Guy Takes Low-Impact New Jack to Greek

If it don’t mean a thing in R&B; if it ain’t got that “new jack swing” sound, then by all rights Guy’s concert Thursday night at the Greek Theatre should have meant a great deal indeed.

After all, Guy--the trio that includes within its ranks the “new jack” king, rapper-producer Teddy Riley--was playing its first U.S. show in two years.

But this batch of new jack swing swang awfully low.

And by the time sweet chariots came to take everyone home near the end in the form of some incongruous gospel shadings, it was too late to undo the poor impression left by all the pandering, namby-pamby scatology that preceded it in the rather sexually explicit but ultimately non-impactful evening.

“Forced heat” may sound like the title of a bad cable movie, but it’s also an apt description of much of Guy’s set, at least when lead singer Aaron Hall was calling women up on stage for some beyond-suggestive bumping and grinding.

The whoops from the audience attested to his natural sex appeal, but Hall has little idea how to exploit it. For a man who spent much of the evening simulating sex, he retains the remarkable ability to look like he’s not having the slightest bit of a good time.

An incorrigible performing deadpan like Bob Dylan may be able to get away with wearing shades and remaining coolly expressionless all night long, but it’s a far iffier proposition for an R&B; singer trying to raise the level of sexual heat in the house.

Perhaps Hall is really shy instead of arrogant, or perhaps the religious convictions expressed when he thanked the Lord and broke into an “Amazing Grace” celebrity sing-along (in the midst of the otherwise areligious “Let’s Chill”) make him a little uncomfortable doing the extended bedroom pantomime the rest of the set.

Hall has a decent enough voice for the trio’s post-Gap Band soul balladry and funk, and in his ever-present sunglasses often looked and sounded like Stevie Wonder reborn as superstud. He did smile twice--once, pointedly, during “Smile,” as if to demonstrate, and once when spontaneously thanking superproducer Riley for affording the group its breaks by being part of it.

Riley’s high-energy rap numbers were highlights, but his personal charisma can’t quite match up with his decided studio skills, putting most of the weight on Hall to carry the show. Third member Damion Hall, Aaron’s brother and the trio’s choreographer, sang a bit but danced all too briefly, leaving little impression. For now, Guy is a buy-the-record, skip-the-act group of guys.

Black Rock Anniversary: The Los Angeles chapter of the Black Rock Coalition will celebrate its third anniversary with a benefit concert July 28 at the Music Machine. The evening will feature performances by L.A.-based acts Mothers Finest (which will also receive a Lifetime Achievement award), Follow for Now, Frija, Blakasaurasmex and Jason Luckett.

The Black Rock Coalition was founded in New York in 1985 by Living Colour guitarist Vernon Reid, writer Greg Tate and film producer Konda Mason with the aim of reestablishing the historical link between black music and contemporary rock. The Los Angeles chapter has grown to a membership of more than 200 and now hosts the Black Rock Cafe every Monday night at the Gaslight club in Hollywood.

“Something interesting is starting to happen,” said Beverly Milner, L.A. chapter co-director. “We just saw a young band called Iceberg and the Painted Posse at our club the other night doing something they called ‘rap ‘n’ roll,’ and Ice-T now has his rock band Body Count. But we need to see further breaking down of barriers in music. And that’s where the BRC comes in by educating everyone about black music.”

Say Cheese: In an obvious dig at Guns N’ Roses lead singer Axl Rose, the band Damn Yankees--which features guitarist Ted Nugent, ex-Styx member Tommy Shaw and former Night Ranger singer Jack Blades--invited all fans to bring still cameras and snap to their hearts’ content at a show Thursday night at the World Music Theatre outside of Chicago.

The band is extending the invitation on the rest of its U.S. tour, which includes a July 28 stop at the Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre and one Friday at the Riverport Performing Arts Center near St. Louis. Riverport is where Rose leaped into the audience last week to go after a concertgoer who brought in a camera. Cameras are not allowed at most rock events without special permission.

Steve Hochman also contributed to this column.