Raphael Saadiq Live in Oakland at The Fox

Raphael Saadiq's last album had a lot of folks scratching their heads when it came out, but it seems to have started a mini Back to the Future revolution among artists and style mavens. The last few days I've been listening to a UK group called The Noisettes, and it's hard not to note the throwback soul sounds that they're invoking. Similarly, shows like Mad Men have helped bring back the slim cut suits that Saadiq has been rocking for many years now.

All I'm saying is don't sleep on Ray Ray. He's an amazing song writer, a great performer and a sophisticated East Oakland gentleman. He now lives in LA but I've seen and heard him wax poetic about The Town on several occasions, so I can only imagine what he's cooking up for his Oakland homecoming. The show is November 18th in the gorgeous revivalist Fox Theater, and tickets just went on sale today. Don't sleep! I'm seen him a few times, most recently at last month's Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco, and he always puts on a great show. See? He even gets down behind tiny desks! Anyway, hope to see yall there.

Also, check out my piece "Raphael Saadiq: An Exile's Fondness of Oakland."