When it comes to live performances from the women of hip-hop, Alicia Keys is perfectly content to let her talent serve as the main attraction. Call her the no frills diva.
On Tuesday night at the ACC, she did with a microphone, piano and some game backup what Rihanna couldn’t with a small army of dancers and a stage setup fit for a queen. By eschewing bells and whistles, Keys wowed a crowd of 11,000-plus with a straightforward, authentic effort that showcased her all-world musical abilities.
Keys put forward a tour-de-force performance that put her considerable vocal range to the test and enabled her to display not only her piano skills, but also some drumming aptitude. The set smoothly transitioned from slow, brooding tracks to high-energy, up-tempo hits that got the crowd involved. Sometimes, as was the case with “No One,” she managed those seamless transitions within the same song.
Fans responded in the exact manner that Keys clearly intended, sitting back in appreciation for her more mellow offerings while later getting to their feet when she flexed some musical muscle and started hitting power notes. Her belting out of “Girl on Fire” was the show’s clear highlight.
The only disappointment within a simple, albeit carefully crafted, performance was a show-closing “Empire State of Mind” that didn’t quite deliver; it sorely lacked the imposing presence of Jay-Z. A late attempt to placate fans by replacing “New York” with “Toronto” ultimately fell flat, as well.
Even Miguel, who had a strong following of his own as the show’s opener, brought the kind of fire you would expect from a talent on the rise who is clearly ready to make his mark.
Keys, of course, knows a thing or two about life as a rising star. It was none other than Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder and Clive Davis who highlighted her as a talent to watch early in the 2000s. It’s clear from this latest showing that she has realized her significant potential.
