Janelle Monáe surfs the crowd at Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort on Thursday, June 16th

On Thursday night, Janelle Monáe took to the stage at Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort and proved definitively that she’s worthy of the mantel of funk/soul princess that the press and her fans have laid over her shoulders (like an aural manifestation of James Brown’s cape), since I first wrote about her, in VEGAS and Ocean Drive magazines, in 2008.

Janelle Monáe at Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort

Equal parts cerebral performance artist and doe-eyed pop star, Monáe started on a high-note and maintained without a single misstep all the way through her one-hour set.  She dived off the stage and crowd-surfed.  She did cover versions of songs by Judy Garland and Jackson 5.  Her fancy footwork was enough to bring a tear to an old-school Motown choreographer’s eye.

Janelle Monáe at Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort

But when all was said and done, it was her earnest lyrics paired with her indefatigable rhythms that had the audience on the edge of their seats, at rapt attention.

To quote Monáe, herself: Lord, have mercy!

Janelle Monáe
Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort
Thursday, June 16th

Get into it!