I Went and saw the Time at the Sheraton hotel in Birmingham, AL. This was my first show this year and my 53rd overall.

The day started with me getting up way too early. I had to finish my packing so I was running a little late. I got on the road about 10:30 a.m. The drive was boring and pretty uneventfully until I get a little past Montgomery. First there was this huge Confederate flag on the side of the interstate. Not something you see everyday, but not unexpected considering where I was, but the one that took the cake for me came a little further down the road. There was this huge sign that said" Go to Church or the Devil will get you" with a picture of old Scratch himself on it. The things you see when you drive up North to Alabama.

I got to the hotel around 2:15 p.m. I had some "issues" with my room and wasn't happy with what happened, but atleast I finally got checked in. I got settled in and then went wandering around the hotel. I saw my man Jaybee in the sports bar and had lunch with him. Gradually most of the other fellas joined us and we ate and caught up. The guys went back to their rooms to get rested up for the show and I went back to my room as well. A little later I decided to go scope out where the show was going to be and I bumped into a few more of the guys. Finally I went back to my room, changed and got ready for the show.

About half an hour before the show, I went down to the Lobby to have a drink and meet up with the band. The Master of Cool himself came down and we made small talk until the rest of the band showed up. Then we went to the backstage area and waited for the concert to begin.

Well on to the show

Here is the line up
Morris Day-Vocals and Cool
Jellybean Johnson-Drums
Monte Moir-Keyboards
Tori "Freak Juice" Ruffin-Guitar
Ricky "Freeze" Smith-Bass
Jeff McNeely-Keyboards
Sylvester Donald-valet and dancer

Here is the set list with my comments to follow.
1. DAT Intro
2. Skillet
3. Cool
4. Get it up
5. Pandemonium
6. Chocolate
7. Wild and Loose
8. The Stick
9. Fishnet
10. The Oak Tree
11. Jerk Out
12. 777-9311
13. Girl- short instrumental
14. Sometimes I get lonely- one verse by Morris off stage
15. Gigolos get lonely too
16. If the Kid can't make you come
17. Ice Cream Castles
18. The Walk
19. The Bird
Encore
20. Jungle Love

The show was the UNCF masked gala held in one of the hotel ballrooms. The crowd looked kinda stuffy and I had reservations about how the audience was going to respond, but they surprised me with their level or participation. For about the first half of the show I was right at the side of the stage with a good view Of Morris, Tori and Freeze. Later on I moved further back and had a great view of Jellybean and Monte. You really don't appreciate how hard these guys work unless you are focusing on them. They really are the backbone of this band.

They played the full setlist except for the two rock tunes(Blondie and My Drawers). Skillet is a great show opener. The crowd really got into the show when Cool and Get it up were played. Two songs off Pandemonium were next followed by Morris's two biggest solo hits. Tonight's highlight(and the highlight of most shows) was 777-9311. Bean just kills that drum beat and Tori was just rippin' that shit up. Morris was only a couple feet away from me when he sang that one verse of Sometimes I get lonely. Too Cool. The ladies came on stage for Kid and Ice Cream castles and left the so fast when it was over Morris didn't even get to tell them to get their ass off the stage. The Bird closed the normal portion of the show and Jungle Love followed as the encore.

There was an after party in the next ball room. The DJ was jamming the new Sade while the crowd mingled with the fellas who were kind enough to take pictures and sign autographs for all. I was chilling at a table with Monte and Jellybean and I ended up in more than a few pictures. So if you wanna know who the tall dorky white dude who ended up in your picture was. It was me. After that we went back to the sports bar. They had an area reserved for the fellas. We ate, drank and hung out till the wee hours of the morning. They had The Godfather playing on the big screen and we stayed their watching that until they closed the place down. Now that's some Gangster shit!!

Props to the fellas for another great show and their continued hospitality.

Once again, thanks for the report

As always, Rhastus, great review! Now can you tell them to get their collective arses over to London next time you see them?

Rhastus, as always a GREAT review

Damn man, 53 times, you should be on their road crew with that much mileage.