I just missed seeing British soul singer/impresario Jamie Lidell at ACL last month, so when I heard he was playing Highline Ballroom, around the corner from where I work, I jumped at the second chance. At first, he was as lanky and awkward as Anthony Michael Hall, but soon caught his groove, in no small thanks to his tight, veteran band. (Everyone was in costume, jumping the gun on Halloween.)

Lidell mixes R&B, funk, pop and soul, but isn't afraid to go all techno and experimental, with distorted vocals and a deep bass line one moment, squealing saxes and free jazz the next.  Sometimes, his exuberance got the best of him, but he still managed to whip the room up into a frenzy, channeling everyone from Peter Frampton to Stevie Wonder to Prince. Good times, lots of sweat. (More pics below)