Gig review: Jessie J, T in the Park

By David Pollock
Published on 07/07/2012 22:24

DOUBLE-TAKES abounded when the audience caught sight of Jessie J.

Jessie J

Main Stage, Saturday

***

The trademark bobbed black hair and Louise Brooks-as-disco princess image was gone, to be replaced by a flowing, only minimally styled black hairstyle and a casual trousers and sports bra set which looked like it had been splashed with blue and white paint. This edition of T wasn’t going to have a Beyonce moment to match last year’s, but The Voice presenter and nationally well-kent face (and formerly hair) Jessie provided a slick and contemporary rush of bubblegum soul to fill at least part of the gap.

It all appeared to be an indicator of what we can expect from her second album Heaven when it appears later in the year. It might be slightly harsh to say that some of the new material we heard sounded like a more credible update of Joss Stone, but certainly a similar attempt to merge classic credibility with chart pop appeared to be there.

The most satisfying moments came with her current hits as interpreted by her full band, however, including a markedly funk-laden Price Tag, the pounding commercial trance of LaserLight featuring fellow T guest David Guetta and a stand-out finale of Domino with a hint of Janet Jackson, its extended coda featuring the singer singling out audience members and instructing “dance!” Amidst a manly main stage evening line-up, the sense of Saturday night fun was welcome.