June 03, 2004 @ 2:40 pm

Live: Glenn Lewis - BB Kings New York

by: Mariel Concepcion

Glenn Lewis, B.B. Kings, March 8, 2004

Got Us All in the Mood…

Stunned flocks of people begin to crowd around the front of the stage at B.B. Kings at a quarter to eight hoping that tonigh

Got Us All in the MoodÂ… Stunned flocks of people begin to crowd around the front of the stage at B.B. Kings at a quarter to eight hoping that tonight's performer will soon step to the stage. The half empty crowd might be attributed to the rainy night, but for those who are in attendance there is only anticipation. True Glenn Lewis fans want only what he can deliver: smooth, sultry vocals that get you in the mood and upbeat mental stimulation to make your body move. Twenty minutes later the lights dim indicating the start of the show, but it isn't Mr. Lewis on stage. "Hey ya'll," shouts John Legend, an artist signed to Kanye West's label. "It was a last minute invitation, but I'm here." Sitting behind a piano, Legend plays while singing about infidelity and love. His magnificent melodies embrace the crowd, holding them down for just a minute. After Legend's set of five tunes and the applauses dwindle down, a silence fills the room. Eyes stare toward the stage, awaiting Mr. Lewis' performance. Instead, the lights come back on and soft elevator like music begins to emanate from the speakers. Uneasiness falls over the crowd as chatter about the star of the night's lateness overtakes the stillness that was present while Legend performed. Finally, a jovial voice speaks into the mic, "I know ya'll can't see me. This is my new look; the invisible look," says Lewis with a chuckle. "I paid my sixty dollars," a heavyset woman jokes, "you better come out here Glenn." The audience begins to scream, clapping with anticipation. Onstage, the brown-skinned, curly haired, 5' 7" Lewis, wearing a green skully, brown Adidas track jacket, green cargo pants, brown Timbs, and a gold chain shimmering with the spotlights, apologizes for his tardiness and the hoarseness in his voice. First Lewis hypes up the ladies asking them to make some noise. Then he's ready and segues into a harmonious rendition of three of his new songs from his upcoming album due out at summer's end. "Selfishly, just gonna' let you be/ Cause I wonder where you are/ And if you truly understand that/ Honestly, more than you can see/ I love you with all my heart/ If I let go will you come back." The crowd mouths every song as if they've heard them a thousand times before. He smiles back recognizing his diehard fans scattered throughout the audience - the ones who visit his website, the ones who listen to audio streams of the forthcoming music, the ones who check in sporadically for the album's official release date. Lewis closes out the show with his most popular singles-"Don't You Forget It" and "Back for More." "Her body's like yaa, yaa, yaa" he belts out and the audience fills in the rest of the chorus while he takes a swig from his bottle of water, "She's got a body like woo, woo, wooÂ…" Watch Glen Lewis' "Back For More" VideoÂ… Hi / Med / Lo

Article tags: Live, Glenn, Lewis, BB, Kings, New, York 

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