The worst show I’ve seen in the last couple of years is Morris day and the Time?

How can it be?

Say it ain’t so.

…Sorry – it is the truth. Not since I fidgeted my way through Bilal’s show at Harlow’s have I been so disappointed by a musical performance. The Time is supposed to be an elite outfit of cool players that is tight beyond belief. It may not have been their fault – but as I always say – it doesn’t really matter whose fault it is when it is your name on the product. So the Time takes the hit for the short, uninspired, atrociously mixed 40 minute set on a beautiful 72 degree Friday night at Raley Field in West Sacramento.

Let me also explain that wifey and I skipped all the previous entertainers with the exception of Sister Sledge at the V101 Super Summer Soul Jam. Bands that played before we arrived included the Bar-Kays, the Dazz Band, and Shannon. We were told the Time was scheduled to hit the stage at 9:15 PM – so we arrived at nine. We bought the best available seats on the covered baseball field and headed to our spot during the final portion of Sister Sledge’s performance.

The vibe was lovely during We Are Family despite no backing band to the sisters. They sang to tracks. During the quick intermission before The Time hit the stage – just shy of 10 PM – DJ Mixxula had the crowd in the palm of his hand playing James Brown, War, and Teena Marie. Virtually everyone of the 5,000 or so were standing and dancing anticipating The Time – to close the show.

From the moment they were introduced – there were audio issues. The drums sounded muddy, and the guitar was over modulated. Monte Moir’s keys were inaudible. The crowd, ready to hop into a frenzy during Mixxula’s mini-set, quickly lost all of its collective momentum as the band struggled through The Skillet. (What a ridiculous song to choose to open a show. Nobody but the hardest of the hardcore knows about the brown groove of the Skillet.)

Jerome Benton was sorely missed. Morris’ trusty ‘valet’ was replaced by two male dancers that I didn’t think were cool at all. The band raced through songs – actually altering the tempo of tunes in an effort to squeeze as much as possible in before the 10:30 PM curfew.

They played Cool, Get it Up, Pandemonium, Chocolate, Wild & Loose, The Stick, Fishnet, (Tori Ruffin’s guitar lost amplification at the exact moment he was ripping into the Fishnet solo.) Next came The Oak Tree, Jerk Out, 777-9311, and a measure or two of Girl, and Sometimes I Get Lonely. …The audio issues started to subside during Gigolo’s Get Lonely Too. I heard vocal harmony for the first time. The Bird followed and that was that. No encore. No one calling for one. No Jungle Love.

It was embarrassing.
[Edited 6/15/07 0:01am]

sounds like a crappy performance The Time were once an amazing band but these days,I think the thrill is long gone.They're just going through the motions.

sounds like its pretty much over... the Time fell apart

IAintTheOne said:

it's like...why even bother anymore? Call it a day and go out with some dignity.

SoulAlive said:

yeah just be fuckin' done

plus...without Jesse,Jimmy,Terry and Jerome,it's not really The Time,as far as I'm concerned.It reminds me of seeing EW&F in concert these days....there's no Maurice,no Larry Dunn,no Al McKay,etc.It feels like I'm seeing an EW&F covers band

Without Prince Rehearsing these fools like Robots they just will never be tight like they used 2. Lets be honest...the Time was Prince's vision. Without him guiding it it will just be really phoney.

Awww,that's terrible.Hate 2 hear that.

bobsteezy said:

You skipped the Bar Kays!

I skipped the Bar-kays. It was a logistical/wifey thing.


I liked them in the - As One, Light of Life, Injoy album period - and I appreciate their work with Isaac Hayes - but I have to admit I wasn't very enthused to see them.

My guess it that the boys had an off night. I saw these cats play in
columbia,sc in 2005 along with confunkshun and they ripped shit. Jerome was
with them then. They did not play that corny ass skillet thankfully but they did
rock the hell out of blondie which i love. They performed all the hot jams from their first three albums as well as fishnet,oak tree,and jerk out. Some bands just have that occasional off night like the sound system might be out of wack.
I wouldn't worry time fans.