Lee Fields at Fine Line (10/21/2022)

Friday night, the season opener for the Minnesota Timberwolves was at the Target Center. Just down the street, atop Target’s headquarters, a giant digital billboard displayed the team’s colors of white, blue, green and grey. Also down the street in a much smaller venue, the Fine Line’s empty stage imbued a purple, almost fuchsia haze. The gathering crowd was spread out, as if still practicing restrictions long lifted. Then the hint of patchouli. Daniel Villarreal and his band appeared in the back of the venue with cowbells to play their version of the pied piper as they worked through the crowd and towards the stage. And just like that, the crowd surged and the show began.

Panamanian born and Chicago based, Villarreal is a drummer, DJ and nappy dresser with a signature wide-brim Stetson hat.  He is promoting his new album Panama 77 and the band he brought along consisted of keyboards, congas, bass and electric guitar.  They sat in a semi-circle and played what consisted of an extended jam-session that touched on the musical traditions of jazz, soul, funk, and a 70’s west coast vibe with drums that centered on Latin and Afro beats.  In fact, Villarreal’s four limbs were moving the whole time, dancing in a seated position to provide the fuel for the crowd to dance while the rest of the band members took turns to play extended solos.

Lee Fields also entered with a festive wardrobe. After his band, The Expressions, warmed up the crowd with “Don’t Ever Leave Me,” Fields strolled onto the stage sporting a wide-open, white shirt and a purple-velour sports coat. The reason for the outfit? He was visiting the home of the purple one and his wife told him to dress appropriately.

Fields has been married to Christine for over fifty years and he has always listened to her in moments of great importance, especially during the 80’s when Disco reigned and his soulful sound was no longer supreme.  Fields was working in real estate and was thinking of buying a storefront and opening up a shop to sell fish sandwiches.  Her only question was: “What do you know about selling fish?”

She told him to stick with what he knew.  And what Fields knows is standing in front of a crowd and pouring his heart out through song.

Fields and the Expressions are on the road promoting the soon-to-be-released Sentimental Fool from Daptone Records. They even played a few songs from it like “Sentimental Fool,” “What Did I Do?” and a crowd favorite “Two Jobs.”

Fields started his career singing James Brown cover songs and what he developed over the years in the smoky clubs was the ability to develop an instant bond with the audience. Last night was no different. There was no distance between him and the crowd.  He kept moving around the stage to tell everyone how beautiful they were. He constantly thanked his own band, which was the engine that made him go.  And by the time he finished the set with “Faithful Man,” Fields was in a full-throated roar, singing about a man done wrong. All 72 years of him, still pouring out what he knows.

Remaining Tour Dates:

10/28 – Seattle, WA – Showbox 10/29 – Portland, OR – Aladdin Theater 10/30 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom 11/01 – Pomona, CA – The Glass House 11/03 – Dallas, TX – The Echo Lounge & Music Hall 11/04 – Austin, TX – Emo’s 11/05 – San Antonio, TX – Paper Tiger 11/11 – Toronto, ON – Danforth Music Hall

11/12 – Rochester, NY – Photo City 11/13 – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground Ballroom 11/18 – Philadelphia, PA – Brooklyn Bowl Philadelphia 11/19 – Washington, DC – The Black Cat 12/01 – Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up Tavern 12/02 – Los Angeles, CA – The Fonda Theater 12/03 – Phoenix, AZ – Crescent Ballroom 12/31 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Made