Concert Review: Jamie Lidell at the El Rey Theatre, Los Angeles, May 29, 2008

The coolest people in the world are the ones who can dress and act like mad fools and still deserve your admiration because they’re abilities, talent and charisma trump any superficial impressions. In a town where cool is valued above all things except money, Jamie Lidell was king for a day.

Lidell began his career as techno artist, but by the time he was collaborating with Lo Fidelity Allstars on 2002′s “Deep Ellum”, it was clear he wanted to be a soul man. And he was in front of the packed El Rey audience, dragging along a band featuring a bongo player, a bassist, a drummer and a reedsman who could play two saxophones at once just like Dana Colley of Morphine, doing just that. Singing songs from “Multiply” and his latest, “Jim,” while wearing striped baggies and what looked like a too-small snakeskin jacket, Lidell came on like the truest believer in the power of classic R&B, but with an unquenchable desire to geekily tinker with his toys.