INDY'S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTING ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

Web exclusive: R. Kelly & J. Holiday at Conseco

 

R. Kelly, J. Holiday, Keyshia Cole
Conseco Fieldhouse
Saturday, Dec. 8, 7:30 p.m., $49.50-$79.50, all-ages

Besides both having initials for first names, R. Kelly and J. Holiday also share personas defined by contradiction.

Kelly’s career path, from soulful New Jack Swinger to Michael Jackson-esque accusations of underage trysts that have dogged the latter part of his career, is well-documented. The bizarre music video series “Trapped in the Closet” has only added to Kelly’s mystique.

But he’s also one of a few successful crossover artists, having accomplished the seemingly impossible feat of producing lascivious early hits like “Bump ’n’ Grind” and “Feelin’ on Yo’ Booty” before progressing to inspirational gems like “I Believe I Can Fly” and duets with vanilla talents like Celine Dion.

Holiday is an even tougher talent to pinpoint in the R&B realm. Like his musical forebear, the D.C. native is blessed with a silky, honeyed voice. But while Holiday has an equal fondness for nymphs, his couplets are as well-versed in the world of crime as they are in the ways of women. “Trust in the lord, but keep a Glock in your house,” he advises on “Thug Commandments” from his debut CD “Back of My Lac’.”

Indeed, Holiday was raised by a preacher mother but briefly flirted with street life after losing his father at a young age. While he shows the tender side mandated by R&B (including the sexual with hit tracks like “Bed”), there’s as much love showered on the boy’s life, too.

Holiday is bringing a much-needed edge to R&B, something Kelly only hinted at with his unblinking sexcapades. With this, the Double-Up Tour, yet another generation passes the torch to a newer, even more exciting one.