And that's saying a lot because I've seen a lot of great bands and great shows.

I went and saw Living Color at Tipitina's in New Orleans on September 17, 2009. This was my first time seeing them in concert.

Jason showed up at my house shortly before 6 p.m. We grabbed some Chicken McNuggets, gassed up the car and got on the road. We got to the club a little before 9 p.m. and got in the line to get in the club. When the doors opened, we got right up front, dead center leaning against the stage. Jason held the spot while I snagged a few posters out of the bathroom and checked out the T shirts. I then grabbed us a couple beers and we hung out. The show was scheduled for 10 p.m., but that's when a DJ set started and not the actual show. It was DJ Soul Sista. We saw her once before spinning before a P funk show. Now I have nothing against a DJ at a party or even in a club, but I was there for a concert. She did drop in Cosmic Slop and a few more obscure Funkadelic tracks, but for the most part it bored me. Well atleast it gave me time to grab a few more beers. Jason was making friends with her since they were both sporting Funkadelic shirts. I was sporting a Time shirt( Imagine that) and I got the "Nice shirt" complement several times. If they only knew.

Her set lasted around an hour and then of course we had the roadies checking out the equipment. Doug had the most impressive set up of peddles and equipment I've ever seen. Vernon's wasn't half bad either I'm so glad the show was a Tipitna's. I've seen three of the greatest bands ever there. The first time I saw both P- Funk and the Time was in this club and now we added Living Colour. Well on to the show

Here is the Line up
Will Calhoun-Drums and Percussion
Corey Glover-Lead Vocals
Vernon Reid-Guitar God
Doug Wimbish-Bass

Here is the setlist with my comments to follow
1. Desperate People
2. Middleman
3. Type
4. Go Away
5. Bi
6. Drum Solo
7. Open Letter(to a Landlord)
8. Burning Bridges
9. The Chair
10. La grange(What's your favorite Colour(Theme song)
11. Decadance
12. Young man
13. Method
14. Behind the Sun
15. Papa was a Rolling Stone
16. Glamour Boys
17. Bless those(Little Annie's prayer)
18. Time's up
19. Cult of Personality
Encore
20. Elvis is Dead(Hound Dog)
21. Love rears its Ugly Head
22. Crosstown traffic(White Lines)

OMFG
I knew this was going to rule, but I had no idea it would be this good. Musically this had to be the best show I've ever seen. Just 4 guys playing and having a good time. We knew Vernon ruled and Corey could sing his ass off, but you don't realize how good Doug and Will are until you see them in concert. Vernon came out with a Queen shirt and Corey was sportin' a Boy Scout shirt. The show opened with Desperate people. One of my favorites off Vivid. Vernon was drownding out the vocals early on, but it got better as the night progressed. Type was straight up punk rock and was one of many highlights. Bi was funky as hell. At some point, I don't remember which tune, Doug got off the stage right next to me and made it to the center of the crowd and laid down the bass from hell. Will had an extended drum solo and the full band came back for a very soulful version of open letter (to a landlord)

The band then started playing songs from the new album in order. During the second song, Will busted a bass drum head. This could have been a disaster for some bands, but it turned into another highlight. While the techs were repairing Will's kit, Vernon started playing some licks that turned into La Grange. The crowd picked up on it and started the haw, haw haw chant. Doug joined in and later Corey who did a few Chants of his own and then started singing the chorus to What's your favorite colour. Will pulled out a sharpie and got all the band to sign the busted head and threw it into the crowd. If I didn't have a gimp foot I might have been able to make a jump for it, but I was in no condition to even try it. Will joined back in and the band continued playing songs the new album.

Decadance followed and it ruled. Pick up the new album if you haven't already. It ranks right up there with the first three. New Orleans own Big Sam came on stage to add some trombone to Young man and some of the other new songs. I think most of the people liked his dance moves better. I was digging his shoes. Behind the Sun is my favorite of the new songs and the band was in top form on it. This would have been a hit if it was on Vivid. Even Glamour boys which is one of my least favorite songs by them was excellent live. Doug was throwing some Bootsy licks in there a few times.

The normal portion of the show closed with Cult of Personality and it brought down the house. Corey stage dove/got pulled into the crowd. I held his leg as we worked him back to the stage.We got crushed as the posers surged. Yeah its a great song, but where were you guys for the other 18 kick ass songs they played before that. I had a bruise on my thigh for 2 weeks after that, but atleast the foot dodged the bullet. Aside from that, the crowd was great and well behaved. We had this one Buddy Miles looking dude with two Paul Stanley wrist bands next to use all night and he knew ALL the songs like we did.

The band opened the encore with Elvis is Dead. Another favorite. A saxophone player joined the band and Vernon was doing its not true chant. Who knew dude was so funny? Corey launched into Hound Dog before returning back to the main song. Love rears its Ugly head appeared to be the end of the show. Vernon started a speech about Jimi Hendrix passing away on that day 39 years before(it was well after midnight at this point so it was the 18th) The band launched into
Crosstown Traffic. You gotta be kidding me. Jimi RULES and so does Living Colour. They played it for well over 10 minutes. Vernon threw in some Santana licks and Doug
laid down the bass line to White Lines. Half way through the song Mean Joe Green crept up behind the drum kit. We figured he was just going to hit a cymbal or throw a jersey into the crowd, but dude sat down and played drums for the last half of the song. Who knew he was a bad ass on the skins? The show finally ended a little after 2 am. It started around 11:30 p.m. so it was over 2 1/2 hours. Vernon came by and shock my hand and then the band left.

WOW Double fucking WOW. It was announced that the band would come back out in 15 minutes to sign autographs, but of course we had no merchandise with us. I guess we could have got the posters signed, but we still had a 3 hour drive home and this was my first real test of the foot since the surgery and it was hurting like a mother so we decided to bail. We made the post concert stop at the awful waffle and didn't get back to my house until 5:45 a.m. which had Jason getting home after 6a.m. Was it worth it? Hell yeah. This may have been the first time I've seen them, but it won't be the Last!!!

Wow, if you like them better than The Time, that is saying a LOT. If they come to Houston, I'll definitely check them out.