JULY 28-AUGUST 3, 2010
                                           FREE




BATTER UP!
Introducing Newport
Crepe Company
LOW-CARB
CAMPAIGN
David Cicilline
skips the pasta



                      DOWN TO
                      EARTH
                      DIVA
                      SHARON JONES
newport folk festival


Super soul
SISTER
The new queen of funk is a former
prison guard who still lives in the projects
in Far Rockaway, Queens, with her mom,
washes clothes at the Laundromat and                                               Wow, baby! It might seem like Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings hit it big overnight. But they’ve actually been around a
buys sensible heels at Payless.                                                    long time. PHOTO BY LAURA HANIFIN




                                                                                                                                                                                                                   mercury
SHARON JONES & THE                       since April when Daptone Records          version of Woody Guthrie’s “This           her Sharon and it stuck. “I went to        sing along. On Halloween 2008, when
                                         released their fourth album, “I           Land is Your Land” featured on the         school and spelled my name Shéron          the band performed at Boston’s
DAP-KINGS
                                         Learned the Hard Way the group’s
                                                                 ,”                “Up in the Air” movie soundtrack,          and the teacher would correct it and       Wilbur Theatre, I saw Jones dance
Sun., Aug. 1, Fort Stage, 12:35-1:30




                                                                                                                                                                                                                   page 11
                                         popularity has exploded. The album        and their breakthrough album, “100         put an ‘a.’” Jones said laughing. Her      with guys dressed as The Blues
p.m.                                     debuted at No. 15 on the Billboard        Days, 100 Nights” (2007).                  father died when she was 12 and her        Brothers and then yell for security
                                         200.                                         Currently, the band is completing       mother, Ella M. Jones, raised Jones        when a sausage-clad woman would-
BY JENNIFER NICOLE SULLIVAN                 “It’s scaring me because it seemed     a jam-packed tour that included            and her five siblings in New York          n’t leave the stage. But Jones says


S
     he’s like James Brown in a          like it happened overnight,” said         cities in Europe and a stop at George      City In August, when her summer
                                                                                                                                   .                                     she always tries to handle out-of-




