Music
Old School in D.C.
By the Red-Eye Crew—SeeingBlack.com Contributing Writers
Aug 25, 2006, 11:45

There are lots of Black folk who came of age in the 1970’s and 1980’s who have money to spend in the Washington, DC area [and in other metropolitan areas as well] and regularly spend cash to see the musical acts of their youth.

On August 11, Morris Day and the Time, AWB and Mother's Finest rolled into Washington, D.C.’s DAR Constitution Hall for a night of funk, soul and 80’s cool.

Even though they were the least known on the bill, the 70’s funk-rock fusion band Mother’s Finest presented the most energetic set. Lead singer Joyce “Baby Jean” Kennedy exhorted the crowd while wearing a wild blond wig that made her look like a lion. Their set, which included their hits "Baby Love," "Piece of the Rock" and "Mickey's Monkey," explored their contribution to 1970’s fusion that went on to influence bands all over the world.

Aside from cranked up solos by Fred " Freddy V" Vigdor on saxophone and Klyde Jones on vocals, AWB coasted through most of its set, grooving amiably with a mix of its classics, including “Pick up the Pieces,” “Person to Person” and “Love of Your Own” and cuts from newer albums, including 2003’s Living in Color.

Based on their top-billed act, it seems that Morris Day and his sidekick Jerome have not skipped a beat since their 1984 performance in “Purple Rain.” While they clowned around the stage, with Day fixing his hair in a mirror and both falling easily into 1980’s dance moves, they resurrected for the audience their 80’s cool. Day takes on the mannerisms of a preening pimp with a loyal manservant at his side.

Experiencing Morris Day in concert is like feeling you are back in the Purple Rain movie itself, along with all its 80’s posturing and styling. Day quenched the audience’s thirst for reminiscence and the audience cheered serviceable performances of “Fishnet,” “Cool” and “The Bird.”





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