POP Montréal is undoubtedly one of the major fall events for true music fans. From Wednesday, September 27 to Sunday, October 1, dozens and dozens of discoveries and acclaims from artists nestled in pop are taking place in Montreal. Follow the PAN M 360 team until Sunday!
Candi Staton: fit at 83!
Every year, POP Montréal throws up some superb surprises, drawing from the great pool of forgotten but still active veterans, this time at the Rialto Theatre: the appearance of Candi Staton, the celebrated soul and gospel singer behind the hit Young Hearts Run Free. After a career spanning 60 years and some 30 albums, the American is still creating and preparing for the release of Earth Roots next October. Friday evening marked her first visit to Montreal since 1977.
By 9pm, a large crowd of nostalgic fans and onlookers were eagerly awaiting her arrival. As soon as she took to the stage, Candi Staton was brimming with energy and confidence. “It feels so good to be back in Montreal,” she said. Now 83 years old (yes, you read that right), the singer dances with ease and her magnificent voice is always in evidence. One thing’s for sure, Candi Staton doesn’t look her age at all!
On stage, Staton is accompanied by two keyboardists, two backing singers, two guitarists and a drummer. Among these, the soul legend can count on two of her sons, Marcus Williams on drums and Clarence Carter Jr. on guitar. For most of the show, she performed her own interpretation of such timeless hits as Elvis Presley’s Suspicious Minds and Ben E. King’s Stand by Me. Throughout, the audience responded to her performance, in true communion with the artist.
Halfway through, Staton showed slight signs of fatigue, so she sat down and told us various anecdotes. These calmer moments between songs made the whole thing even more intimate, and we couldn’t complain. After more than 75 minutes of performance, the American concluded with her most popular songs, Young Hearts Run Free and You Got the Love, interspersed with a jam lasting several minutes where each of the artists on stage had their moment to shine. The atmosphere was festive, and it felt like a gospel mass!
At 83 years of age, Candi Staton gave a warm performance at the Rialto, proving that there’s no age limit to being a diva!
Janette King, pure R&B
Before Candi Staton, Rialto guests were treated to two other performances, including that of singer, multi-instrumentalist and DJ Janette King. Based in Montreal for several years now, the British-Colombian made a name for herself in 2021 with her excellent album What We Lost.
Under the spotlight, Janette King shines with remarkable ease and a sublime voice. A drummer and keyboardist accompany her with a jazz and soul soundtrack. The singer slaloms between sensuality and aplomb; the crowd is hypnotized by her various proposals. Her rhythms are catchy and make you want to get up and dance, which is what many spectators did throughout her show. There’s no doubt that Janette King has a bright future ahead of her!
THEHONESTGUY, une proposition douce et sensible
To kick off the evening at the Rialto, the crowd met singer THEHONESTGUY. Originally from Nigera and now based in Toronto, Mubarak Adeyemi’s real name is his R&B and pop sound, tinged with funk and soul inspirations. In 2023, he was nominated at the JUNO Awards for “Best Traditional R&B/Soul Project of the Year” with his EP HOW TO MAKE LOVE.
Dressed in a mauve outfit, THEHONESTGUY has a sensitive voice and interacts a lot with the crowd. Accompanied by a guitarist, he played a number of previously unreleased tracks. As the concert progressed, people became more engaged and receptive to the artist’s various tracks, a sign that his music was appreciated.
THEHONESTGUY may not be reinventing the R&B formula, but his sincere, honest melodies are sure to please.
