Cherise and Tish were the heat, and the fire! When I tell you that Cherise Louis Mason and Tish Period did not come to play with their “Through The Fire” Chaka Khan tribute Friday night at Live By Loews, you had to be there to truly understand. I knew when I heard who was singing that her catalog was in good hands. And they made a good thing even better with that insane band led by Phil “Dr. Phil Good” Graves. Fred Lamont Patterson, I don’t know what your foot is going through with that surgery boot, but your fingers were downright bionic for that reggae spin on “Sweet Thing.” Seeing Cherise and Tish slay to the point where I can guarantee that Chaka’s finicky self would have been pleased had me full of STL pride. And thy didn’t just honor Chaka—they stood ten toes down in their own gifts, bringing pure STL flavor to her iconic songs. The show felt like a love letter to Chaka, to Black women’s voices, and to the talent rooted deep in St. Louis soil.
Sexyy put on for STL. Listen, I know her presence is polarizing. St. Louis folks either absolutely love or utterly hate Sexyy Red. In full transparency, I have my own conflictions when it comes to her. However, let me go ahead and let the haters looking for Sexyy Red slander know that they can go ahead and jump down to the next item, because I have nothing but love for how she turned Enterprise Center into a St. Louis block party Saturday night. She had the bust down and quick weave girlies bopping and twerking as only the Northside’s finest could. Can I share the full setlist she performed without being banned from the paper or possibly arrested? Absolutely not. But just know that such a time was had that I caught myself accidently singing “Skee Yee” to the beat of Byron Cage at church the next morning. What? At least it wasn’t “Pound Town!” Anyway, I feel like the show belongs in the Guiness Book of World Records for the largest crowd of simultaneous nonstop twerking.
Then she had the nerve to bring Boosie and Webbie out. That “Wipe Me Down” break gave those knees enough reprieve for them to “throw it in a circle” for the rest of the night. And don’t even get me started on the next level energy that Glorilla brought with her. I know there was an incident that took place after the show was over, which was based on what somebody thought they heard. But the show itself went without a hitch. And I also want to shout Sexyy out for partnering with Prince Beauty Supply to bless those who are going through this Thanksgiving.
Steve Lacy’s legacy continues. On Sunday, I made my way to “Legacy 101: A Steve Lacy Experience” at the Moto Museum. To paraphrase my boy K.Dot, the way Steve has popped back out and showed the folks needs to be studied. He just jumped back in his promoter bag a whole generation later – and gagged us like he never left! Steve, sir, did you slay a silk press and say to yourself, “Girl, I’m gonna give you someplace to wear this…” or what? For this latest daytime triumph, he said the dress code was creative formal. Y’all took that to heart! I’ve been going to galas all my life and I have never – and I do mean never – seen a camouflage evening gown before Sunday afternoon. The girls and the guys came through. Mocha Latte was giving with her Morticia Adams inspired ensemble. And Skylar Barnes came dressed to turn heads with that veil, that jacket and that birdcage purse. Now that the event is over, I can confess that I was the one tossing the shrimp fried rice behind you as you walked by, the same way those women did Eddie Murphy with the rose petals in “Coming To America.” Had this been anybody else’s party, Skylar would have shown up the host. But it was a Steve Lacy party. He said, “I’m going to be wearing a brooch, but I want the whole left side of my jacket to be its own brooch to match it. And give me some gloves – and a sickening cropped silhouette cut to this jacket so that nobody, and I do mean nobody, can outslay me.” Some of the other looks of note were Shaki in that leopard dress, Lady Re dressed in all black like the omen. Tara, Lucy and Gab Hays’ golden Hollywood era bombshell gown. Mr. Kevin, I did not forget about you! Your new name is Mr. Forest Green Fascinator Veil Face With The Matching Lace Gloves That Set Off The Whole Green Suit.
A stroll down Café Soul’s memory lane. Since I’m on the subject of legacy, I might as well let y’all know one more time that Café Soul: The Reunion is going down on Saturday at The House Of Soul (1204 Washington Avenue.). If I could curate Saturday night’s show, I would have CJ Conrod, Wil Robinson, Cherise Louis Mason, Tish Period, Wild Mann, Tiffany Elle and Theresa Payne and a few others who have slipped my mind to put it down for the old days, and make sure room was made for the new generation to flex their talents! I don’t know what’s in store, other than the band is full of Café Soul alum – Dirty Lint on drums, Mark Harris II on keys, Fred Lamont Patterson on guitar and Bud on bass. Oh, and my girl Tendai Morris stepping back in as the hostess with the mostess. It’s going down on Saturday, Nov. 29. The party starts at 8 p.m.