Live Review: Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings (La Zona Rosa, Austin, TX 9-24-10

By Luke Winkie (photos by Annie Fichtner)

Sharon Jones might be the hardest working woman in showbiz, until you see the party-dressed, 50+ singer prowl back and forth across the front of the stage making eye contact with everyone she could see. With the well-dressed Dap-Kings blasting out some of the pulpiest notes in soul, it’s hard to understand exactly what you’re in for. The woman simply doesn’t let up; she readily allows anyone to climb on stage with her, and even struck up an impromptu duet with a heavily bearded (and golden-voiced) man near the top of the set.

Even when the backing band had to leave the stage for a song-long break, she remained, leading the audience in a beautiful, wounded ballad. Nobody can match her fervor, her instant likability, and her honest-to-god great songs.

Jones played La Zona Rosa on September 24th, and photographer Annie Fichtner was there to help document it.

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