John Legend: Live at the Angel Orensanz Center in New York

John Legend’s Darkness and Light, released earlier this year, is his fifth full-length album. In many of his recent promotional appearances, he has taken the opportunity to speak out on social and political issues. Darkness and Light has been presented as his “topical” album, but on Friday night at the Angel Orensanz Center, Legend gave a performance primarily of love songs and slow jams to a small and intimate audience in an event presented by Pandora.

The Orensanz Center is housed in a 19th-century gothic revival synagogue on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. It’s a dramatic space, and doused in cool blue light, the room was electric as soon as Legend hit the stage. Backed by a twelve-piece band including two backup singers, two bassists, two guitarists, two drummers (“Because why not?” quipped Legend), a horn section, and his musical director, Legend sang, danced, and effortlessly charmed his way through crowd favorites and new tracks.

“Penthouse Floor,” “Tonight (Best You Ever Had),” and “Green Light” set the romantic mood Legend revels in. “What You Do to Me,” “Love Me Now,” and “Marching into the Dark” got the audience dancing and singing. Of course, the encore of “All of Me” and “Glory” brought the house down.

Legend also took some time to reminisce about his early years in the storied Manhattan neighborhood, meeting and working with a very young Kanye West, and getting rejected (repeatedly) from record labels. “It’s okay. Everyone makes mistakes, Sony,” Legend said with a coy smile and a glance into the balcony. He closed the show with a simple, sincere plea for love to win over hate, over division, and over fear. John Legend is in peak form, using his spotlight to entertain and thrill, and if he has any message to share, it’s one of positivity all of us can support.

Setlist

1. Penthouse Floor
2. Darkness and Light
3. Overload
4. What You Do to Me
5. Used to Love U
6. Tonight (Best You Ever Had)
7. Made to Love
8. Who Do We Think We Are
9. Green Light
10. Like I’m Gonna Lose You
11. Surefire
12. Ordinary People
13. Love Me Now
14. Marching into the Dark (D&L)

Encore

15. All of Me
16. Glory