REVIEW: Patti LaBelle spreads festive joy to the world at Hancher

IOWA CITY — In 40 years of attending Hancher events, I have never seen nearly everyone jump to their feet singing, dancing and clapping to the beat.

But they did Friday night, as “Godmother of Soul” Patti LaBelle spread her joy to the world inside Hancher Auditorium. That spirit kept buzzing through the lobbies, cafe and parking lot afterward.

The concert was billed as “Celebrate the Season with Patti LaBelle,” and even though she only sang one Christmas song — the tender “It’s Going to be a Merry Christmas” — the entire evening was a celebration from beginning to end, bathed in red and green lights onstage and dazzling shiny satin attire on the star.

The Queen held court with her loyal subjects, showering us with her energy, charm, artistry, fashion, flair and above all, her love and genuine affection.

With her voice all over the airwaves and discos in the 1970s and ’80s, in 2022, she makes age 78 the new 38. Her energy continues to flow right out her signature staccato finger flutters and shoulder and hip shimmies as she struts on stiletto heels. And when she kicked those heels across the stage twice during the concert, she kept right on strutting barefoot.

By their 60s, many stars start pitching their signature songs lower or letting their backup singers hit the highest notes. Not LaBelle.

Her soprano wails still ring true as she slides up the scale to notes higher than Mariah Carey could ever hope to reach. If crystal stemware had been onstage, it would have shattered into a million pieces several times over. That’s all we want for Christmas — a spectacular celebration of artistry wrapped in a loving embrace.

She’s such a class act.

Her red-hot band warmed us up, during a video retrospective of her career. Then the star strolled onstage in a red satin skirt and fitted jacket with a swooping train trailing behind her red sparkly stilettos. Even her microphone and earrings were bedazzled, glittering under the lights.

When she launched into “Something Special,” we knew the concert would be. Next, she wailed through “New Attitude,” stopped and said to the audience: “I don’t think I’ve ever been here before. Get used to me, because when I leave tonight, I intend to come back.”

She launched into so many songs that were hits for others, saying, “But don’t get it twisted — I did it first.” She turned the tables on herself, too, reminding us that Michael McDonald sang it first, before launching into “I Keep Forgetting,” performed with Belleverized flair. Her drummer, Eric Seats, then joined her for a dreamy duet of “On My Own,” sounding so much like McDonald.

All of her band members stepped into featured spotlights, and each one dripped with charisma and showmanship. Brenda Roy blew the roof off, wailing ever so high in LaBelle style on the gospel number, “He Cares for You.”

Some of the highest highlights came from the Queen when she was talking to her audience. Several songs into the evening, she kicked off her red stilettos and strolled barefoot into the audience, planting a sweet kiss on the forehead of two men in wheelchairs.

Moments later, after expressing how good it felt to be able to connect so personally after the pandemic, she wanted to give those men a stem of fresh, sweet smelling white lilies from a bunch she had next to the piano. But she needed someone from the audience to come forward and help her out.

Bob Mollman, a wonderful singer from Cedar Rapids, stood right up and ambled to the edge of the stage. At the star’s bidding, he pointed out his wife, Sue. “Hey girl, I’m flirting with Bob,” LaBelle said to her as laughter rippled through the auditorium. Mollman delivered the flowers, and the star gave him a fragrant stem, as well.

Others in the audience and onstage received lilies at various points in the concert, in a genuine show of affection and appreciation.

Jaunty in a green satin pantsuit, she wound up the once-in-a-lifetime event with “Over the Rainbow,” then really got the joint jumping with a finale of the disco classics “Lady Marmalade” and “Bad Girls.”

Judging by the two-way shower of affection, something tells me Eastern Iowa hasn’t heard the last of Patti LaBelle.

Comments: (319) 368-8508; diana.nollen@thegazette.com