Sheila E. recalls Prince, past hits at Canalside

It's understandable if music fans hear the name Sheila E. and immediately think of another iconic artist: Prince.

The two collaborated myriad times, whether on the Prince single "Erotic City" or Sheila's 1984 breakthrough album, "The Glamorous Life." They created together, toured together and, at one time, were engaged to be married.

But for the performer born Sheila Escovedo, her connection to the late pop icon is not what makes her incendiary. It’s her own show-stopping talent as a vocalist and percussionist, which were both on display— along with her ongoing reverence to Prince — Thursday night when she rolled her genre-mingling caravan into Canalside.

Such a wildly entertaining performance didn't surprise anyone familiar with her career. Ever since "The Glamorous Life” and her performance on Prince’s “Purple Rain” tour, Sheila E. has riveted audiences as an amplified one-woman onslaught. Bouncing from pop to Latin to R&B — all while capable of a backbeat built for rock 'n’ roll — Escovedo has endured with her skill to thrill.

As she approaches 60, she hasn’t lost any of these attributes. But with the passing of Prince in April 2016, she lost a soul mate, something reflected on her forthcoming album, “Girl Meets Boy.” On Thursday night, this loss still was heavy on her heart as she delivered a show’s worth of stirring instrumental and vocal tributes to her late collaborator.

As she approaches 60, she hasn’t lost any of these attributes. But with the passing of Prince in April 2016, she lost a soul mate, something reflected on her forthcoming album, “Girl Meets Boy.” On Thursday night, this loss still was heavy on her heart as she delivered a show’s worth of stirring instrumental and vocal tributes to her late collaborator.

In the hands of a lesser performer, these tributes would seem labored. But from Sheila E., they were caring and celebratory. Her take on “Raspberry Beret” was gleeful; her tandem with guitarist Michael Gabriel to replicate the heaven’s echo of Prince’s “Purple Rain” guitar solo was cathartic. And her wild drum solo to conclude her signature “Glamorous” hit? A thumping thanks to the man who helped with its conception, and still inspires her career.

Before the night's main attraction, early arrivals were introduced to the brass-infused escapades of Orkestra Mendoza. The Arizona sextet spent its rousing set touring through Latin fusion, Mexican dance rock and mambo at the direction of guitarist/vocalist Sergio Mendoza and maracas-wielding energizer, Salvador Duran.

Highlighted by stanzas of clarinet and trumpet by Raul Marques—and paced by percussionist Jaime Peters — the Western six-piece ignited a cobblestone dance party with Latin rock-flavored tracks like "Caramelos" and the swerving, step-by-step beat of "Mambo Repeata."

http://buffalonews.com/2017/06/22/sheila-e-recalls-prince-past-hits-canalside/

Latin said:

Check out Sheila E's current "Summer Tour" performance of "When Doves Cry", "Housequake", "Erotic City", "U Got The Look" & "A Love Bizzare". The video was produced by Buffalo.FM - WNYmedia Network. "Canalside Live! June 22nd 2017 in Buffalo, NY" Here it is:

.........WOW!!!!

Thanks for sharing!

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THis is cool.... not as amazing as the BET tribute last year, but this is an outdoor concert and not pro soud quality.

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But 1) where is Lynn Mabry?

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2) Seems like she's using some backign rtracks, at least for the drums and maybe some of the horns? She usually does everything live so a bit surprised. But she also usually has more horn players so maybe it was a budget thing.

GaryMF said:

Thanks, Sheila E just keeps getting better and she is nearly 60 could teach these young ins a thing or two.

She works hard that's for sure.

Thanks for sharing Latin. Shelia is always wonderful as a performer. But, I'm not sure how I feel about her performing "When Doves Cry," "Housequake," "Let's Work," and "U Got the Look" during her own tour. To be clear, I'm not criticizing her; I just don't know how I feel about it. "Erotic City" and "A Love Bizarre" seem appropriate because she sang on these songs. For instance, my wife and I saw The Time last night in Tunica, Mississippi, as well as a month or so ago on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Of course, they do a video introduction that includes a tribute to Prince, but they don't actually perform any non-Time songs other than a brief intro to "1999." When I purchase a ticket to see/hear The Time, I want to see/hear them perform their songs, which were, of course, written by Prince. The same is true for Shelia. I want to see/hear her perform the songs that she recorded. I don't think negatively of her for performing "When Doves Cry," "Housequake," "Let's Work," or "U Got the Look." But, I just kept thinking: "Those are not your songs. Those are not the songs that you made famous." But, hell, I'm also not saying that I'd be asking for my money to be refunded if I attended her show and she performed them. It just felt “funny/unusual” watching her perform “those” songs that are not actually “her” songs.

