Making a special appearance for Valentine’s Day Weekend, neo-soul singer and songwriter Anthony David graced the stage at Apache Café Friday evening for the first time in more than three years in front of a full house for a solo acoustic concert.
The Savannah native, best known for his 2008 Grammy nominated duet “Words” with R&B singer India Arie, has spent his entire life writing songs, with the majority of them being written and performed at Apache upon his rise to stardom.
Open seven nights a week right on the cusp of Midtown and Downtown Atlanta, the Apache Café has become a venue home to some of Atlanta’s most diverse group of patrons, serving the city with rising artists, known and unknown.
It has a restaurant setting with a full wine and coffee bar, plus an array of Latin and Caribbean dishes.
Doors at Apache opened up at 8:30pm, but the café was full of an anxious crowd before the opening acts went on at 9pm.
The crowded was forced to patiently wait for David through opening acts: The Larry Lambert Project and Vital.
The Larry Lambert Project was by led the talented young keyboard player, Larry Lambert of Philadelphia featuring jazz flutist Rasheeda Ali. After a few selections, Apache was introduced to Vital, a singer/songwriter from the Bay Area, California with a very “unique” style. Vital informed the crowd that he was the lead singer of an alternative rock band, but feedback from audience brought forth a mixed reception.
After two opening acts, the crowd was finally rewarded with the presence of Anthony David’s voice.
David began the evening opening with the LP title track from 2011’s “As Above, So Below. ” The album was David’s debut release on Purpose Music Group/E One Records. Last November, David released his fourth studio album, entitled “Love Out Loud.”
David’s second selection of the kept the audience amused with “Let Me In,” a popular track that can often be hear on WCLK – 91.9 FM, Atlanta’s only jazz station.
After performing “She’s Waiting on You,” David addressed the crowd with the occasion, wishing Happy Valentine’s Day to all the couples, singles, and “side chicks.”
David kept the crowd entertained throughout the evening singing his renditions of current hits, starting off with Waka Flocka Flame’s “No Hands” ft. Wale & Roscoe Dash. The solo performance became a crowd sing along, until David quickly began to mock the crowd for not knowing the lyrics.
Continuing his tribute to today’s urban hits, with a style reminiscent to George Benson, singing and playing the acoustic guitar, David combined a melody of Drake’s “Find Your Love” and Estelle’s “American Boy,” which quickly developed into a crowd favorite.
A member of the Atlanta Bicycle Collation, David gave the crowd a little insight on his biking background before introducing the multi-talented MC and beat boxer D.R.E.S. tha BEATnik, whom he collaborated with to perform “ATL Sunshine”, which has been used at the official song for the organization.
After the collaboration, David then brought out artist Slick Shannon Sanders from the audience to accompany him on the track “Kinfolk” featured on David’s 2008 “Acey Duecy” album, his major label debut.
David spent the remainder of the performance displaying his variety of taste in musical genre, switching from rap to blues to his token neo-soul all while mixing classics such as Johnny Guitar Watson’s “Superman Lover” and A Tribe Called Quest’s “Electric Relaxation” with current singles.
After taking a few audience requests, David wrapped up the evening performing the tunes that gained him worldwide exposure with “4Evermore,” his first Top 20 R&B hit, “Something About You,” David’s first major single and the infamous “Words.”
Anthony David’s next tour date will be Mar. 14 at Islington Assembly Hall, located in Islington, a neighborhood of the greater London area.
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