Words & Photos by Joe Russo
‘World Famous Drummer’ Sheila E and her band played a high-energy set of both covers and originals at Sony Hall this week. The icon came out with her guitar in hand, and played “Funky National Anthem: A Message 2 America” with her entire band to kick things off.
Throughout the night Sheila covered both a Parliament and Funkadelic tune, as well as a few Prince covers. Highlights included her own material like “A Love Bizzare”, “Bailar”, “The Belle of St Mark”, and “Holly Rock”.
There was a live percussion jam thrown in there, and at one point Sheila brought her microphone stand and her guitar and headed straight to the back of the room and faced the stage and all her fans. Some fans packed around her as she sang – it was a very poignant moment. It looked like she was very emotional after it was over, as she took a pause on stage with her back to the crowd to compose herself.
The show closed with a medley of songs that led into one of her biggest hits – “Glamorous Life”. She asked the crowd if they wanted more. They chanted her name and then she ripped a nice drum solo which concluded with her slowly and emphatically trashing her mic stands and drum kit.
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