www.drfunkenberry.com

( We did get a review! This was sent in to us!)

o whatta nite!
We’d been hoping the rumors were true about a potential 77 afterjam Sunday nite. We got the word last minute: it’s on!

As guests like Tyler Perry, Herbie Hancock and Jennifer Gordon (you’ll know who she is real soon, trust us) mingled in the kitchen, we heard a few strums of an acoustic guitar around the corner in the ballroom. How cool is this — a surprise acoustic set with Prince on guitar, Shelby J and Liv Warfield on vocals and tambourine and Frederic Yonnet on harmonica. They opened with “North Carolina,” Shelby J.’s theme song. Inside track on this song is that Prince and Shelby are really taking their time about creating classic material before recording Shelby’s debut CD. They’ve dabbled in the studio but after fleshing the tunes out in a live setting, the songs take on a life of their own. Expect big things from this project. The quartet stopped briefly to congratulate a newcomer to the party, Whitney Houston, on her triumphant return to the stage the previous night during the pre-Grammy Bash at the Beverly Hilton.

After a few down-home jams, Prince — still strumming and singing – led the procession downstairs to where the rest of the band was already set up in the basement.

Without dropping a beat the crew kicked into “Ol Skool Company” , a new song from the fourthcoming MPLSound CD This is gonna be 2009’s “Days of Wild”, people. Seriously, it’s treacherous.
Let’s pray Yonnet stays with this bunch because his virtuosity on the harmonica gives this band a mature sound that is somewhat lacking when Renato Neto isn’t present. Sidenote: Marva King, we were told, is no longer with the band. She is bowing out to pursue solo endeavors. Liv Warfield gave her all and then some on the song “When Will We be Paid.” Sounding like a younger version of Mavis Staples in her heyday (think Wattstax), this sister is a more than able replacement. Other highlights from the night included Anthony Hamilton lending his soul to the brew…at one point saying “Prince’s karaoke night is the hardest. Me and Cee-lo still having nightmares ’bout the last time we were here.” We love us some Ant…brother you can’t do no wrong!

“Bridge Over Troubled Water” (the Aretha Franklin arrangement, not Simon and Garfunkel although they wrote it) really got the crowd teary-eyed. Another point that should be mentioned is that hearing Prince rip through classic cover instrumentals like “Stratus” or “Frankenstein” is always gonna be a treat because they take on an otherworldliness that can only happen when dipped in purple. Boy must have gotten some new pedals or something because there were sounds coming from that guitar that sometimes turned into color. Sounds crazy but true.



The room filled up with faces familiar and not, groovin’ to “Crimson & Clover“, “I’m Going Down” “Long Train Running” and “Kiss” Dance joint of the night tho was “Hollywood Swinging.” They just couldn’t stop that sucka, no matter how hard they tried. Everyone — the servers, DJ Rashida , the security, even the housekeepers — YES everybody was dancing! Nobody outdanced The Twinz’ mother tho, who, dressed in white, was auditioning for her daughters’ vacated spot.

It seemed like one big family, everyone chill, having fun regardless of background, age, gender, race, social status. None of that mattered. It felt a lot like any Prince concert — music is the bond that unites us all. Being in a room of totally satisfied people cannot b overstated. It’s utter bliss. Try it sometime. Invite your favorite people over and put on some of your favorite music and just dance. Don’t even think about it, just dance. Like Holly Robinson, Sanaa Lathan, Chris Tucker, Bria Valente, and her handsome and gracious father, Tyler and Whitney did…just dance.

*****

Wow. Sounds amazing. Only thing missing is me….and 5,000 of my friends! Thanks to the no-name reporter who sent this in.-DR.FB

Damn, I wish I was there
[Edited 2/10/09 8:28am]

OMG - he did "Frankenstein"?!

I've always thought he could tear up some Edgar Winter. I would love to hear that cover.

He did Frankenstein? ewwww

Great review!

highlights for me...

Inside track on this song is that Prince and Shelby are really taking their time about creating classic material before recording Shelby’s debut CD ..wow this if it ever get of the ground could be the best project he's done!

Other highlights from the night included Anthony Hamilton lending his soul 2 the brew…at one point saying “Prince’s karaoke night is the hardest. Me and Cee-lo still having nightmares ’bout the last time we were here.” We love us some Ant…brother you can’t do no wrong!
...so true...

Like Holly Robinson, Sanaa Lathan, Chris Tucker, Bria Valente, and her handsome and gracious father, Tyler and Whitney did…just dance.
...MJ gonna be pissed...

