Patti LaBelle is known for being a singer and actress but maybe best known as “The Godmother of Soul.” It’s been almost 5 years since she has played the WNY area (last being in October of 2017 at the Seneca Niagara Casino). So anytime she graces the stage anywhere in this area, its going to be an event. This show has been delayed a few years due to the pandemic. Even though this was the first day of summer, you can say for a lot of concert goers in attendance were already claiming that this show was going to be the highlight of their concert summer schedule.
LaBelle took to the stage promptly at 8pm. She has a whopping 13-piece band backing her. Most of the songs on her setlist were played in more of a shorter medley. LaBelle immediately made connections to her fans. Before the start of her third 3rd song, a man named Rick was dancing in front of the stage. Labelle pulled a few plastic flowers from a big bouquet she had on stage. He then gave her a banquet of real flowers in return. LaBelle was much appreciated of him and let Rick sit in front of the barrier for the rest of the show. She also handed these plastic flowers out to others during her show. The vocal highlight of the show was the ballad “Tennessee Whiskey.” The range and delivery were still there for the 78 years young LaBelle. LaBelle let her band do most of the heavy lifting as she wasn’t belting out song after song. You wouldn’t expect that at her age, but the tightness of her band allowed let her do her thing. That thing was still her showing some range when needed and letting her backup vocalists jump in when that need was called for. There was great flow between everyone. Maybe the only complaint was a few of her hit songs weren’t played. Fans waiting to hear “Stir It Up” and “New Attitude” were omitted from the setlist.
The show was short as it was a little over an hour, but her fans were much appreciated by the overall effort that LaBelle and her band gave. A great start to the official start of summer!
Setlist:
Intro/video montage
Something Special
Be Yourself
Music is my Life
Love, Need, Want
The Right Kinda Lover
If Only You Knew
Talk About Love
Tennessee Whiskey (David Allan Coe cover)
Somebody Loves You Baby
Yearning for Your Love (The Gap Band cover) (band Instrumental)
On My Own
He Cares for You (Rev. Milton Brunson and the Thompson Community Singers cover)
When you Been Blessed (Feels Like Heaven)
Something About the Name Jesus (snippet) (Kirk Franklin cover)
Lead Me, Lord (Samuel S. Wesley and Debbie Henry cover)
You are my Friend
Lady Marmalade (LaBelle song)
We would like to thank Jordan Oscar from Artpark for the credentials to review the show.