                                                                                                                                                                                                                   JULY 28-AUGUST 3, 2010
     dress. A chic, ’60s shift dress     Jones via telephone on July 2 as she      Wein’s Newport Folk Festival on            tour ends, Jones plans to shop for         hand fans with love.
     with matching heels. But with       finished her wash at a Brooklyn           Sunday, Aug. 1. If you’ve seen talk        separate homes for herself and her            “I catch myself, because I find
raw, powerhouse vocals and unstop-       Laundromat. “And I’m going on 15          shows such as “Late Show with              mother and sister in North Augusta,        myself get angry … that corrections
pable shimmy shake moves that            years with this record label. This is     David Letterman” or “The Tonight           S.C., across the bridge from her birth     stuff starts coming out,” said Jones
would have wearied the late Godfa-       my fourth album and people are like       Show with Jay Leno” lately, you’ve         town.                                      about a recent fan. “I said ‘Baby, do
ther of Soul in his prime.               ‘Oh my God, you’re great!’ I’m like,      probably seen Jones and her suit-             Jones, who began singing gospel         me a favor, honey, don’t be an ass …
   She is Sharon Jones, the explosive    ‘Thank you,’ but I’m like, wow baby,      clad, eight-piece band (three-piece        music at church, believes her voice        but come on, baby, I still love you.
frontwoman of the retro soul/funk        I’ve been around here a long time!”       horn section, two guitars, drums,          is a gift from God and that she’s          (smooch sounds) Now get off the
band that sounds like they’ve time          Back in 1996, the Queen of Funk        baritone sax and bass) tear up the         grateful to use it, despite a stinging     stage.’”
traveled from the late ’60s to deliver   (dubbed by the now-defunct British        stage with new songs from “I               rejection from a Sony producer in             Jones has always admired Aretha
their infectious grooves. With roots     cult magazine, Big Daddy) got             Learned the Hard Way” (recorded on         the ’80s.                                  Franklin, so she was overjoyed to
in Brown’s native Augusta, Ga., the      together with Gabe Roth (a.k.a.           an old Ampex eight-track tape                 “I knew I could sing and I knew I       perform covers of “Respect” and “Do
effervescent 54-year-old has led the     Bosco Mann), bandleader and               machine to achieve an old school           had talent, but for somebody to tell       Right Woman, Do Right Man” at The
Brooklyn-based Dap-Kings with her        bassist for The Dap-Kings and head        sound), such as the title track, “She      you you can’t make it because you’re       Apollo’s Hall of Fame induction gala
groovin’ voice since the mid-‘90s. But   of Daptone Records (formerly Desco        Ain’t a Child No More,” “Better            too black, too fat, too short, too old,    for the Queen of Soul in June. Jones
                                         Records), to sing backup for soul         Things,” and one of Jones’ favorites,      you know, you’re not what we’re            electrified the stage, but when Jones
                                         singer Lee Fields’ song “Switch-          the pared-down, Sam Cooke-style            looking for, that was a knocker,” said     tried to talk to Franklin afterward,
                                         blade” and record an impromptu            “Mama Don’t Like My Man,”                  the 5-foot-1 singer. “But all I could do   she got snubbed.
                                         voiceover that won over the band.         because she said, “it’s like a true sto-   was, like, you know, Lord, what I             “I said, ‘Ms. Franklin, I just want
                                            “Gabe was like, ‘Sharon, just say      ry Electric and timely, the song
                                                                                     .”                                       have is unusual. I never took a vocal      you to know the first time I saw you
                                         something, just talk, you know how        “Money” asks, “Money, why don’t            lesson, anything. This is a gift. …        with that dashiki on your head sit-
                                         old black guys stand on the corner or     you like me?” Prophetically, The           He’s not going to give me a gift and I     ting on that ‘Amazing Grace’ album,
                                         hanging out, talking with a switch-       Dap-Kings wrote the song five years        don’t use it.”                             I knew that was my inspiration. I
                                         blade,’” said Jones, a former Rikers      ago during better economic times              Before she takes the stage, Jones       wanted to be like you and sing.’ And
                                         Island corrections officer and wed-       and reworked it for the album. While       prays that God anoints her voice and       she said, ‘humph.’ That was it,”
                                         ding singer. “I was like ‘OK.’ And        many of the songs sound like pages         the band and “don’t let me forget any      Jones said. “That’s OK. ... She didn’t
                                         they were rolling. … I was just           from Jones’ personal life, The Dap-        lyrics.” Previously, Jones wore            hurt my feelings. I didn’t cry and I’ve
                                         talkin’ mess … ‘I told ya I’d cut ya! I   Kings (who backed Amy Winehouse            bright vintage store frocks, but now       got nothing but good things to say
                                         cut ya so bad…’”                          on “Back to Black”) write the songs        she wears sleek dresses by Los Ange-       about her … but I’ll never be to that
                                            About a year later, Roth called        and Jones adds flourishes and              les designer Trina Turk and fringy,        point to where I’d ever be that mean
                                         Jones to record some singles with         changes.                                   Tina Turner-style dresses by New           to someone.”
                                         The Soul Providers, and they eventu-         Humble and grounded, Jones lives        York designer Minnae Chae. And to             Later she added: “I just wanna
The old way. The band’s fourth           ally became Sharon Jones & The            in the projects in Far Rockaway,           dance without injury, she’s been           keep a cool head on. I don’t wanna be
album, ‘I Learned the Hard Way,’         Dap-Kings. Since then, they’ve            Queens, with her 77-year-old mother.       wearing lower-heeled shoes from            all popular. I don’t want no paparazzi
achieved that old-school R&B sound       toured extensively and released           She was born Shéron Lafaye Jones,          Payless.                                   up my butt and I can’t come out. And
by recording on an old Ampex eight-      “Dap Dippin’” (2002), “Naturally”         but when people couldn’t pronounce            It’s a hysterical treat when Jones      I don’t want to get to the point when I
track tape machine.                      (2005), the album that features the       her French name, people just called        invites folks on stage to dance or         can’t talk to my fans and be me.”

