The agenda for the Majestic Theater crowd this Saturday was clear. As gospel and soul legend Mavis Staples opened her show, she laid out a plan to spread “some joy, happiness, inspiration, and positive vibrations.” Through an impassioned performance and a genuine warmth, she delivered on all counts. Songs both new and old drove the message home and left the room feeling uplifted.
The set opened with “If You're Ready (Come Go With Me)”, an invitation that the audience happily accepted, joining the backup singers to belt out the title lyrics. The energy remained high with a cover of “Slippery People” and the Staple Singers classic “Respect Yourself”. Largely up-tempo, the show mellowed out only for the audience request “Let's Do It Again” and a poignant number from her more recent years, “You Are Not Alone”.
From the start, however, a poor sound mix was evident. The vocals of Mavis and her backups were swallowed up by a wall of drums and guitar, preventing the crowd from connecting with any songs they didn't already know by heart. Led by the dirty tone of guitarist Rick Holmstrom, the band played wonderfully, but at the expense of the headliner. Any sound issues, though, were overcome by Mavis's fist pumping, hand shaking, and clear love of performing.
The highlight of the evening was a powerhouse version of the gospel standard “Wade in the Water”, recorded by the Staple Singers in their early years. With the crowd chipping in for the refrain, the song gained speed and energy, culminating in Mavis letting out a sustained, James Brown-like scream. As the music dropped out, she launched into raspy preaching on faith and perseverance. In many hands, it would seem cliched, but in this case, it was authentic and electrifying. It was half song, half sermon, showcasing so much about what makes Mavis and the Staples family special.
At 77 years old, it was clear Mavis was pushing her voice to its limits, but as the show reached its conclusion with the famous “I'll Take You There”, she declared that after 66 years of singing, she wasn't tired yet. The message of hope and togetherness continue to drive her, keeping her on the road and in the studio until the dream of a more peaceful world is realized. For much of Saturday night, that world seemed a little bit closer.
