The man known as Musiq Soulchild used to make soul music. Now, the Philadelphia soul man tells his adoring masses at The Civic, he's labelled it "love music".
"Not bedroom music," he smiles, from behind his sunglasses. "It means I'm singing it with love." This smoothie knows all the right things to say.
The thing is, he might be singing his songs with love but they would sound much better if he - and his two powerhouse backing singers - were not singing over a backing tape.
Yes, it's expensive to bring a band to New Zealand but not having live players behind you is short changing the audience.
Not that two devout female fans beside us, who were out of their seats swooning and grooving to the soul man's sweet nothings, gave a hoot.
