their first record, Dap-Dippin with Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings
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“Just Dropped In,” Kenny Rogers cover
“Here’s an oddball cut, a cover of Kenny Rogers & the First Edition’s “Just Dropped In.” Folks know the original from The Big Lebowski. They cut this record for, like, a KFC commercial …but it didn’t happen so they put it out on 45. Love this one!”
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“Now there are two more things I think are kind of interesting. Sharon Jones’ backup singers are working on a solo record, and the single is nice. 20 Feet From Stardom won an Oscar for Best Documentary last year (2013), based on the lives of backup singers. Let’s include them!
“Hot Shot,” by Saun & Starr, out this year.
“This is heavy summer rotation stuff here!”
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“Dirty Water,” by Neil Sugarman
Also, Dap-King saxophonist and Daptone Records co-founder Neil Sugarman is local. From Newton, went to Berklee College of Music, etc. Local boy dun good! He’s got his own group, the Sugarman Three, and they do a nice version of “Dirty Water.” He is lead sax in the Dap-Kings, as well.
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“And finally, the Daptone Records YouTube channel is here — lots and lots of good stuff there.”
SHARON JONES & THE DAP-KINGS + JAMES HUNTER :: Saturday, May 31 @ the House of Blues, 15 Lansdowne St., Boston :: 6 p.m., all-ages, $25 to $45 :: Advance tickets
OFFICIAL AFTERPARTY: Soulelujah with guest DJ Fernando Velez of the Dap-Kings :: Saturday, May 31 @ ZuZu, 474 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA :: 11 p.m., 21-plus, $7 :: Advance tickets :: Facebook event page
