An audience of UTM students and the Martin community that attended the Soybean festival main stage concert last Friday were electrified by the performance of The Soul Shockers.

The Soul Shockers, Heartbeat Productions in Memphis, put on an energizing performance with a variety of songs from Motown, R&B, Top 40 and Hip-Hop, with amazing dance choreography.

The band opened the show with lead vocalist, Jerry Braxton Askew, singing Hold On I'm Coming by Sam and Dave, followed by Soul Man.

The band then took the audience to the 1980s with a soaring performance of The Bird by Morris Day and the Time.

The Soul Shockers received unanimous applause when Askew did a mirror image performance of Jackie Wilson’s Higher and Higher. Askew, not only had the voice of Wilson, he also had the choreography.

Being from Memphis, it was only natural that the band performed songs from the shire, Elvis Presley. Askew song Hound Dog and Jail House Rock.

In the middle of the performance, Askew asked the crowd, “Haven’t you every heard a black man sing Elvis before?”

Allen Averyhart, saxophoneist and vocalist, offered the crowd a monetary prize for the first person to come to the front and dance. Immediately, a large number of the audience, young and old, ran to the stage.

As the band performed Nelly’s Hot in Herre, the crowd began to do the Electric Slide.

According to the Web site, www.samhillbands.com, “The name says it all; this group will shock your soul and move your feet. R&B, Jazz and oldies favorites, and contemporary hits are no sweat for The Soul Shockers ... are applauded for their high energy performance and impressive performance of the songs they perform to perfection.”

The Temptations’, Get Ready, Ain’t too Proud to Beg and My Girl was performed by Averyhart. Stevie Wonder’s Superstition was performed by drummer Jeff Rogers. The band also performed a number of other songs that ranged from R&B to Rock-n-Roll.

If you did not get a chance to the spectacular performance of The Soul Shockers, the band will have a set being at 8:30 p.m. until 12:30a.m., Sunday, Sept. 21, at Huey's Southwind in Memphis.

For more information or comments about The Soul Shockers, you should vist their Web site at www.soulshockers.com..