Any fan of Alan Parkerยs movie The Commitments, about unemployed Irish kids trying to form a soul band, should rejoice upon hearing James Hunter. With his 2006 Grammy-nominated People Gonna Talk, Hunter became an overnight sensation. Like most overnight sensations, Hunter had been paying his dues in the streets and clubs of London for 20 years. Performing originally as Howlinย Wilf and the Vee-Jays, Hunter revealed himself as a force to be taken seriously with 1988 album Unamerican Activities. Like another UK soul acolyte Georgie Fame, Hunter has enjoyed a long association with the king of UK soul singers Van Morrison, appearing on Morrisonยs 1994 live record A Night in San Francisco. His horn-driven tunes put a new and urgent twist on American icons like Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and Bobby Bland that is anything but retro. Snitยs Dog and Pony Show kick things off at 9 p.m.
Sun., Sept. 16, 8 p.m.
This article appears in Sep 13-19, 2007.