Mavis Staples, Union Chapel review — a singer channelling the Holy Spirit and a whole lot more

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Mavis Staples turned her microphone off accidentally when she removed it from the stand, an occupational hazard for a singer whose 84th birthday arrives next week. It was the Holy Spirit who switched it off, her guitarist Rick Holmstrom joked. The suggestion was fanciful although not entirely illogical, the venue being a church, the Union Chapel in London. But Staples looked at him quizzically. “The Holy Spirit ain’t arrived yet,” the gospel-soul trouper pointed out.

She should know: Staples has been summoning the power of the Word through song since she was 11. That’s when she joined The Staple Singers with sister Cleotha, brother Pervis and father Pops. Initially based in a Chicago church, they were famed on the gospel circuit as “God’s greatest hitmakers”. But they also preached a secular version of the Holy Spirit, concepts such as togetherness and justice. Like her contemporary Aretha Franklin, Staples became emblematic of the 1960s civil rights movement, a powerful vocalist who gave form to a historic exchange of energies between religion, politics, mass movement and popular song. 

Franklin’s voice was officially declared a “natural resource of the state” by Michigan in 1985. Illinois ought to do the same for Staples. Perhaps London should as well, judging by the warmth of her return to the Union Chapel, a familiar stage that she likened to being “back home”. She pronounced “home” in a low, rumbling, oozy tone, sticky as molasses, a treat. There’s more bass in her vocals these days, but no less character.

Her 70-minute set drew on Staple Singers highlights and tracks from her still vigorous solo recording career. Holmstrom took Pops Staples’ role on guitar. A beaming Staples helped to scribble some notes on the neck of his guitar during one of his solos. This charming interaction was a reminder of Pops’s innovative use of the guitar back in the day, adding bluesy licks and R&B riffs to the spiritual sounds of gospel. Mavis is the last survivor of the family band.

She was joined by Steve Mugalian on drums and Greg Boaz on bass alongside bandleader and backing vocalist Holmstrom. Kelly Hogan and Saundra Williams also sang backing vocals, with the odd lead part when Staples rested in a chair sipping at a mug. She marshalled her stamina pragmatically, but the force was still there. The titular refrain of “I’m Just Another Soldier” was given a big yowl at the song’s climax, as though supercharging the words with as much significance as they could hold. A funky cover of Talking Heads’ “Slippery People” ended with a “yeah!” that landed like a thunderbolt.

Staples has never limited herself to gospel. Her rich voice has elements of rock, soul, R&B and funk in it, a world of music. But in true church style, her singing has always cried out for a response, the answering call from a congregation. At the Union Chapel, this came through most adamantly on the closing track, The Staple Singers’ “I’ll Take You There”. “We need you to take us there,” she told her audience in a lull between choruses. The ecclesiastic space filled with the sound of many people singing. Meanwhile, Staples waved, glad-handed the front row and walked off. Job done: the Holy Spirit had arrived.

★★★★☆

mavisstaples.com