{{{Pete Escovedo plus Family featuring Sheila E.
Kimball’s Carnival, Oakland, CA
Saturday, 23. March 2002
Two shows (Detailed review...)}}}

Set list (second show):
Esta Noche
La Cuna
Docsology?
Happy Together
Band Introduction
E-Medley
Hallelujah
The Glamorous Life
A Love Bizarre
Another drum solo by Sheila E.
Sorenito

During the first show “Watcha Gonna Do“ was performed towards the end of concert.

Sheila E.’s drums were set up on the right side of the stage. Pete Escovedo was playing timbales in the middle while Peter Michael’s bongos and Juan’s congas were on the right. The musicians of the Pete Escovedo Orchestra were playing behind them. This was Pete Escovedo’s bay area band and he is playing with a different band at shows in LA. All family members were switching their instruments throughout the show.

Sheila played drums most of the time. She came down from the stage and walked through the audience encouraging people to sing along during Docsology (not sure about the name of this song). It was interesting to watch her changing from sneakers (while playing the drums) to high-heeled shoes each time she went center stage to sing or play another instrument.

One of the highlights of the concert was the E-Medley when everybody was playing a solo. First Juan on congas, then Peter Michael on bongos, Pete E. on timbales and last but not least Sheila on drums. Needless to say everybody tried to outperform the others and it was hard to say who was best! It was all very energetic and exciting to watch. After Sheila’s solo her mom even got up on stage to bang on the timbales for a bit but the rest of the family was just laughing at her!

During the next part Sheila sang the Glamorous Life and Love Bizarre from behind her drums and had the audience sing along. At her dad’s concerts she usually only plays a few seconds of these songs but this time she played longer versions (verses and chorus). After that it was kiddingly announced that Sheila wanted to play another drum solo and the rest of the band would be back in 20 minutes!

The encore Sorenito had everybody dancing in front of the stage.

It was a very cool concert and it’s always a blast seeing the Escovedo Family perform together. They’re outstanding, very powerful players and very funny when interacting in between the songs. Pete Escovedo and Sheila E. signed autographs after the second show and also talked to and took photos with fans.

Some funny/interesting tidbits:

* Pete Escovedo announced that Sheila was the co-owner of the Conga Room in LA and then asked why she wasn’t the sole owner. She replied that he’s the one who doesn’t want to share and always just wants to be the sole owner to make more money. Pete E.. then said he will open his own nightclub in LA and then make lots of money and open another one in Oakland.

* Pete E. mentioned that he had been married for 46 years. When he introduced the band and came to his kids he pointed out that they were all from Oakland. Juan E. then proceeded to do a funny dance while Sheila started playing her drums telling the audience to say “ho”.

* Juan said that all proceeds from merchandise sales will go to his mom so that we should please buy something for her.

* While Pete E. was making fun of Juan’s white suit somebody dressed in a black and white leopard type fur jacket come on stage. They made him take off his jacket and have Mr. E. try it on!

* After the concerts Sheila dismantled her drum set herself! One of the security people mentioned that she always wants to do it herself.

For pictures of this event please check the Sheila E. section of my web site: http://balder.prohosting....eilae.html