Talk about combining great music with a great cause. LoVeSeXy headlined a benefit for the Zumix organization at The Sinclair in Cambridge last night. The event was titled Enchantment Under The Sea with a prom night theme. Many local youth attended this “prom” in their formal attire. Meanwhile, for two hours, the Prince tribute band paid homage to the genius who penned some of the most familiar songs of our lifetime. If that wasn’t enough, LoVeSeXy began the evening by playing The Purple Rain album in its entirety.
Beginning with “Let’s Go Crazy,” lead vocalist Kobie Ali sprinkled the sprightly melody with his ever so smooth tenor singing voice. Ali had his head in the game, nailing all of Prince’s quirky, fevered vocal phrases. Ali didn’t do imitation. He channeled Prince with his rangy voice and his attention to details. A dynamic front man, he carried himself on stage with an energy that seemed ready to combust. Yet, he released it a little at a time by moving around with springy excitement. His harmonies with guitarist Jodee Frawlee filled out this and other songs well. Meanwhile, five players served up the funk-rock groove and manic guitar flourishes.
Chris Botelho’s drum rolls leading back to the bridge during “Take Me With You” were particularly full, knobby, and on time. It was one of those moments when an audience member could gain insight into what helps to power this band onward, a drummer whose skin pounding is as aggressive, speedy, and precise as can be.
LoVeSeXy got several couples to slow dance to “The Beautiful Ones,” the third track from The Purple Rain album. Ali and the band conjured the driving, seductive vibe of the tune, and he sounded beautiful singing the falsetto vocal lines. Keyboardist Brian Eggleston maintained the steady, consistent, hypnotic keyboard line, one that kept drawing a listener deeper into the music.
Frawlee, arguably one of the best guitarists in the country, dove into “When Doves Cry” with her fiery intro notes. She also played some interesting notes by using her left hand to brush the strings she was picking with her right, Eventually, she regained the spotlight from the evocative lead singer to finish the song in true Prince style, with another bristling guitar phrase.
Ali lead the band into Prince’s rated PG-13 song “Darling Nikki,” with each player injecting his or her own individual talents into the stomping, multi-faceted number. Frawlee grinded out screamy, emotive guitar lines as Eggleston jumped in and out of the action with bursts of keyboard madness. Next up, one could see how the rhythm section of Botelho and bassist Louis Ochoa kept everything on time during their rapidly paced rendition of “I Would Die For U.” This rhythm section action also made one appreciate the genius of Prince all over again as it forced one to realize how much he has going on in each number. Each of his songs were a manic dance party and LoVeSeXy managed to bring this to the forefront. Prince’s speedy tempos were one of the many things they conjured last night. Interlocking their individual parts at just the right moments was another. Saxophonist/flutist Anthony Grant blew all of the familiar melody lines with a flair for Prince’s drama but also with an ear for Prince’s precision.
The Purple Rain title track found the band playing in fine ensemble strength, each musician and lead singer contributing to the casual build up to the dramatic and dynamic conclusion. Frawlee and Grant played the main melody line in perfect unison before Eggleston came in with his larger than life colors and tones to help conclude this masterwork.
The second half of the show found LoVeSeXy offering up a number of Prince hits. Breezy keyboard and saxophone work over a thumping groove marked the band’s rendition of “1999.” “Alphabet St.” saw a muscular authority coming from the rhythm section. Botelho and Ochoa created a platform for the guitar, keys, and sax to skip over, which they did, with their own merry authority, in perfect sync with the rhythm beneath them. Next up, “U Got The Look” was spearheaded by an edgy guitar line Frawlee continuously pressed out. She also played some really cool, rapid fire chords on “Kiss,” another tune that benefited from Ali’s whispery, soulful voice. LoVe SeXy played “Little Red Corvette” so well that one could hear the bulbous thump of the rhythm section sandwiched pleasantly in between the voice and the melody instruments. The rhythm boys stayed afloat on this one, and it was a mark of the joyful madness that Prince had come up with back in the day. Soon, the band carried itself well through the joyful jaunt of “Raspberry beret” before “Controversy” featured a rich sax line from Mr. Grant, like gravy over meat and potatoes.
LoVeSeXy captured the essence of the stop-start chord action on Prince’s “Head.” They played the fascinating rhythm well while the melody instrumentalists tapped danced their way around its tight groove.
LoVeSeXy turned the controls over to DJ ABD who entertained the crowd for the rest of the evening.
Before LoVeSeXy took to the stage, the youthful band Miyagi And The Kids, representing the Zumix organization, warmed up the crowd for this “Prom Night” event. They played slick, smooth, and mostly on time versions of Maroon 5’s “This Love,” “Do You Wanna” by The Kooks,” “Paint It Black” by The Rolling Stones” and “Since You’ve Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson. The kids switched instruments and Miagi proved to be a drummer with a lot of potential with her strong sense of timing.
It was an evening of great songs played for a great cause. The Zumix organization was formed in Boston in 1991 after a year of tremendous street violence. The organization’s aims to better the lives of youth by helping to keep them focused on their musical potential.
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