Who was it?

When was it?

Where was it?

What did you think?

February 5th, 2011: ROBYN at Radio City Music Hall, New York City

I never thought Radio City Music Hall could be turned into a big party with its assigned seating, but watching nearly everyone dancing in their seats and some in the aisles as well as Swedish pop star Robyn performed on stage changed my mind. Along with her band of two drummers and two keyboardists, they did their best to keep the energy going nonstop, segueing many of the songs into one other. Robyn was a dancing dynamo as usual running up and down the stairs along each side of the venue to interact with fans in the front of the lower mezzanine. The only glitch was when she tripped and fell backwards during "Call Your Girlfriend" which I'm surprised didn't happen more often with the huge platforms she was wearing. With all the electricity coming off the stage, elaborate visuals weren't necessary, Robyn and crew using just the two giant pinwheels that have appeared at earlier performances as stage props and a strong light show. "Dancing On My Own" seemed to get the biggest reaction again, but all songs were received very well really, up to the now no longer surprise "Dancing Queen" / "Show Me Love" synthapella medley to close the show. She didn't talk much except during one of the encores to tell everyone that this was the largest crowd (5,000+) she's ever played to as a headliner. Congratulations to Radio City for giving Robyn and the audience a night to remember.

Setlist:

Time Machine
Fembot
Cobrastyle (Teddybears cover)
Dancing On My Own
We Dance To The Beat
Don't Fucking Tell Me What To Do
Love Kills
The Girl And The Robot
Indestructible
Call Your Girlfriend
Stars 4-Ever

Encore 1:
Get Myself Together
Dancehall Queen
Hang With Me
With Every Heartbeat

Encore 2:

U Should Know Better
Konichiwa Bitches
Dancing Queen (Abba cover) / Show Me Love (medley)

90 minutes

[Edited 2/7/11 13:41pm]

I think I've heard of Robyn but never listened to any of her music, I will now . So far your track record in good music is batting a 1000.

TD3 said:

I think I've heard of Robyn but never listened to any of her music, I will now . So far your track record in good music is batting a 1000.

Thanks! But you won't say that after I post my next review. I'm seeing Prince tonight.

sextonseven said:

TD3 said:

I think I've heard of Robyn but never listened to any of her music, I will now . So far your track record in good music is batting a 1000.

Thanks! But you won't say that after I post my next review. I'm seeing Prince tonight.

dropped 500 points.

Last show I saw was Roger Waters - The Wall in Houston TX about two/three months ago.

Phenomenal performance. The building of the wall - the use of imagery. It was spectacular. (The set list was simply the double record set - no additional material).

I was blown away by how good he sounded considering how bad Roger's voice has sounded in gigs from 5/10 years ago. I have since learned his voice was pre-taped, which is kind of a bummer.

If I'm being honest, I don't think he could have pulled this off without pre-recorded vocals because I think his voice is shot. So I'm still glad the gig went off the way it did because it was a truly magnificent event.

Before that - it was Smokey Robinson in Snoqualmie Washington. His voice is still outrageous (especially for someone who is about 70 years old).

And while he broke out a few lesser known gems like "The Love I Saw In You Was Just A Mirage", most of the show featured Vegas/schmaltzy arrangements of all the hits. Bass and drum combo had no groove. The keys were far too prominent in the mix. The guitars were lifeless. I mean, Smokey is in my top three of all time and i still loved the gig, but the arrangements just zapped all the energy out of half the tunes.

sextonseven said:

Who was it?

When was it?

Where was it?

What did you think?

Cody Chesnutt

The night before christmas which was the reason I had to go on my own

In a really small venue in Vienna, Austria.

I would have preferred if I knew any of the songs he did as he only did new material, but it was still nice

sextonseven said:

Who was it?

Bone Thugs N Harmony

When was it?

...September of 2010 I think

Where was it?

First Avenue Minneapolis MN

What did you think?

It was ok...they had a live band and horn players. Most of the songs they did were only from the first album and they did a couple of hits. Layzie Bone sung "Pretty Brown Eyes" and "Lets Go Crazy". That was cute. He also said I looked good in my blue shirt and tie...so I'll give them props for that. The audience I couldnt stand though. Ghetto people acting a fool. The crowd was really mixed though; I did like the fact they had a very diverse audience....lots of people blazed up too.

