Last Wednesday night (October 30), the Muse of Motown, Ms. Diana Ross performed nearly as many costume changes as she did songs for a satisfied, sold-out Saenger Theatre, more than maintaining her diva status card. At 69 years young, Ross’ still-lithe figure glided across the stage in brightly sequined evening gowns with grace and ease, her trademark smile brightly beaming. This was no sit-down show, for Ms. Ross commanded energy from her (not so surprising) opening number, “I’m Coming Out,” through a few ballads and even into some of her lesser known pre-disco tunes off the 1979 album, The Boss.
Motown icon Diana Ross wows sold-out Saenger Theatre on October 30.
Just as inspiring as Diana’s healthy glow after all these years were the fans donning their own sequined attire and proud afros. The pre-show was most certainly under the newly lit marquee out front and inside the lobby, where you easily felt underdressed if not in your best attire. Once the diva took the stage though, it was absolutely all about her, and she gave everything the audience hoped for. Some of the classics were cut short to fit neatly into a medley, but several she stretched all the way out. Early Supremes classics, “Kiss Me In The Morning” and late ’70s to early ’80s disco burners each had their place in the almost chronological program, as did one Billie Holiday cover from the Lady Sings The Blues soundtrack.
“Upside Down” and “Love Hangover” stirred cheers, but three of the evening’s pleasant surprises were solid performances of the pivotal 1968 Supremes title track, “Love Child,” and two from 1979’s The Boss. Ross owned “It’s My House” and “The Boss” from the Ashford and Simpson-produced album that marked a proprietary turning point in her career — a time when she began taking more creative control from a production standpoint. Evidently these songs still hold a powerful place in Ms. Ross’ heart.
Ross sang hit after hit, favorite after favorite. After literally two dozen hits sung back-to-back with a band tight as a vice grip, suddenly the meaning of Motown, of “Hitsville USA,” sunk in. There is something to be said for the art of mastering that perfect formula for a chart-topper that avoids the cheese factor, and Lady D is still something to talk about.
Enjoy some of OffBeat photographer, Elsa Hahne’s photos from the concert below… (bearing in mind, these are just some from the first of Ms. Ross’ half-dozen costume changes)…
All photos courtesy of Elsa Hahne. For more photos from the New Orleans music scene visit OffBeat’s Flickr page.
