The Soul Bird Tour Comes to Anaheim: A Review

Normally I don't do reviews. However, the India.Arie show I attended last night at The Grove in Anaheim is really worth mentioning. She's back on the road after about an 18-month hiatus with The Soul Bird Tour, and it is awesome.

India's opening act is a new artist named Laura Izibor. This Afro-Irish girl can really sing. Her current single, From My Heart to Yours, is at number eight on the Radio & Records chart AND it's the most added single of the week. To let you know how cold the girl is, she came out on stage with just a keyboard and a guitar. No band. No backup singers. Just her and her guitarist, who also sang. They were awesome. If you get a chance, PLEASE pick up her album. We need to support real music every chance we get.

As for India, the girl is a cold piece of work. First of all, her voice is in EXCELLENT shape and I love the way she performs. Her hair, which she clearly is not, is cut short and at times she wraps her head. Her outfit changes were handled very succinctly because she pretty much wore all her dresses at once!

Arie's band and background singers are just as off the chain as she is. Special shoutouts to her guitarist Blu and her keyboardist-musical director Shannon. I was especially impressed with Armetria, one of the background singers. She put out a gospel album a few years ago that EVERYONE -- including myself -- slept on. However, I'm a complete believer in her talent after last night.

All in all, it was a great night. However, I have to say that meeting Hill Harper after the show was the most excellent part. Not only is he absolutely fine, he's also a gentleman.

Last night's show wrapped up the west coast leg of The Soul Bird Tour. Here are some additional dates, courtesy of her website:

April 30 -- Foxboro, MA
May 1 -- New York, NY
May 3 -- Baltimore, MD
May 4 -- Alexandria, VA
May 6 -- Charlotte, NC
May 9 -- Glenside, PA
May 10 -- Durham, NC
May 12 -- Milwaukee, WI
May 13 -- Minneapolis, MN
May 15 -- Toronto, Ontario, CA
May 16 -- Cleveland, OH
May 17 -- Chicago, IL
May 21 -- Dallas, TX
May 22 -- Houston, TX
May 24 -- Memphis, TN

When the show comes to your city, please make it your business to go. You will NOT be disappointed.