Power

continued

The band is cycling up, up. Joce'lyn's eyes widen with rage as she remembers the insult. "They think they can tell me what to sing?" she bellows. "They're gonna call me up and ask me to sing and then tell me what to sing? I love Detroit! I told them to kiss my ass!"

We're standing inches apart. "I guess I'll be calling her to apologize," Joce'lyn says, shaking her head. "But I was real mad. I was hurt." She stares at me. I stare back. Then she takes a step toward the door, flicks on that microphone, and starts singing.

It's like a steam engine, roaring, "Somebody call my momma / And tell her what shape I'm in."

I bet Joce'lyn's momma, wherever she is, could hear her daughter singing and listened in. No phone necessary.

Joce'lyn B returns to the Cavern Club on Friday and Saturday, December 6 and 7, and Tuesday, December 31.   

[Originally published in December, 2002.]