Crowd at the Be Good to Yourself Tour in Sacramento, California. Photo by January Rhayne Photography.
In the sweltering Sacramento heat, the last place people want to be is outside. Yet, on Sunday, July 22, nearly a thousand fans braved the scorching ninety degree weather in order to experience the Be Good to Yourself Tour. Armed with floppy hats, makeshift paper fans, and cool drinks, these diehard supporters crowded into the outdoor courtyard of Sacramento’s Woodlake Hotel in order to see the musical stylings of artists Ledisi and Eric Benét. The courtyard appeared like a picturesque evening wonderland with its rows of folding chairs, strings of light bulbs, and the delicious smells of food wafting through the air. Already, heat no longer seemed a valid excuse to miss this once in a lifetime experience.
Eric Benét performing at the Be Good to Yourself Tour in Sacramento, California. Photo by January Rhayne Photography.
Amidst an air of excitement, Benét was the first artist to take the stage. Even though I had heard little of Benét’s music before this evening, I was ready to purchase his new album, The One, within five minutes of the set. I was not the only girl in the crowd who instantly fell in love with not only Benét’s music, but also his soulful performance. Girls throughout the audience rose to their feet in waves, dancing and clapping as they listened to this amazing artist essentially pour out his soul through the pure, raw emotion of his lyrics.
Benét’s set consisted of a melody of ballads bemoaning the tragedy of lost love and celebrating the spark of new romance. A crowd favorite included Benét’s rendition of “Chocolate Legs,” which beautifully highlighted Benét’s flawless falsetto and gave the crowd a chance to chime in on the chorus of this popular hit. Benét worked hard to make his performance interactive by often encouraging the crowd to join in singing and never missing an opportunity to point to his smitten lady fans. At the end of Benét’s performance, a large group of ladies formed a love-sick congregation in front of the stage. Benét rewarded a number of these adoring fans with a handshake as he exited amid thunderous applause.
Ledisi performing at the Be Good to Yourself Tour in Sacramento, California. Photo by January Rhayne Photography.
With energy running high from Benét’s performance, the crowd practically quivered in anticipation when seven-time Grammy nominated artist Ledisi made her entrance. With her black sparkling dress and powerful, booming voice, Ledisi captivated the audience before the concert even truly began. Although from the moment Ledisi took the stage, the crowd was on its feet, dancing and cheering, Ledisi continued to raise the energy level even higher. She addressed the audience often, encouraging them to be loud and, in her words, celebrate life. Her performance included not only singing but also comedic narrations, most notably during her popular song “In the Morning.” Between belting out powerful, pitch-perfect notes, she kept the crowd laughing with a bit about, as she called it, “dysfunctional R&B.”
Ledisi performing at the Be Good to Yourself Tour in Sacramento, California. Photo by January Rhayne Photography.
Despite Ledisi’s lighthearted air, her concert also contained a serious message about challenges in life. Ledisi has experienced a great deal of success in her career; yet, despite this success, Ledisi’s career has also been laced with difficulty. Ledisi told the crowd that before writing the song “Alright,” she seriously considered quitting the music industry because she was told she wasn’t pretty enough to be a recording artist. However, Ledisi refused to give up and she shared this determined attitude with the crowd. She preached the importance of doing what you love and realizing that you can’t always please everyone. Not only did Ledisi give a stellar performance, but I, along with the rest of the audience, will forever remember this priceless piece of life wisdom.
Ledisi and Benét continue the Be Good to Yourself Tour through August 8, 2012 as they spread both their music and message at stops across the country. In total, this tour has spanned across 27 North American cities in its quest to bring both a unique musical and spiritual experience.
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Written by Sacramento365.com Guest Writer Ali Valdrighi
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Photographs by January Rhayne Photography
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