"Choking up and not quite managing to hold back the tears, Sheila E pays her respects to Prince with 'Girl Meets Boy'."
Tonight's Sheila E. gig offers a rare excuse to dust off one of your best purple paisley shirts and get down to some of the sweetest funk grooves going. Sheila Escovedo bursts onto the stage amid a riot of sound and coloured lights, dealing a medley of Prince tunes that takes in When Doves Cry, Housequake, Erotic City and U Got The Look. Those days of big, permed hair and glittery '80s shoulder-padded fashion were such a long time ago and now the teeny boppers of yore are dealing with midlife crises. Footage of Sheila E. thumping the skins for Prince on a massive stage in front of thousands feels like a reel of home movies that shares memories of the good old days. Although Escovedo is now into her late 50s, she bounces on stage with all the energy she can muster and presents these songs with the boisterous energy that they deserve.
One of Prince's long-time collaborators, Sheila E. understands the funk that drives these songs and knows exactly how they should be presented. Cynics may say that Escovedo is trading off her relationship with Prince, but his music has always comprised a large component of her show. Prince's unexpected passing earlier this year provides fans with an opportunity to celebrate and pay tribute. It's just really sad that, as Prince mourned the loss of Vanity in February during his solo shows in Melbourne, Sheila E. is here to celebrate and mourn the loss of her esteemed collaborator. It's disappointing that we only get a snippet of A Love Bizarre as the tune provokes a strong and pretty emotional response from the crowd — a 12-inch mix would have satisfied. A low-slung version of One Nation Under A Groove sees the pace slacken and Sheila E. and her band start to pump out jams that connect the dots between funk, soul and jazz sophistication. It all culminates in a monster drum solo that has her drum sticks flying, proving that the lady's got plenty of rhythm.
Getting away from the influence of Prince, Sheila E. steps out on her own with Mona Lisa and Bailar, which washes over like an energetic J Lo dance tune. The anthemic Rockstar comes crashing down with that magnificent riff from Purple Rain. Choking up and not quite managing to hold back the tears, Sheila E pays her respects to Prince with Girl Meets Boy, a tune she penned in the days after he passed away. Acknowledging that it's been a difficult year, Escovedo says she's just thankful that we are all still here. After celebrating her birthday, which is actually on 12 Dec, she takes it home with a fierce version of America, a rock'n'roll version of The Belle Of St. Mark and, of course, the very irresistible The Glamorous Life brings this energetic party down on a sweet, feel-good high.