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

  • 1.
    JULY 28-AUGUST 3,2010 FREE BATTER UP! Introducing Newport Crepe Company LOW-CARB CAMPAIGN David Cicilline skips the pasta DOWN TO EARTH DIVA SHARON JONES
  • 2.
    newport folk festival Supersoul SISTER The new queen of funk is a former prison guard who still lives in the projects in Far Rockaway, Queens, with her mom, washes clothes at the Laundromat and Wow, baby! It might seem like Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings hit it big overnight. But they’ve actually been around a buys sensible heels at Payless. long time. PHOTO BY LAURA HANIFIN mercury SHARON JONES & THE since April when Daptone Records version of Woody Guthrie’s “This her Sharon and it stuck. “I went to sing along. On Halloween 2008, when released their fourth album, “I Land is Your Land” featured on the school and spelled my name Shéron the band performed at Boston’s DAP-KINGS Learned the Hard Way the group’s ,” “Up in the Air” movie soundtrack, and the teacher would correct it and Wilbur Theatre, I saw Jones dance Sun., Aug. 1, Fort Stage, 12:35-1:30 page 11 popularity has exploded. The album and their breakthrough album, “100 put an ‘a.’” Jones said laughing. Her with guys dressed as The Blues p.m. debuted at No. 15 on the Billboard Days, 100 Nights” (2007). father died when she was 12 and her Brothers and then yell for security 200. Currently, the band is completing mother, Ella M. Jones, raised Jones when a sausage-clad woman would- BY JENNIFER NICOLE SULLIVAN “It’s scaring me because it seemed a jam-packed tour that included and her five siblings in New York n’t leave the stage. But Jones says S he’s like James Brown in a like it happened overnight,” said cities in Europe and a stop at George City In August, when her summer . she always tries to handle out-of- JULY 28-AUGUST 3, 2010 dress. A chic, ’60s shift dress Jones via telephone on July 2 as she Wein’s Newport Folk Festival on tour ends, Jones plans to shop for hand fans with love. with matching heels. But with finished her wash at a Brooklyn Sunday, Aug. 1. If you’ve seen talk separate homes for herself and her “I catch myself, because I find raw, powerhouse vocals and unstop- Laundromat. “And I’m going on 15 shows such as “Late Show with mother and sister in North Augusta, myself get angry … that corrections pable shimmy shake moves that years with this record label. This is David Letterman” or “The Tonight S.C., across the bridge from her birth stuff starts coming out,” said Jones would have wearied the late Godfa- my fourth album and people are like Show with Jay Leno” lately, you’ve town. about a recent fan. “I said ‘Baby, do ther of Soul in his prime. ‘Oh my God, you’re great!’ I’m like, probably seen Jones and her suit- Jones, who began singing gospel me a favor, honey, don’t be an ass … She is Sharon Jones, the explosive ‘Thank you,’ but I’m like, wow baby, clad, eight-piece band (three-piece music at church, believes her voice but come on, baby, I still love you. frontwoman of the retro soul/funk I’ve been around here a long time!” horn section, two guitars, drums, is a gift from God and that she’s (smooch sounds) Now get off the band that sounds like they’ve time Back in 1996, the Queen of Funk baritone sax and bass) tear up the grateful to use it, despite a stinging stage.’” traveled from the late ’60s to deliver (dubbed by the now-defunct British stage with new songs from “I rejection from a Sony producer in Jones has always admired Aretha their infectious grooves. With roots cult magazine, Big Daddy) got Learned the Hard Way” (recorded on the ’80s. Franklin, so she was overjoyed to in Brown’s native Augusta, Ga., the together with Gabe Roth (a.k.a. an old Ampex eight-track tape “I knew I could sing and I knew I perform covers of “Respect” and “Do effervescent 54-year-old has led the Bosco Mann), bandleader and machine to achieve an old school had talent, but for somebody to tell Right Woman, Do Right Man” at The Brooklyn-based Dap-Kings with her bassist for The Dap-Kings and head sound), such as the title track, “She you you can’t make it because you’re Apollo’s Hall of Fame induction gala groovin’ voice since the mid-‘90s. But of Daptone Records (formerly Desco Ain’t a Child No More,” “Better too black, too fat, too short, too old, for the Queen of Soul in June. Jones Records), to sing backup for soul Things,” and one of Jones’ favorites, you know, you’re not what we’re electrified the stage, but when Jones singer Lee Fields’ song “Switch- the pared-down, Sam Cooke-style looking for, that was a knocker,” said tried to talk to Franklin afterward, blade” and record an impromptu “Mama Don’t Like My Man,” the 5-foot-1 singer. “But all I could do she got snubbed. voiceover that won over the band. because she said, “it’s like a true sto- was, like, you know, Lord, what I “I said, ‘Ms. Franklin, I just want “Gabe was like, ‘Sharon, just say ry Electric and timely, the song .” have is unusual. I never took a vocal you to know the first time I saw you something, just talk, you know how “Money” asks, “Money, why don’t lesson, anything. This is a gift. … with that dashiki on your head sit- old black guys stand on the corner or you like me?” Prophetically, The He’s not going to give me a gift and I ting on that ‘Amazing Grace’ album, hanging out, talking with a switch- Dap-Kings wrote the song five years don’t use it.” I knew that was my inspiration. I blade,’” said Jones, a former Rikers ago during better economic times Before she takes the stage, Jones wanted to be like you and sing.’ And Island corrections officer and wed- and reworked it for the album. While prays that God anoints her voice and she said, ‘humph.’ That was it,” ding singer. “I was like ‘OK.’ And many of the songs sound like pages the band and “don’t let me forget any Jones said. “That’s OK. ... She didn’t they were rolling. … I was just from Jones’ personal life, The Dap- lyrics.” Previously, Jones wore hurt my feelings. I didn’t cry and I’ve talkin’ mess … ‘I told ya I’d cut ya! I Kings (who backed Amy Winehouse bright vintage store frocks, but now got nothing but good things to say cut ya so bad…’” on “Back to Black”) write the songs she wears sleek dresses by Los Ange- about her … but I’ll never be to that About a year later, Roth called and Jones adds flourishes and les designer Trina Turk and fringy, point to where I’d ever be that mean Jones to record some singles with changes. Tina Turner-style dresses by New to someone.” The Soul Providers, and they eventu- Humble and grounded, Jones lives York designer Minnae Chae. And to Later she added: “I just wanna The old way. The band’s fourth ally became Sharon Jones & The in the projects in Far Rockaway, dance without injury, she’s been keep a cool head on. I don’t wanna be album, ‘I Learned the Hard Way,’ Dap-Kings. Since then, they’ve Queens, with her 77-year-old mother. wearing lower-heeled shoes from all popular. I don’t want no paparazzi achieved that old-school R&B sound toured extensively and released She was born Shéron Lafaye Jones, Payless. up my butt and I can’t come out. And by recording on an old Ampex eight- “Dap Dippin’” (2002), “Naturally” but when people couldn’t pronounce It’s a hysterical treat when Jones I don’t want to get to the point when I track tape machine. (2005), the album that features the her French name, people just called invites folks on stage to dance or can’t talk to my fans and be me.”