Detroit − Singer-preacher Jelly Roll offered a night of spiritual healing during his sold-out concert Wednesday night at Little Caesars Arena, offering to cleanse the roughly 16,000 fans in attendance with songs of faith and redemption.
It was the Grammy nominee’s biggest Detroit performance to date, and his sixth area appearance in 15 months. The 39-year-old, born Jason DeFord, said it was his 30th Detroit concert overall, and he ticked off the list of area venues he’s performed at — the Shelter, Saint Andrew’s Hall, Harpos, the Fillmore — before naming the Motor City venue he most hopes to check off his list: “I hope one day we come back and get to do it at Ford Field, baby,” he told the crowd at LCA during the 21-song, 100-minute concert. “That’s my dream, Detroit!”
He’s well on his way. Jelly’s spiritual brand of country music rolls in aspects of rock and roll, hip-hop and the music of the church, drawing heavily from the Kid Rock playbook, right down to the towers of pyro burning on stage. He sings openly about his failings and offers salvation for others who are going through tough times, whether through addiction, lack of spirituality or other issues. And he welcomes anyone and everyone into his dysfunctional musical family, saying we all can use someone to lean on every now and again.
“Tonight will be a night of healing, tonight will be a night of therapy, tonight will be a night of love,” he said near the top of the show, after performing “I Am Not Okay” inside the framework of a burning house on a small stage at the back of the arena. “But most important Detroit, I hope it’s the best show you’ve seen in your f—— life!”
Jelly took the stage after walking through the crowd and slapping hands with fans, while accompanied by his wife, Bunnie. He sported two thick, flashy necklaces and a smile as wide as the arena stage.
Picking up with his 12-piece band, Jelly rolled through songs from his 10th studio album, last month’s “Beautifully Broken,” which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top 200 albums chart. He graciously offered what he said was a tribute to Motown by playing Otis Redding’s “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay,” which is in no way a Motown song.
But he made up for it by digging into a trio of Bob Seger covers, offering up “Old Time Rock and Roll,” “Turn the Page” and “Against the Wind,” joined on the final song by his opener, Ernest. “Somebody here tell Bob Seger how much I love him!” Jelly said, calling the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer his all-time favorite artist.
He also gave it up for underground Detroit rap duo Twiztid, whom he said were the first artists to take him out on tour, and Twiztid performed a surprise song during a DJ set prior to Jelly Roll’s set. A casual cover of Green Day’s “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” was also thrown into the mix, because at Jelly’s house, no one is turned away at the door.
It was all part of a hits packed evening that saw opener Shaboozey perform “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” the country’s current No. 1 single (fun fact: the song was also No. 1 back in July when the concert was announced), and fellow opener Ernest took on “I Had Some Help,” the former No. 1 by Morgan Wallen and Post Malone on which he’s one of eight credited songwriters.
Also in attendance was Genesee County sheriff Christopher Swanson, who received a special shout-out from Jelly from the stage.
But the main attraction was Jelly, and as anyone who’s ever heard one of his awards show acceptance speeches can testify, the guy’s got a way with words when he’s got a microphone in front of him. He casually introduced his bandmates throughout the night, joking one of his guitarists was “the only man on stage with a good credit score,” and he teased his own dance moves by saying, “y’all wanna see a fat man move?”
His ease and playfulness with his delivery sometimes transcends his songwriting, and songs like “Smoking Section” and “Bottle and Mary Jane” tend to wallow in cliché-riddled addiction imagery.
The emotional “Save Me” — sampled by Eminem on this year’s “Somebody Save Me” — fares better, and it was given the evening’s most elaborate production, with Jelly performing it on the B-stage at the back of the arena while a shower of water fell down on him from above and soaked him from head to toe. There’s your moment of cleansing made literal, and it capped off a night where Jelly Roll preached his gospel and his fans heard his message loud and clear. The next stop may be Ford Field after all.
agraham@detroitnews.com
