Fair St. Louis, or what might have been referred to as the Soul Edition of Fair St. Louis, unraveled Friday and Saturday nights at Soldiers Memorial Plaza with performers Joss Stone and Anthony Hamilton.

The setting at Soldiers Memorial Plaza was new, forced by Levee flooding. But the soul coming from the two artists was definitely from the old school.

The funky concerts, both followed by fireworks displays, were easy homeruns for the Fair St. Louis committee.

–Anthony Hamilton, July 5 at Fair St. Louis
Hamilton has always been a little firecracker of a performer, and Saturday was no exception. Hamilton, whose style is reminiscent of R&B greats such as Bobby Womack and Bill Withers, fired straight from the soul with “Charlene,” “Coming From Where I’m From,” and “Sista Big Bones.”

He introduced his wife Tarsha McMillian, who was allowed her own two-song set with “Second to Nothing” and “Reaching Out.” Ashes Clay assisted Hamilton on a new tune flavored with hip-hop called “Cool,” from an upcoming CD.

Hamilton introduced another new song, “The Point of It All,” and expressed interest in getting crowd reaction on whether it was a keeper. By the end of the first verse he had the enthusiastic crowd in his hands with the romantic number.

During the ballad “Can’t Let Go,” a man seated in the VIP section proposed to his woman, causing those nearby to stand and applaud their happy situation.

In the tradition of great performers, he left fans begging for more and promised a return.

– Joss Stone, July 4 at Fair St. Louis
A colleague last week said the first time he heard Stone, he thought he was listening to a 60-year-old African-American woman. Indeed, listening to the 21-year-old U.K. sensation does bring to mind a much more seasoned artist.

A svelte Stone, looking less wild child and more like a young lady, was truly a marvel Friday belting out songs from her “Introducing Joss Stone” CD such as “Tell Me ‘Bout It,” “Headturner,” and “Girl They Won’t Believe It.”

Older material included her favored White Stripes cover, “Fell in Love With a Boy” (given a sex change by Stone) along with “You Had Me” and “Right to Be Wrong.” She often mixed vintage R&B sounds with blues and even reggae.

Stone, like Hamilton on Saturday, came out into the crowd to get even closer to fans, passing out roses before saying goodnight.

Photo: Joss Stone