The sounds of southern soul filled the air on Saturday, November 16th, when crooner Anthony Hamilton returned to The Theater at MGM in Oxon Hill, MD, to perform all his hits.
Songstress Avery Sunshine opened the show and took the stage with a burst of energy, opening her set with the catch "Hello Sunshine." As the audience watched this queen on stage, it was clear that positivity was needed, and you couldn't help but smile. Mrs. Sunshine truly made the evening a family affair, as her husband and son were part of her backing band.
Throughout her 35-minute set, Avery paid tribute to the icon Tina Turner and performed songs from her catalog "The Gemini Song (You Are All I Need)," "Ice Cream Song," and arguably, her signature song, "Call My Name." In retrospect, Avery could've ended her set after "Call My Name," but she wasn't down yet, as she brought the house down with a one-two punch of "The Lord Is Blessing Me" and "Blackity Black."
Following a brief intermission, the moment arrived for the featured artist, Mr. Anthony Hamilton. Upon taking the stage in a white suit, it became evident that he intended to create an atmosphere reminiscent of a juke joint. The North Carolina-based vocalist commenced his performance with an instrumental cover of the Willie Hutch classic "I Choose You," which seamlessly transitioned into captivating renditions of his hits "Cool" and "So In Love."
As Hamilton delved into his collection of heartfelt ballads, his stunning vocals captivated the audience. The atmosphere in the venue became electric as the crowd enthusiastically joined in, singing every word to "Best of Me" and "Point of It All." Yet, his breathtaking rendition of Luther Vandross's "Superstar" surprised everyone. In a delightful twist, he seamlessly wove in an interpolation of another Vandross classic, "So Amazing," enriching the performance and leaving the audience utterly spellbound.
Following a quick costume change into a t-shirt and jeans, Hamilton took it back to the early days, performing his hook from the Nappy Roots classic "Po' Folks" and "Coming Where I'm From." As the night began to wind down, longtime fans knew what was coming next. Never one to shy away from the faith, Hamilton brought many to the audience in tears with a robust cover of "Something about the Name Jesus." Naturally, Hamilton closed the evening with "Charlene."
If I had one minor gripe with Hamilton's setlist, it was the omission of my favorite song from his catalog, "Change Your World." While some may feel that R&B is a dying field, real singers like Anthony Hamilton and Avery Sunshine keep it alive with their live game.
Final Grade: A