The few thousand people assembled at the Docks in Toronto on Tuesday night to watch John Legend perform left with at least two emotions: regret and luck.

Regret because most missed him when he played a show in October at the Mod Club.

Regret because most had no idea who he was in August when he played a very small and intimate show at Fez Batik for $10.

Regret because they couldn’t possibly have realized that they should have been at his show last March at the Trane Studio?a venue that can fit just 100 people.

But luck because they know he won’t be playing relatively small shows like the one at the Docks for much longer.

John Legend is no longer a star in the making; he’s a legitimate star. Since its release at the end of December, his album, “Get Lifted,” has charted in the top 10 on Billboard every week.

Toronto was fortunate to get another small show from Legend before he decides to move up to theatres and then arenas.

For about 90 minutes, he chopped away on the piano, standing the entire time, dressed elegantly chic in a blazer and jeans.

He opened with “Let’s Get Lifted” and went through almost his whole album.

Each tune Legend sang, he made sure it varied from the album version. He went off on several musical tangents where he let his voice pave the way for how to conclude.

He grooved on songs like “Live it Up,” let his gospel influences show on tracks like “I Can Change,” and showed exactly why he’s this year’s “it” guy, performing the breakthrough single, “Ordinary People.”

Before releasing the album, Legend appeared on countless tracks for other artists, and he performed a medley of some of the better known ones like “Encore” by Jay Z and “This Way” by Dilated Peoples. He also sang a “remix” of Slum Village’s “Selfish,” in which he changed all the raps to his own cohesive lyrics.

Also making the repertoire was “Sun Comes Up,” a song off his independent live album. Many were unfamiliar with the song, but those who knew it screamed loud enough to make up for others’ silence.

His encore included a cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Visions,” and a grand finale performance of “Refuge.”

Legend could not have done better. See you at the Air Canada Centre.

5*
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
The Docks, Toronto

Photo by: Mark Razmov






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