Concert review | Bawdy Etta saves the "Last" for best, unfortunately

Concert Review |

When Etta James launched into the sultry ballad "At Last," many in the packed audience at her Paramount Theatre concert Wednesday night were probably thinking, "Amen."

Up to that late point in a show that began with an excellent set by rousing local singer-songwriter LeRoy Bell and his band, and continued with some scorching instrumentals by James' backup group The Roots Band, it was unclear whether the famous blues belter was ever going to cut the raunchy burlesquing and get down to musical business.

She finally did with a full-throated delivery of her 1961 hit "At Last" — which she noted was a favorite song of President Obama's. And which she also claimed (in saltier language) could whip Beyoncé's version. (The pop icon sang "At Last" at one of Obama's inaugural balls, and played James in the recent film "Cadillac Records.")

With all due respect to Beyoncé, no one can sing Etta like Etta — as the 71-year-old blues diva went on to also prove in her encore number, a get-down blast through Al Green's "Love and Happiness."

But for much of her limited set at the Paramount, James let the audience do some of the vocal heavy lifting (on a pretty strange singalong version of "Piece of My Heart"), or sang abbreviated versions of some of her best-known numbers, starting with the opener, "Come to Mama," while making lewd facial and hand gestures.

Some patrons had brought young children along to see the legendary singer, who is getting more attention lately thanks in part to "Cadillac Records" and the Obama connection. A little research, however, would have told them that this blues queen ain't never been no Girl Scout. She's always been a bawdy performer (nicknamed Peaches, for reasons you might guess), whose R&B prowess came with growling, gritty phrasing, off-color lyrics and earthshaking lung power.

Offstage, James has lived a near-caricature of the hard blues life — overcoming a lengthy battle with heroin addiction, and recently shedding more than 200 pounds thanks to gastric bypass surgery. And she looked svelte and glamorous, in a black pants ensemble spiced up with a red sequined top.

Due to chronic arthritis, James entered and exited on a sporty scooter-style wheelchair. And at times she sang so quietly, her otherwise first-rate band (with dueling guitar soloists, a killer organist and those horns) overwhelmed her.

There were a lot of loyal fans on hand who forgave the singer everything, including her tiresome leering and self-groping (even on a poignant signature blues like "I'd Rather Go Blind") because of James' justifiable status as a living musical legend/pioneer. But judging from my e-mail, there were others who were not only disappointed but incensed by her antics.

Perhaps at this point James' performances are more valedictory in nature. But when she wanted to knock it out of the park, with that gorgeous "At Last," she had the goods to do it. Too bad we had to wait until the bottom of the final inning for it.

Misha Berson: mberson@seattletimes.com