By Joe Grazulis
Any musician will tell you to never follow a killer act. Upcoming Ravinia headliners The Roots (September 4) and John Legend (September 5 and 6) are definitely killer acts. But at their upcoming Ravinia appearances, both have opening acts that may make them feel a need to up their already next-level game—Musiq Soulchild and The War and Treaty.
Musiq Soulchild summed up his musical mission statement perfectly in a 2007 Jet Magazine article: “I just want to be able to entertain different genres in one way or another, but still under the umbrella of soul music.” The “Soulchild” in his moniker honors his ’70s heroes—Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, Marvin Gaye—and since the beginning of the millennium, his sincere, romantic style of hip-hop-tinged neo-soul and R&B have made him a worthy heir to the musical icons he idolizes. His 2000 debut album Aijuswanaseing introduced the world to his intoxicatingly smooth, low-key vocal delivery, and with each subsequent album Soulchild has effortlessly reinterpreted and reinvigorated the classic Philly soul sound that put his hometown on the musical map.
His latest release, 2017’s Feel the Real, is an ambitious double album of gently seductive melodies slinking over bumping hip-hop beats, building on the indie-label freedom that helped make 2016’s Life on Earth a Billboard number-three R&B album. With his relaxed but commanding charisma and old school charm, the Billboard Music Award–winning, Grammy-nominated Musiq Soulchild is a fitting beginning to an evening with The Roots.
While Musiq Soulchild’s tunes usually have him romancing his partner or wooing a potential new lover solo, the married musical duo The War and Treaty make matters of life and love a beautifully complicated two-way conversation. Michael and Tanya Trotter’s music has a rootsy feel that isn’t easily definable, but if a concise description is needed, one may call it “country soul”—heartfelt songs with terrific R&B grooves, the energetic joy of spirituals, and the simple sincerity of traditional folk. Their dynamic live shows, powerful back-and-forth lead vocals, and compelling songwriting have earned them an adoring fan base that includes musical luminaries like Emmylou Harris. Over a short three-year period, they’ve produced three song collections bursting with vintage folk and blues textures, Ike and Tina Turner–style rave-ups, ’60s-style R&B, and soul ballads accented with twanging slide guitar.
The pair’s 2020 release Hearts Town boasts 12 mesmerizing tracks with fiery rock guitars, towering gospel vocal performances, and guest appearances by string strumming superstars Jason Isbell, Jerry Douglas, and Chris Eldridge. The album takes its title from the affectionate name they’ve bestowed upon their loyal fans, but it also seems to reference a personal space where they share their deep passion for each other. The War and Treaty aren’t shy about publicly displaying their infectious love and tenderness onstage, so it’s no wonder John Legend tapped them to prime the audience for “bigger love” on his Bigger Love Tour.
In music, there are of course no winners and losers, but it will be a thrill to watch both these openers throw down the gauntlet each evening and showcase music mastery that equals that of their headlining peers. So bring on the Labor Day weekend and let the “battle” begin.