Who was it?

The Barkays

When was it?

Years ago. Probably 2005 or 2006.

Where was it?

The "Jubilee Jam" fesival in Jackson, MS.

What did you think?

Great show as usual. The Barkays always put on a good show. I hate outdoor events in general but I really hated the fact that it was also raining.

• Prince
• last night... February 7th
• Madison Square Garden
• IMO, it was the best of the series.

Whom: Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue

Where: Roseland, Portland, Oregon USA

When: February 8, 2011 9:00 P.M.

In an age when "real" talent and media image are often a mere blur, I can happily report that in spite of all our Blog-o-sphere bluster, talent does indeed abide.

It's a simple affair, really: choose an instrument of expression & become its' master. Shorty has achieved this feat to devastating effect.

Maybe but 3 other times have I heard a horn section this crisp & bright. Perfect in tone & tight in execution....you can hear the pedigree in these dudes' notes.....the streets they grew up on & the heroes they emulate. New heroes are born of just such metal.

The material (originals and covers) is well chosen & delivered in rapid-fire succession, leaving the audience (often) stunned post-salvo. "Hypnotic" comes to mind, but I must say, "elation" is the memory that will stay with me from watching these guys raise the roof at Roseland tonight.

If musical "talent", circa 2011 needs an emissary, Shorty is a fine candidate. If he & his horn come near you.......show up & prepare to be elevated.....N'Oleans style.

Grade: A

[img:$uid]http://keyconversationsradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/trombone_shorty-300x199.jpg[/img:$uid]

[Edited 2/9/11 2:48am]

February 7th: PRINCE at Madison Square Garden, New York City

This was the last of six shows Prince played in the New York/New Jersey area over the past two months and it was clear he wanted to go out with a bang. He kept the setlist limited to mostly his well-known hits which ensured the audience would give back the energy he gave and that energy was a lot. Dressed all in gold including gold heels for the main set and then in red for the encores, he performed with such enthusiasm that it was hard to believe that he's in his 50s. His band (John Blackwell on drums, Renato and Cassandra on keys and Ida on bass) was situated at the head of his symbol-shaped stage except for keyboardist Mr. Hayes who was set up on the floor within the crowd. Also present were singers Shelby Johnson, Olivia Warfield and Elisa Fiorello to provide stellar additional vocals and ballerina Misty Copeland who danced during "The Beautiful Ones". Prince had lots of fun with the crowd inviting two women from the VIP section to dance with him during "Controversy", one of whom was Kim Kardashian who was so stiff, Prince immediately had her leave the stage. He closed the main set with "Nothing Compares 2 U" dedicating it to former Revolution drummer Bobby Z who had recently suffered a heart attack. The first encore began with opening act Cee-Lo Green providing vocals on the surprise cover of his own Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy". The second encore opened with a medley that sped through old tracks, some with a few lines sung, some just instrumental samples while more VIP members danced onstage. "Mountains" was the highlight for many fans during the third encore before ending the night with two Sly Stone covers and promising that he'd be back again soon in New York. Judging by how lively everyone was at the arena for this show, New York would be happy to have him.

Setlist:

Laydown
1999
Little Red Corvette
The Beautiful Ones
Controversy
Purple Rain
Raspberry Beret
Cream
Cool (with ?uestlove on extra percussion)
Let's Work
U Got The Look
Nothing Compares 2 U

Encore 1:
Crazy (with Cee-Lo Green) (Gnarls Barkley cover)
Let's Go Crazy / Delirious (medley)
Dreamer (with Frédéric Yonnet on harmonica)
When Doves Cry (intro) / Kiss

Encore 2:
Purple Medley: Nasty Girl snippet / Forever In My Life snippet / Sign "O" The Times / Alphabet St. / A Love Bizarre / Hot Thing snippet / Pop Life / I Would Die 4 U / Single Ladies (Beyonce sample)
If I Was Your Girlfriend
Insatiable
Scandalous
Adore

Encore 3:
Mountains
Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground) (The Jacksons cover)
Everyday People (Sly & The Family Stone cover)
I Want To Take You Higher (with Frédéric Yonnet on harmonica) (Sly & The Family Stone cover)

140 minutes

[Edited 2/9/11 12:45pm]