(August 9, 2023) Bashiri Asad is from Indianapolis, and I live in South Bend, which is about two hours north. The proximity means that Asad is one of the few artists that I wrote about and have also had the pleasure to see perform live. And watching Asad’s cabaret show on Father’s Day weekend in 2019 was a pleasure indeed. Backed by his band, Be On It, Asad performed the songs of Donny Hathaway and Luther Vandross, and he was terrific.
(August 9, 2023) Bashiri Asad is from Indianapolis, and I live in South Bend, which is about two hours north. The proximity means that Asad is one of the few artists that I wrote about and have also had the pleasure to see perform live. And watching Asad’s cabaret show on Father’s Day weekend in 2019 was a pleasure indeed. Backed by his band, Be On It, Asad performed the songs of Donny Hathaway and Luther Vandross, and he was terrific.
Asad puts his soaring vocals on display on his new song, “The Fool,” which is the lead track from his upcoming album that he hopes to release in late September. “The Fool” is a throwback that fuses percussive blues rhythm section with rock infuse guitar. The song tells the story of a man who is putty in his woman’s hands. Asad lets her know that he will do anything for her. He will transform himself into her personal superhero – or super villain – if she asks. Yet, he’s self-aware enough of his situation to make one simple request of the woman who holds his heart in her hand – don’t step on it.
“The Fool” is a rollicking good time of a song that sounds like something you could imagine Ray Charles or Lou Rawls singing in some Chitlin’ Circuit juke joint. It’s the kind of performance that make me want to drive down to Nap Town to see him sing “The Fool” live. We’ll just have to settle for listening to it here.
By Howard Dukes