Good For The Soul.

Scenes From Friday Night's Lee Fields Show at Dada.

Friday night's Doppler radar promised a terrifying combination of tornadoes, hail and floods — but, even before the skies eventually cleared, it seemed as if Dallas' soul-seeking set was resigned to not let the weather drag down its plans to be reinvigorated by Dada's exciting double-bill of Lee Fields & The Expressions and The Tontons.

By the time the show hit full swing, the venue was packed from wall to wall with a myriad of fans, from grey hairs and punks to lovers and kids with X's on their hands. And Houston's the Tontons helped get it there with its enticing combination of loose, surf-oriented rock, soulful melodies and compelling stage confidence. But even the Tonton's well-developed live show — impressive and exciting as it was — couldn't quite compare to what followed when Fields and his Expressions took the stage.

All suited up and looking classy as hell, The Expressions wasted no time launching into a tight, bluesy, soulful melody to start their set on Friday night — and sans Fields himself, at first. As that opening song reached its climax, though, Fields finally appeared, soul music king that he is, and to the absolute elation of his fans out on the floor. What followed was an inspiring offering: On this night, Fields embodied the heart of soul. Better yet, the sexagenarian dance and sang the night away, looking and sounding a man 40 years his junior. There was just so much passion, so much authenticity and so much conviction behind his each and every move that every chord of his performance felt vital. He showed no signs of wear, whatsoever. Rather, he just kept the energy high all night, unrelentingly wooing his crowd as he did.

“Does Dallas have soul?” he asked the crowd at one point.

When the crowd responded with a resounding applause, he seemed pleased enough.

“Dallas has soul!” he and his band concluded.

Of course, what he didn't mention was that, on this night at least, he was the reason for it.