`Old school' concert thrills crowd

`Old school' concert thrills crowd

A highly enthusiastic audience of "old school" music fans shouted, danced and sang along to old familiar songs, during the "Back In Demand Jam" concert last weekend, featuring the legendary Morris Day & the Time as the headliners. Midnight Star and the S.O.S. Band were also on the show.

After an introduction by the show's hosts, WGCI's Ramonski Luv and Tornado ("Big Daddy Woo-Woo"), Midnight Star opened the show, setting out an energetic performance, with such classics as "Freakazoid," "Wet My Whistle," and "Slow Jam." The S.O.S. Band also had the crowd hyped up, as they performed their many hits, including "Just Be Good To Me" "Take Your Time." and "Tell Me (That You Care About Me)."

By the time Morris Day & The Time hit the stage, the crowd was really hyped up and ready for an "old school party," just like "back in the day."

Day and the band, dressed in their traditional "old school player" attire thrilled their fans with their many '80s R&B/funk hits, including "Cool," "777-9311" "Gigolos Get Lonley Too," and the definite crowd pleaser "The Bird," during which Day invited women (and a few men) from the audience to join him on stage to dance "The Bird."

In keeping with his "old school pimp/"playa" persona, (still having Jerome hand him the mirror so he can check out his 'do) Day asked all of the "old school players" to identify themselves. He also quizzed the audience on their knowledge of of "pimp" attire, to assure he was "dressed properly." The audience (especially the men) responded enthusiastically.

In an interview prior to the show, Day explained that he is happy that the group is "very much in demand," and that they are presently touring throughout the U.S. and Europe.

"I think it's great. There was a time when it looked like hip hop was taking over," he said.

"Once people realized what a good performance is, with real instruments, it put the pressure on dap playing. People want to come out and see somebody who can really throw down for real."

Day said he is a fan of some of the younger music stars of today, but that "I'm still trying to figure out what they borrowed from me, but I'm not mad at them."

"We did that (borrowed from other entertainers' music style) also when we came along, but for the most part we were and are originals."

Day added they are presently working on a new CD, to be released later this year.

"We have some new ideas, but it'll be funky," he said.

All in all, Morris Day & The Time proved that the "time" is definitely right for "old school" R&B/funk. It's alive and well and going strong.

Article Copyright Sengstacke Enterprises, Inc.

Photo (Morris Day and Jerome Benton)