Quick reply needed--MeShell show?

waffle puzzle · #1 10-21-2007, 07:56 PM

In a couple of hours, MeShell Ndegeocello is going to play with her band in an awesome small club in downtown Sacramento.....should i go ? It's a 35 minute drive each way and I have to get up relatively early tomorrow.

I haven't heard her music but she gets all kinds of accolades in the bass community (even on the cover of Bass Player this month). I like all kinds of music....apparently she's in the Funk/R&B category.

Any others gone to her shows or have an opinion ?

lobey · #2 10-21-2007, 08:03 PM

I'm not familiar with her work, but I'd say go for it. You'll regret it if you don't go.

I've been in similar situations with bands touring through my area. Made some good decisions to go watch and meet some great musicians. Really helped that I was just learning bass at the time, and some of the bass players gave me tips too.

Woodchuck · #3 10-21-2007, 08:05 PM

I've seen several of her gigs. I'd go, but I wouldn't stay too late since you do have to get up early, but I'd definately go. She also brings a bass player with her, who's usually a beast as well.

waffle puzzle · #4 10-21-2007, 08:18 PM

thanks lobey and woodchuck,
any more opinions ?

NJL · #5 10-21-2007, 08:20 PM

you can't miss, Meshell!!

she's the miles davis of bassists...

jimibrix · #6 10-21-2007, 08:21 PM

I find that even with fragmented sleep I can function pretty well as long as it's not two days in a row. If you didn't gig last night and had some good sleep, you'd be crazy not to go. You'll feel fine tomorrow. Just make sure you hear the alarm!

waffle puzzle · #7 10-21-2007, 08:34 PM

one bump to give more opinions a chance

cnltb · #8 10-21-2007, 08:51 PM

I've seen her gigs a couple of times and each time was quite different from the time before.
I really enjoyed every time I saw her and would totally go again.
I think you'll enjoy it regardless if you rate her as a bassist or not.
It's always entertaining and her band is gonna be fantastic!!

jimibrix · #9 10-21-2007, 08:56 PM

What time do you have to get up in the morning ? What time is the show ?

waffle puzzle · #10 10-21-2007, 09:04 PM

OK---I'm going...

show starts at 9 with an opening act Kudu (?) which means the whole she-bang will be over about midnight.....I get up at 6..........oh well, a few beers tonight, in an intimate club, seeing world class music....I can handle it.

Thanks for the input guys......
I'll post tomorrow on this thread with comments.
Over and Out........

jimibrix · #11 10-21-2007, 09:29 PM

I get out of the studio between 12:30 and 1:00 a.m., I'm up at 5:30a.m. for my career day job. With some coffee, I think you'll be fine. The one thing you mention however, beer! I don't drink at all but I used to. I know that a beer or two might have you over sleeping. You might go with 7-up or sprite with a twist of lime and a stirrer to make it look like a drink, but no Coke or caffein drinks, the important part is getting home and being able to fall right asleep, but the beer might make it a little tougher to get up. I think with the beer you might need the 7 to 8 hours sleep which you won't have. I would go, have a few sprites with a twist, maybe some pretzels, maybe just 1 beer and enjoy the show. Just my opinion.

waffle puzzle · #12 10-22-2007, 02:25 AM

Gotta stay up a little, since I'll get heartburn from the patty melt on rye at INK, a late night bar/restaurant that is hipper than hip to go after a show.

1:16 am, just a quick synopsis of the strange show I just saw. Definitely not what I expected. MeShell came with a drummer, two guitarists and a bassist ( who was silent when she played bass, which, was not that much)

Instead of the Funk/ R &B show that I anticipated...I was surprised by a more textural, dare I say Prog Rock show.
Seriously, it was like mixing Genesis "Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" with Police "Zenyatta Mondatta" and a little Tool "10,000 days"

MeShell sang sans bass most the evening, and donned it on occasion, but mostly just to get the other bassist going. The stage was bizzarrly dark, and they were adamant about no flash photography.

I will say that I did enjoy the show, about 250 people showed up on a Sacramento Sunday night, which is an accomplishment on it's own, but it also was the most racially diverse crowd I've ever been in. It was like a breath of fresh air being in a place where there was no cultural borders.
In addition to the 60% black 30% white 10% other crowd, I was swimming in a sea of lesbians for much of the evening.

I did have a few Newcastles........but the evening was long enough to stretch them out.

show...recommended

JAUQO III-X · #13 10-22-2007, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waffle puzzle

I was swimming in a sea of lesbians for much of the evening.

It's always like that at a Meshell show

Woodchuck · #14 10-22-2007, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

It's always like that at a Meshell show

Oh yeah! I've seen her in about 5 states, and 3 different countries, and the lesbians do represent!

JAUQO III-X · #15 10-22-2007, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woodchuck

Oh yeah! I've seen her in about 5 states, and 3 different countries, and the lesbians do represent!

Whats up Mr.Rodent ?

Woodchuck · #16 10-22-2007, 06:23 AM

What's up, you ask?! You've ruined me!!!!!! I sometimes find myself grooving in the deep end of the pool. A nice little walking groove along the B and E string during solos, or funking out in low D. You and your damned Low C Theory!

One guy did ask me what made me do that during one gig, because he said he wish he'd thought of doing that, so I wrote your name down and told him to go to CD Baby, but I don't know if he did.

JAUQO III-X · #17 10-22-2007, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woodchuck

What's up, you ask?! You've ruined me!!!!!! I sometimes find myself grooving in the deep end of the pool. A nice little walking groove along the B and E string during solos, or funking out in low D. You and your damned Low C Theory!

One guy did ask me what made me do that during one gig, because he said he wish he'd thought of doing that, so I wrote your name down and told him to go to CD Baby, but I don't know if he did.

Wow, sorry about ruining you

but I do thank you for being inspired(that was not my intention) and thanks for the shot out.

Wait until you hear my next recording(featuring Bernard Purdie).

Phil Smith · #18 10-22-2007, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waffle puzzle

MeShell sang sans bass most the evening, and donned it on occasion, but mostly just to get the other bassist going. The stage was bizzarrly dark, and they were adamant about no flash photography.

Flash to her is like Kryptonite to Superman. I believe it has a severe effect on her because I was at a show when someone was flashing away while she was playing and she was literally running and hiding, but still grooving, kind of weird.

lefty007 · #19 10-22-2007, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJL

you can't miss, Meshell!!

she's the miles davis of bassists...

Well, well, that's quite an statement, but I'm a huge fan. Have all her CDs and saw her live with the Spirit Music Jamia project(where she played bass all night, no singing, no other bass player), and is in the Top 5 concerts of all my life (and I have seen Quiet Riot live [joke]).

I just got a few songs from her new CD. .. good stuff, not mindblowing, but great.

She's an inspiration to see live. She closes her eyes and grooves all night like there is no tomorrow.

Woodchuck · #20 10-22-2007, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lefty007

She closes her eyes and grooves all night like there is no tomorrow.

While tilting her head upwards.