James Brown at Magness Arena - January 17, 2001

Most people hear James Brown growing up whether they know it or not. I sure did. James Brown often had controversial messages but he kind of slipped under the radar for a lot of that because his music was undeniable. Even "Sex Machine."



James Brown was not someone I thought I'd ever see play because I remember in the early 90s or so he was in trouble for driving under the influence of crack or something and had to do PSAs I used to play on my college radio show that still make me laugh to this day. But that never meant I didn't absolutely respect James Brown's influence and undeniable talent.

So it came as a surprise when I got to see the great man perform at DU's Magness of Arena of all places. It was the first show I saw of 2001. Of course I went by myself because, well, I never thought anyone I knew would want to go to the show because too many "young" people discount someone like James Brown or some other kind of legend. Or I just didn't want to deal with anyone else's discomfort. James Brown would go on to tour for another year before dying and I missed the Red Rocks show later in the summer.

This was not James Brown of 1963. But he could still do those incredible dance moves and he did not do less than put himself fully into the performance. The charisma was there, his ability to command the band and to sing. He did all the major hits of his career and some music I didn't know as well. It was an odd venue for this sort of music because the rest of the time it was a basketball court or something. But would I not go see The Godfather of Soul just because it's not going to be what some people expect from forty years before? That's the kind of stupid thinking I indulged until my late 20s. It's better to have seen someone like James Brown or Arthur Lee (missed seeing Love when he played in Greeley -- yeah, I know, Greeley) or Leonard Cohen or Gil Scott-Heron and the like late in their career than not a all. Haven't regretted it since and I think James Brown was the first real "legacy" act, as the "industry" outs it now, that I caught.

I didn't take pictures much at shows at this time. More's the pity.