Leela James
Fox Theater
Oakland
Jan. 26, 2024
Leela James, aka The Goddaughter of Soul, took the stage at the Fox Theater and, let me tell you, she didn’t just perform — she threw a nonstop R&B and funk party that had the crowd on their feet for nearly two hours.
James brought fire from the get-go, and the mixed-age crowd felt obliged to give back the energy she put out. With six studio albums under her belt, James kicked off her career in the early 2000s touring with legends like Macy Gray and The Black-Eyed Peas. Her debut album, “A Change Is Gonna Come,” hit the scene in 2005, and she’s been blessing us with soulful tunes ever since.
Leela James sings "Set Me Free" at The Fox Theater in Oakland.
This Oakland concert showcased tracks from her latest release, “Thought U Knew,” which dropped in late 2023. But before diving into the new stuff, James took us on a tour of her chart-toppers. She slowed the pace down with “I Want You Baby” from her 2021 album “See Me,” her vocals melting souls in the crowd. James’ powerful voice is reminiscent of R&B queens like Etta James, who she covers in one of her early albums, and Thelma Houston.
Now, let’s talk fit and style. In the first act James owned the stage, rocking camo pants tucked into sparkly knee-high heeled boots, a crocheted sparkly long vest with fringe, and a sheer blouse with a leopard print headscarf over her long locks. Her fit matched her vibe: edgy and funky.
James can hold a note like no other, and she knows how to work a stage like a boss. She belted out hits spanning her 20-plus-year career and threw in a couple covers of old school R&B classics. At one point she commanded the lighting team to turn up the house lights, declaring, “I wanna see Oakland!” The crowd was all in, especially when she put her spin on “I’d Rather Be With You,” giving it a country, bluesy twang.
After a quick costume change into a black hoodie over the blouse and black sneakers, James told the crowd, “I had to get a little comfortable.”
She shifted into a DJ set and showcased her skills on the decks, pumping out Cali and Oakland classics by Too Short and Tupac — and Oakland loves nothing more than Short and Pac. As her backup singer and hype man poured cups of Crown Royale for the front row, they chanted, “Ain’t no party like a Leela James Party ’cause a Leela James Party don’t stop.” Classic, right?
The DJ set got the crowd going, but with a catalog as rich as hers, I couldn’t help but wonder why she spent so much time spinning tracks. Before leaving the stage, she did sing a few hits from her 2014 album that banged including “Fall For You,” a personal favorite.
James wrapped up the night with “Thought U Knew,” a treat and the title track from her new album. A funky breakup anthem, the track talks about possessing the strength and resilience to move on. The bass line thumps. Her back up singer Nina harmonized, and their voices soared. The lyrics resonated with the audience, who bopped along as she sang: “You thought I would crumble; I will never crumble…I’m the kinda woman that can hold it down.”
The band and backup singer left it all on the stage and really showcased their talents on this one; the bass player was truly wicked.
If you have the chance, don’t miss out on catching Leela James at one of her upcoming shows and make sure to grab a copy of her new album — it’s a musical journey worth taking!
