KEM, Ledisi bring R&B radiance to 'Soul II Soul' show at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena

KEM hadn’t come through Milwaukee in eight years. Ledisi had only played in town once before over a 23-year career.

They sure made it up to Milwaukee fans Saturday, teaming up for the “Soul II Soul” co-headlining tour stop at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena. Not just a rare local show for two of the best R&B singers in the game, it was a rare arena concert in town catering to a mostly Black audience in their 40s and older.

Close to the end of his hourlong set, KEM listed off some of the artists he’s tried to emulate in the two decades since releasing his debut album, "Kemistry," including the Isley Brothers, the O'Jays, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Anita Baker and more. And briefly during "Find Your Way," KEM paid tribute to late Milwaukee-born legend Al Jarreau with some elastic scatting.

KEM is certainly a fine student. He carried on grand R&B traditions Saturday — not just via immaculate vocals, and a polished 10-piece band (including three horn players, two backing singers and two keyboardists), but also with a keen mastery of spine-tingling tension.

Set opener "Lie to Me" was intentionally reserved, operating at a simmer, the energy gradually building up into the climax of subsequent song "Love Calls," with KEM striking poses with his mic stand under a barrage of white spotlights, the music then receding once more into the smitten grooves of "My Favorite Thing."

That give and take was gripping across a dozen songs, his vocal runs and extended belting reaching celestial proportions for "Heaven" before the music suddenly cut out, allowing the radiance to linger in the air. The music returned to a simmer, but then for "Life," it was liberated once more, via sultry sax and guitar solos and surging vocals. Then the music went back into a simmer, before a dancer came out for "Why Would You Stay," her flowing dress a fine metaphor for KEM's vocals.

Despite being the 20th anniversary of his debut album, and having recently released his memoirs, KEM wasn't too chatty Saturday. But he did precede "Stuck on You" with a tender speech about how his wife helped make him a better man, and the joy of finding true love after devoting his life to love songs.

If his rich voice Saturday is a true indication, his heart is certainly full.

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Ledisi delivers the night's most dazzling vocals

KEM largely stayed cool as a cucumber Saturday, but for her hour on stage, Ledisi put her whole body into her performance. For set-climax "Anything for You," she jerked atop a stool as her voice soared, reaching jaw-dropping notes, her curly locks flying over her face. And for "In the Morning," she repeatedly squatted in place as she belted wild operatic runs, humorously assuring fans that her knees still work.

KEM's demeanor naturally fit his "worship your woman" catalog, and so did Ledisi's. In her case, she largely was singing about self-love and being true to yourself.

"People told me I wasn't beautiful enough to be in this business, that I would not make it," Ledisi said at one point Saturday. "That was 20 years ago and I'm still here in front of you, curvy, Black, beautiful, honey."

And thriving. A performance of her new single "I Need to Know" was infused with as much passion and vocal fireworks as signature songs like "Stay Together" or "Alright" from earlier in her career. And those vocal pyrotechnics Saturday were unstoppable, twice as remarkable as any studio recordings; they routinely reached seemingly impossible heights, holding out time and again for 10-second, show-stopping blasts.

But amid soul-nourishing performances of empowering anthems like "Bravo" or "Add to Me," Ledisi spread the love among her talented bandmates. At one point, she briefly stepped so backing singer David Michael Wyatt could wow the crowd with radiant restraint for a sparse, brief cover of the Carpenters' "Superstar," until those two towering voices joined together for a spellbinding duet for "Stay Together."

Shortly after that song, Ledisi talked about the personal power of R&B music — how, as a child, when her mother was feeling down, she would put on a song and dance in the mirror, to feel good about herself.

For the women in the Panther Arena, clearly touched by spellbinding talent and inspiring optimism, Ledisi herself Saturday was that mirror.

3 takeaways from KEM and Ledisi's Milwaukee show, including opener Musiq Soulchild

• Musiq Soulchild set the mood during his half-hour opening set with some ridiculous vocal runs — from buttery falsetto for “SoBeautiful” to a James Brown-worthy squeal for “Just Friends (Sunny)” — with a flashy, soulful five-piece band to match. (A crunchy keytar solo during “Love” was especially killer.) But impressive as it was, he also made it seem effortless, belting beautifully at one point with half of his left hand resting in his jeans pocket.

• Even the moments between sets were a blast, thanks to the shameless antics of comedian MC Lightfoot, who danced ridiculously through electrifying old-school needle drops — including “It Takes Two,” “Le Freak” and more — before turning the spotlight on some game dancers in the crowd.

• The men in the crowd were gently ribbed by various performers throughout the evening, but KEM had their backs, instructing them during "Share My Life" to stand up, grab their dates by the hand, sway and repeat KEM's vocal coos. But even as he was helping the men channel their inner Romeos, he too made a funny little joke at their expense: "She hasn't seen you move like that since Oscar Robertson was playing for the Bucks."

KEM and Ledisi's UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena setlists

KEM

1. "Lie to Me"

2. "Love Calls"

3. "My Favorite Thing"

4. "You're on My Mind"

5. "Nobody"

6. "Heaven"

7. "Find Your Way"

8. "Stuck on You"

9. "Share My Life"

10. "If It's Love"

11. "Why Would You Stay"

12. "I Can't Stop Loving You"

LEDISI

1. "Bravo"

2. "Add to Me"

3. "High"

4. "Alright"

5. "Pieces of Me"

6. "I Need to Know"

7. "Stay Together" (with a brief performance of the Carpenters' "Superstar")

8. "All the Way"

9. "In the Morning"

10. "I Blame You"

11. "Anything for You"

Contact Piet at (414) 223-5162 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @pietlevy or Facebook at facebook.com/PietLevyMJS.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: KEM, Ledisi bring R&B radiance to 'Soul II Soul' Milwaukee show