Bettye LaVett It was a one-two punch: On back to back nights, two deeply emotional, leather-throated R&B divas who pour themselves into songs more than any other two singers on the planet. First Bettye LaVette, then Mavis Staples. A regular visitor to the Dakota, Bettye LaVette stepped up to the much larger Hopkins Center for the Arts on Tuesday. As has happened here before in winter, LaVette said her voice was under the weather. Actually, the only thing sub-par was the sound system: Too much echo and not enough vocal clarity. The New Jersey R&B star loves us, she really does. "Six-and-a-half, seven years ago, you were the first to embrace me on faith," said the Michigan-bred veteran, 64, who finally made a national splash in 2009 at the inaugural celebration for Barack Obama. "Plus, y'all had Prince so you didn't even have to. I wish we could get here just once on the 20 days when it's warm." LaVette warmed up the crowd of 500 with selections from her three albums from the '00s as well as such flashbacks as "Your Time To Cry." One of the most physical and emotive singers on the planet, she oozed pain, on everything from Dolly Parton's penetrating "Little Sparrow" to Fiona Apple's swirling "Sleep To Dream." The set list was familiar to anyone who has seen LaVette at the Dakota except for the Who's "Love Reign O'er Me," which she sang at the Kennedy Center Honors in late 2008. After an evening of purging pain, she closed the 70-minute set with a plea for love, turning the Who rocker into an understated prayer of swelling Southern soul. LaVette didn't do an encore but promised that "Love Reign O'er Me" would be on her new album in May. For her two-night return engagement at the Dakota, Rock Hall of Famer Staples, 70, focused on spirituals and songs from the Civil Rights movement. Even though she can't access her high notes, it was a knockout set on Wednesday. Her personality, passion and panache can sell any kind of message music. What added to the evening was the singer's call-and-response with Rick Holmstrom's guitar, creating a heavenly blend of rock, gospel and soul — just like her career. Her only misstep was allowing her backup trio, Soul Patrol, to play three instrumentals near the end of the night. Maybe Mavis, who had whipped herself into an out-of-breath frenzy, just needed to recharge. For a full review, click here. Props to opening act the Pines, the Twin Cities acoustic duo whose whispering Americana nicely set up Mavis' more animated and earthy roots music. By the by, Prince was not there but his buddy Larry Graham, the distinguished bassist, was in the balcony. Here is Mavis' set list: Way Down in Mississippi/ Wade in the Water/ For What It's Worth/ Eyes on the Prize/ ?? ??/ This Little Light Of Mine/ Waiting for My Child/ Will the Circle Be Unbroken/ Why Am I Treated So Bad/ three instrumentals by the backup band/ March Freedom Highway/ I'll Take You There ENCORE Freedom Highway/ We Shall Not Be Moved/ Down by the Riverside.