1725topp said:

Thanks for sharing Latin. Shelia is always wonderful as a performer. But, I'm not sure how I feel about her performing "When Doves Cry," "Housequake," "Let's Work," and "U Got the Look" during her own tour. To be clear, I'm not criticizing her; I just don't know how I feel about it. "Erotic City" and "A Love Bizarre" seem appropriate because she sang on these songs. For instance, my wife and I saw The Time last night in Tunica, Mississippi, as well as a month or so ago on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Of course, they do a video introduction that includes a tribute to Prince, but they don't actually perform any non-Time songs other than a brief intro to "1999." When I purchase a ticket to see/hear The Time, I want to see/hear them perform their songs, which were, of course, written by Prince. The same is true for Shelia. I want to see/hear her perform the songs that she recorded. I don't think negatively of her for performing "When Doves Cry," "Housequake," "Let's Work," or "U Got the Look." But, I just kept thinking: "Those are not your songs. Those are not the songs that you made famous." But, hell, I'm also not saying that I'd be asking for my money to be refunded if I attended her show and she performed them. It just felt “funny/unusual” watching her perform “those” songs that are not actually “her” songs.

Sheila has been throwing Prince songs into her sets for years, way before P died.

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She used to re-arrange them too, e.g. Girls and Boys, When Doves Cry, etc. Now she's doing them as a tribute and is making them more Prince-like as an honor.

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So it's not like this is something new.

GaryMF said:

Thanks for sharing!

.

.

THis is cool.... not as amazing as the BET tribute last year, but this is an outdoor concert and not pro soud quality.

.

.

But 1) where is Lynn Mabry?

.

2) Seems like she's using some backign rtracks, at least for the drums and maybe some of the horns? She usually does everything live so a bit surprised. But she also usually has more horn players so maybe it was a budget thing.

Lynn has had some back pain issues so she was forced to drop out of a few shows, but she will be back soon!

Sheila has used backing tracks for some time now (including the Prince vocal from "Leader of the Band" when she toured her "Icon" album).

1725topp said:

Thanks for sharing Latin. Shelia is always wonderful as a performer. But, I'm not sure how I feel about her performing "When Doves Cry," "Housequake," "Let's Work," and "U Got the Look" during her own tour. To be clear, I'm not criticizing her; I just don't know how I feel about it. "Erotic City" and "A Love Bizarre" seem appropriate because she sang on these songs. For instance, my wife and I saw The Time last night in Tunica, Mississippi, as well as a month or so ago on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Of course, they do a video introduction that includes a tribute to Prince, but they don't actually perform any non-Time songs other than a brief intro to "1999." When I purchase a ticket to see/hear The Time, I want to see/hear them perform their songs, which were, of course, written by Prince. The same is true for Shelia. I want to see/hear her perform the songs that she recorded. I don't think negatively of her for performing "When Doves Cry," "Housequake," "Let's Work," or "U Got the Look." But, I just kept thinking: "Those are not your songs. Those are not the songs that you made famous." But, hell, I'm also not saying that I'd be asking for my money to be refunded if I attended her show and she performed them. It just felt “funny/unusual” watching her perform “those” songs that are not actually “her” songs.

I understand what you're saying but it's normal for artists to perform other artists' songs during their concerts.Hell,even Prince routinely performed other people's songs during his shows (a medley of Santana songs during his mid-90s shows,for example).In Sheila's case,she seems to be doing those Prince songs as some sort of tribute,I asssume.With Prince gone,it's important to keep his music alive and Sheila is doing her part.

whitesockedfunk said:

GaryMF said:

Thanks for sharing!

.

.

THis is cool.... not as amazing as the BET tribute last year, but this is an outdoor concert and not pro soud quality.

.

.

But 1) where is Lynn Mabry?

.

2) Seems like she's using some backign rtracks, at least for the drums and maybe some of the horns? She usually does everything live so a bit surprised. But she also usually has more horn players so maybe it was a budget thing.

Lynn has had some back pain issues so she was forced to drop out of a few shows, but she will be back soon!

Sheila has used backing tracks for some time now (including the Prince vocal from "Leader of the Band" when she toured her "Icon" album).

Lynn Mabry was part of the band when Sheila played in Kansas City on Monday night (July 3).

scratchtasia said:

Lynn Mabry was part of the band when Sheila played in Kansas City on Monday night (July 3).

Did you see Sheila when she was in KC? I knew she was here, but didn't go see her.

PennyPurple said:

scratchtasia said:

Lynn Mabry was part of the band when Sheila played in Kansas City on Monday night (July 3).

Did you see Sheila when she was in KC? I knew she was here, but didn't go see her.

Yes, I went. It was solid. Unfortunately, a storm delayed the start of the show, and I think a few songs were cut so they could finish before the scheduled fireworks. But I couldn't argue with the price (free), even if I didn't get that close. I had never managed to see a Sheila E. show before (though I saw her play with Prince on the Lovesexy tour), so I was glad to finally do so.

Awesome! LOVED it. thanks for posting the video!