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Janelle Monáe, The Roundhouse

Janelle Monáe, The Roundhouse

Can the princess of alternative pop prove more than a stage-school confection?

by Tuesday, 01 March 2011
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Janelle Monáe: The would-be android princess

I have thus far been a bit wary of the Janelle Monáe hype. It's only natural: when an attractive young performer is taken under the wing of megastars like Outkast and P Diddy, and drenched with media acclaim that pronounces them an artist on the level of Prince, all on the basis of a few download tracks and one album, one bristles. And when that album is heavily conceptualised and crisply produced but more full of overt retro references than it is instant tunes, the suspicion only grows. Live reviews, meanwhile, suggested that there might be something more stage school than old school about her soul stylings. I really didn't have many expectations for last night's show.

I have thus far been a bit wary of the Janelle Monáe hype. It's only natural: when an attractive young performer is taken under the wing of megastars like Outkast and P Diddy, and drenched with media acclaim that pronounces them an artist on the level of Prince, all on the basis of a few download tracks and one album, one bristles. And when that album is heavily conceptualised and crisply produced but more full of overt retro references than it is instant tunes, the suspicion only grows. Live reviews, meanwhile, suggested that there might be something more stage school than old school about her soul stylings. I really didn't have many expectations for last night's show.

One way of seeing what an artist is really about is by looking at their audience, and Monáe's confounded easy assessment

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Comments

Submitted by Peter (not verified) on Wed, 02/03/2011 - 12:15
I was there last night and recognise the characterisation, "performing at us". I'm not a sound techie, but if having a poor mix means that the vocals are completely drowned by guitar and bass, then that's spot on. We were very disappointed. Monae is a really exciting artist and has produced some excellent and very varied music... Someone ought to tell them/her that quality and a performance is not measured in watts.

Submitted by joe.muggs on Wed, 02/03/2011 - 15:45
I don't know if the sound mix increased over the course of the night, or whether the improvement was because I moved from my position to one side of the crowd into the middle, but I thought the second half was much better.

Submitted by owain (not verified) on Wed, 02/03/2011 - 18:41
I felt the gig was ruined by the sound. She's a female solo artist and you couldn't hear her sign for the first 30 mins unless she was being accompanied by a single instrument. I think she has potential but needs to interact a bit more with the crowd

Submitted by Kieron Tyler on Thu, 03/03/2011 - 11:40
When I saw her at Trans Musicales just before Xmas - reviewed on theartsdesk - it was the same with the sound, it didn't/couldn't gell. Also, the same make-show thing prevented her reaching the crowd.

Submitted by Danielle (not verified) on Thu, 03/03/2011 - 12:11
interesting comments. i wondered on the sound too. i had ear protectors in so could hear the vocals a bit better, but if it was anyhting like the support, it was hard to make out. I was at the front in the very centre so i don't know how it varied. I'm seeing Robyn there tonight and i hope they have the mix a bit better or it'll be sad. Who are these sound guys who do the check and decide that that is good? in regards to the gig, that was my 3rd time seeing Janelle since Sept (sound was better at others i thought) - and I am still loving it. I think she's very unique and slightly mad and i like that. But I do agree that a bit more interaction with the crowd would help (although the band intro at the end was a nice touch) - she did climb over the barrier at the last gig (on top of us) which was nice too - but not this time. I'll be interested to see how she does her show when she comes back as its been this format for last 3 visits.

Submitted by brian (not verified) on Thu, 03/03/2011 - 14:35
Monae was magnificent. The show was let down by an audience more concerned with critical appraisal than reciprocating any of the raw and heartfelt performace being thrown 'at' them. pearls before swine.

Submitted by Deeptrax (not verified) on Thu, 03/03/2011 - 15:00
The Roundhouse is an awckward room for straightforward's performance such as a live show with band facing audience. Plus, it's round, an acoustic challenge. I.e, La Clique was fab, perfect fit. Janelle was not as good as at The Shepherd's Bush Empire, mainly due to the bad sound, I think. The sound guy was not Roundhouse owned - he worn make-up, the kind a 5 years old would wear for a neighbour's birthday party. AND, he danced on his own tracks before the show started. That tells you a bit about the lack of experience. Sound engineering is a complex responsibility which I think he failed to fulfil. Anyway, Janelle still owns the stage and doesn't mess about when it comes to make you feel funky. She rocks.

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