Review: Wyclef Jean lights up the Gothic

Concert showed Wyclef’s versatility

“Where my rebels at?”

Wyclef Jean vehemently queried the audience with this question several times throughout his show- his own personal declaration to question authority and think for yourself.

Though Wyclef has always been outspoken with his beliefs and political stance, it all becomes so much more relevant now that it is an election year.

Concertgoers at a sold out Gothic Theater in Denver eagerly awaited the start of Wyclef’s set as very talented Lyfe Jennings finished up his opening set. After a short sound check, just enough time for the majority of the crowd to refill their vodka and Red Bull drinks, the lights lowered and the predominantly female crowd let out a deafening cheer.

Wyclef took the stage wearing a masquerade mask and a glittering jacket. As the lights rose, he began to play, warming up the crowd by instructing, “Put your lighters up.”

His latest album “Carnival, Volume II: Memoirs of an Immigrant” is a continuation of his 1997 solo debut “Wyclef Presents the Carnival.” “Carnival II” is Wyclef’s most inventive album since his run with his former group, the Fugees, with collaborations with artists including Paul Simon, System of a Down’s Serj Tankian and Shakira.

In his biography on his Web site, he says, “the unexpected passing of my father brought great spiritual reflection on what matters in life. God’s gift of my daughter reminded me of how love is the greatest way to heal. I have traveled the world, seen the issues in my native land, and worked some of the most important recording artists artistically. This has given me a second wind, so to speak. Inspiration.”

From here the show became an all-out showcase of Wyclef’s many talents. While playing the guitar (his second instrument of the evening) on “President,” Wyclef sang about all the things he would do if he were president–from not going to war to shouting “legalize it” in reference to legalization of marijuana – another theme to the night.

At one point, a girl was selected from the audience to dance along to the music on stage. The too-eager-to-get-on-the-stage fan was actually too embarrassed to dance, staying near the side and singing along to every hook. As she was escorted from the stage, the girl pulled a blunt from her purse and offered it to Wyclef as a last-ditch attempt to stay on stage.

Following the format of his album, several performers assisted Wyclef on his performance. They included his sister, who belted “Change is Gonna Come,” opener Lyfe Jennings, who really belted “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” and a middle aged man who led the crowd in a sing-a-long to the Temptations’ “My Girl.”

The only problem with the show was the recurring crackling of the speakers, which was probably due to a bad wireless connection or a faulty cable. But this never overshadowed ten-minute guitar solo (including riffs with his teeth and behind his head), a five-minute freestyle in four different languages (English, French, Spanish and Haitian Creole), or even the percussion bash.

Once Wyclef took the stage, he took control of the room. Both levels of the relatively small Gothic Theater were dancing for nearly the entire show, culminating in the final song before the encore of this two hour and fifteen minute set “Carnival.” While running around the venue, jumping off balconies and dancing with the crowd, Wyclef exclaimed, “if you don’t have your shirt off, you’re a square!” This resulted in more than 1,000 fans waving shirts in the room.

By the end of the show, the energy in the room was so high that it was difficult to coax the performer off the stage. It would be an insult to label Wyclef Jean as only a hip-hop artist, and his performance demonstrated his versatility. After the show, he waited to sign autographs and greet his fans, only furthering his position as a multifaceted musician, master entertainer and all-around good guy.

Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Devon Taylor at [email protected]