When the London-born singer-songwriter first stepped into the spotlight with her 2012 debut Devotion, she instantly captivated listeners with her elegant blend of understated soul, sultry R&B and sophisticated lyrics. With the release of her landmark 2020 album What’s Your Pleasure? and its triumphant 2023 follow-up That! Feels Good! Jessie showed that there was more to her repertoire than heartbreak ballads. Trading the moody minimalism of her early work for lush strings, pulsing basslines and camp-infused disco, she reinvented herself as a certified dancefloor icon.
The seemingly effortless dichotomy of modern and classic that defined her last two albums has continued onto her latest offering, Superbloom. The album has received widespread critical acclaim for its lavish, throwback disco grooves and sophisticated songwriting. Critics have described the album as the final act in her glamorous “Studio 54 trilogy” (the other two albums being the aforementioned What’s Your Pleasure? and That! Feels Good!). According to Kyle Mullin from Under The Radar: “On this LP replete with gleaming greenery imagery and lyrics about hard earned sunny ways, Ware doesn’t just sound like a natural dancefloor maestro. She proves to be a force of nature”.
Jessie brought The Superbloom Tour to Radio City Music Hall this week. This was my second time experiencing a live Jessie Ware performance - the first time was at Union Transfer in Philadelphia, which felt more like a high-energy disco club than a concert. During her performance of Cher’s Believe she walked through the ecstatic crowd and passed right by me! So I knew we were in for a fantastic evening at Radio City.
The show opened with a dramatic reveal: As The Garden Prelude swelled to its crescendo and the opening beat of I Could Get Used to This started, the a multi-tiered, pedestal-style structure in the center of the stage slowly turned to reveal Jessie, wearing a structured flowing ensemble and floral-inspired headpiece. There were several costume changes throughout the show, blending disco-diva glamour with theatrical botanical motifs. One of the highlights was the fringed look accented with crystal embellishments that swayed and caught the light as she strutted across the stage.
From the opening note, Jessie delivered a masterclass in vocal precision, gliding effortlessly from velvety, rich low notes to soaring, crystal-clear falsettos that filled every inch of the space. I also loved the show’s camp, theatrical choreography. One of my favorite sections was the sultry “Sauna” section that included Hot N Heavy, Ride and What’s Your Pleasure? (which contained elements of Madonna’s Erotica). The stage turns into this super steamy, red-lit sanctuary bathed in warm spotlights. Jessie slow-burned her way through Sauna with hypnotic vocals surrounded by her lithe male dancers. For Ride, Scissor Sisters frontman Jake Shears made a guest appearance as Jessie’s rhinestone cowboy.
The evening concluded with my favorite Jessie Ware song, Free Yourself, an electrifying disco banger centered on pure liberation, bold confidence and dance-floor bliss, that had the entire audience dancing and singing along - the perfect ending to a fabulous night.
The complete setlist was as follows.
The Garden Prelude (Introduction)
Superbloom
Pearls
Soul Control
Ooh La La
Mr Valentine
Save a Kiss
The Kill
Champagne Kisseso
Remember Where You Are
Don't You Know Who I Am? (Acoustic)
Sauna
Hot N Heavy
Ride
What's Your Pleasure?
16 Summers
Say You Love Me
I Could Get Used to This
Begin Again
No Consequences
Spotlight
Encore:
Wildest Moments
Free Yourself
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