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Legend Warms Up For Super Bowl Pregame

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By CURTIS ROSS

cross@tampatrib.com

Published: January 30, 2009

CLEARWATER - John Legend has been playing for some big crowds lately. He was among the performers during President Barack Obama's inaugural events. On Sunday, he headlines the Super Bowl pregame festivities.

On Thursday, after an afternoon news conference at the Tampa Convention Center, he played a plain old concert at Ruth Eckerd Hall.

Oh, well. Gotta pay the bills somehow, right?

A sold-out crowd of 2,180 - including NFL stars such as Ronde and Tiki Barber and Simeon Rice - greeted Legend as he made his way to the stage from the side of the auditorium as a film of him portraying a boxer played on the video screens.

With his dark shades, fingerless gloves and leather jacket zipped tight, Legend even looked a little pugilistic as he launched into the bitter put-down of "Used to Love U."

Legend's music mixes contemporary R&B with '70s soul - Stevie Wonder is a huge influence, especially on tunes such as "It's Over." It's a mixture that's still showing more promise than concrete results three albums into his career.

Likewise, he still seems to be getting comfortable with the frontman's role. He's got the voice but lacks the confidence to truly command the stage.

But with solid support from a great band, Legend's show was a success on both a musical and crowd-pleasing level.

He smoothly mixed ballads such as "Quickly" with up-tempo cuts such as the gospel-based "Let's Get Lifted."

Drummer Rashid Williams established himself early on, giving the smooth arrangements little jolts with unexpected rolls, cymbal crashes and snare rattles. Nevermind waiting for somebody to give the drummer some - Williams just took it.

Opening act Estelle joined Legend for "No Other Love," a reggae number that guitarist Sharief Hobley spiked with wah-wah guitar licks.

Estelle, a newcomer from England, charmed the crowd not only with songs such as the hit "American Boy" but with some spicy stage banter about ex-boyfriends who strayed once too often.

Reporter Curtis Ross can be reached at (813) 259-7568.

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