BJ the Chicago Kid with his backing live band sways back and forth, as he performs his hit record and fan favorite, Time Today on Monday May 13, 2024 at City Winery Chicago for the first of three straight night’s of sold-out performances of his, The Gravy Tour, in his hometown. Photo courtesy of Janet Takayama
Not many put on quite a show and performance the way Grammy Award-nominated singer and songwriter, BJ The Chicago Kid, does and he proved it yet again with his very soulfully stellar feel-good performance Monday night at the world-renowned City Winery Chicago. Located in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood of BJ’s hometown and the first of three straight nights of shows at the venue for his current Gravy Tour in support of his critically-acclaimed recent album, Gravy, he released last November.
While his backing band played the live instruments of guitars and drums, BJ decked in matching blue shorts and shirt with a dope design on them to go with a Brooklyn Dodgers fitted cap, came out to give a rousing performance of the album’s very groovy and upbeat opening record, Best Night of Your Life (Intro). That let you know from the jump what a stellar fun feel-good groovy time the sold-out crowd was in for. BJ so smoothly transitioning from the opening record into performances of Nobody Knows and one of his standout previously released singles, Long Time. Swaying back and forth and asking the crowd to sing along.
BJ would keep the momentum of stellar previously released singles going with performances of Liquor Store in the Sky and Never Change. During his performance of Liquor Store in the Sky, asking if anyone has ever lost someone close to them before to wave their hands back and forth and sing along. In the middle of his performance of, Never Change, BJ would also talk about how his Father, who passed away a few year’s ago would be so proud of him and boasting about him having a song with Philip Bailey of the legendary and iconic, Earth, Windows & Fire. Asking the crowd to sing along to the, ”Ba-ba-da-ba-ba-ba-da-da-da-da.” Part of the chorus and joking about how the crowd was his, ”Background singers.”
The very talented Grammy Award-nominated singer and songwriter would then give a small speech about how adding flavor and sauce to music makes him and artists be better songwriter’s. Which is what helped him a lot in the process of making, Gravy. The inspiration from such greats as Earth, Wind & Fire and The Isley Brothers that his dad helped grow up on their music being a big foundation of that. With BJ singing covers of The Isley Brothers very famous hit records, Hello It’s Me and At Your Best (You’re Love). In between introducing his one guitar player Rex, who he had perform a very electrictfying solo.
BJ would then ask how many in the crowd had been day one fans of his before going into one of his more popular first ever released singles, The Resume. Before going to yet another very stellar cover of another artist who influenced him, Usher and his hit single, Nice & Slow. Then talking about how Quarantine and the pandemic forced every one to stop what they were doing and really reflect on things with not only themselves, but others as well. Which is how he was able to slowly release music with his BJ Wednesdays series of new music he released during part of that time. With one of the most closest records to him he released during that time being, 6 Months. A very slowed down and emotional record that took the tone of the crowd down a bit from the very upbeat and feel-good vibes he had for most of the performance up to that point. You can tell how emotional and home it hit for many in the crowd, who shed some tears cause of it.
As we started to get towards the latter part of his performance. BJ went into the slowed down bedroom burning baby making jam standout, Feel Something Do Something. Right before then asking the crowd, “How many people here are in love? Believe in love or even one day long for a love? While this is for you.” As he went into the lover’s anthem, Feel Good.
BJ would then take things back to his critically-acclaimed and independently released debut album, Pineapple Now-Laters, with the standout, Good Luv’n and right into standout single, Love Inside. Before going to his critically-acclaimed 1123 album with the standouts, Close, Can’t Wait and Time Today. Shouting out his drummer Steve during his performance of, Can’t Wait. As he truly showed how skilled he is at the drums, matching up perfectly with BJ’s very soulfully smooth vocals.
The crowd kept the very amazing energy going with BJ going as he went into the very soulfully and uplifting sounds of standout single, Church, that the crowd so seamlessly and perfectly sang along to. Before so smoothly and perfectly transitioning into, Smooth. Then right into the very soulfully upbeat, Turnin’ Me Up. Where the crowd sang along as BJ said how he can’t let anyone outside of his hometown crowd outshine him on too for the tour.
BJ would then ask if anyone had a birthday. To which he said while whether you have a birthday or close to a birthday. I’m just going to sing Happy Birthday to everyone in the crowd for just being here and alive. Right before he went into his very own beautiful rendition of, Happy Birthday. BJ would then close his performance out by giving a very beautiful performance of the very acoustic-based outro track, We’ll Be Alright (Outro). That he said was the very last record they recorded for the album and one he could tell from his hometown Chicago crowd. Was one that hit not only him a lot, but many in the crowd. Which is how he knew he was in front of his hometown and seeing the strength and love the crowd showed him. To close out his very magnificent performance and the first of three straight nights of performances here at City Winery Chicago. That shows why BJ is not only the best R&B/Soul artist and performer from Chicago right now, but really one of the best in all of music anywhere now.