Sad to see her go but she was great....Marva King

Sounds like the joint was jumpin'. Whitney Houston looked medicinally looped on the Grammys, I hope she was sober for the party.

Nice report. The part about the Twinz mother was funny. As far, as Shelby, I do hope she releases 2 cds instead of one, I mean her cds are way overdue. Between Shelby, and Leela James, (Leela, one of my favorite artists) they both have very soulful voices.
[Edited 2/10/09 7:20am]

squirrelgrease said:

Me too. It seemed like a flashback to see Whitney acting like a fool on Sunday. It would have been hot if she had performed with Prince.

I kid you not, just last night I was wondering if Prince did "Frankenstein". Oh, man, I would love to hear him do that. Edgar Winter really kicked it with that one.

rubymoon53 said:

That's funny!

LondonStyle said:

Prince taking his time on a project?! Sounds like he don't wanna lose Shelby and is keeping her along for an extended ride.

Great report! Never heard of "Frankenstein" by Edgar Winter, but I will check it out now

Haha about the twinz mother being the "lady in white" dancing up a storm!

TheEnglishGent said:

Paging Jill Jones...paging Jill...Jones...
[Edited 2/10/09 9:04am]

Genesia said:

dartluv5 said:

What initially made me think about Prince covering Frankenstein is that there are certain parts of N.E.W.S that remind me of some of the monster guitar rock jams of the 70s - like Frankenstein and Smoke on the Water (by Deep Purple).

Prince and I are contemporaries (more or less) and grew up in the same part of the country (upper midwest). I know he was listening to this stuff in high school - like everybody else.

Thanks purplecam... I've been waiting 4 someone 2 report about the afterparty. Prince had some heavyweights at this one. Hopefully my wish will come true one day when I'm invited 2 one of his after parties

Tyler Perry communicates directly with his fans, funny he didn't mention it yesterday.



[Edited 2/10/09 10:10am]

Nice, Whitney Houston was beautiful at the Grammys. I wish her luck.

2elijah said:

Me too, I'm really looking forward to hearing her cd.

Does anyone have any info on the 'North Carolina' track mentioned is this a new song or a cover version?

"Ol Skool Company" alikened to the old "Days of Wild"....treacherous??
I can't wait to hear that one

Very cool indeed! Wow to be at one of these Prince parties would be like dying and going to heaven!!

I agree Whitney appeared a bit drunk/drugged on the Grammy's but it's cool she was at P's party

Ol Skool Company the new Days of Wild? niiice happy to hear he played some of the new material too!

Music is the bond that unites us all - yep got that right!!

What does that mean??

purplecam said:

YAY! I KNEW it Bria first (as she has been hanging around longer than Shelby),
then the ShelbyJ album

Totally stoked about the party wish I could have been there but confirmation that he is working on an album with ShelbyJ is brilliant

cant spell edit
[Edited 2/10/09 12:14pm]

obsessed said:

I think that's "somebody's" way of saying they left under their own steam...rather than being fired.

Im back! This is Jennifer Gorden ya'll. I love looking at half naked chicks bending over like that! She do lots a bikini and lingeray pictures and she in videos wit Omarion "O" and some dude I neva heard of J holiday "Bed" and "Suffocate". Wonder what Prince did with this chick we about to "get to know". Prince has an eye for talent.

obsessed said:

I know, I tried not to get over excited when I read that. I love Days Of Wild, so am anticipating something cool but not been too bothered about the MPLS stuff I heard so far. As always though, I expect it'll have at least 3 or 4 great tracks on there.

Nothing can replace Days Of Wild original version ... period !!

Yo Jennifer Gordon was a featured hottie in here http://www.modelsnextdoor.com/flash.php

If you like bug butts and you cannot lie check out this site.Whew!

WIKI ANSWERS
Where are Pictures of jennifer gordon?
In: Photography, Music Videos, TV and Movie Music [Edit categories] [Edit]

[Edit]


She was a model on this website http://www.modelsnextdoor.com She goes under the name Ms. Jai on website. The website used to have a free screen saver of her, but it's no longer available. I don't think the website is being updated anymore. I hope this helps a little.



Castrol Edge ® Motor Oil

'Another point that should be mentioned is that hearing Prince rip through classic cover instrumentals like Stratus or Frankenstein...'

xenophobia2002 said:

A replacement? Will our Days Of Wild boots stop playing when this new song is released? You know Prince would if he could.

Well, well, maybe I should stop doubting the Shelby/Prince experience. Sounds like the man hasn't given up on her. That's a surprise, but a good one! Guess he doesn't always think with his little friend...