BERNIE WORRELL & THE WOO WARRIORS

At The North Star Bar - Philadelphia, PA (6/26/98)

 

My brother and I went to the North Star Bar to check out Bernie Worrell & The WOO Warriors. After having a light dinner, I introduced him to the members of WOO band. I also introduced him to Gabe Gonzalez (who was substituting for Van Romaine on drums) and PURPLEWOO (who was selling WOO T-shirts, CDs and hemp hats). I asked PURPLEWOO if the girl in the song "Red Hot Momma" was her......she giggled and said "No". She and I loved the Bernie songs "WOO Awakens, The Wizard Cometh" and "Re-Enter Black Light (Entersection)" from the amazing solo project FREE AGENT. Also, Gabe was selling his debut album by Enemy Squad, called UNITED STATE OF MIND....Gabe is the leader and drummer of the group.

 

It was a long wait until the WOO came out at 11:15pm. Bernie walked onstage with a fancy cape and hat, fit for the king of WOO. Bernie began jamming on his magnificent funky-jazz number "Re-Enter Black Light". Bernie on the melodica....what a sight to behold! Then, in the middle of the instrumental of "Thank You (For Letting Me Be Myself Again)", I moved my leather bag so B. J. Nelson can step onstage to sing the lyrics to "Red Hot Momma". What was excellent was the WOO performance of "Chocolate City".....a magnificent addition to the WOO set. (I was not fortunate enough to attend the David Mills's private book party at the BET Soundstage in Largo, MD.....where the WOO was present, too!) The show ended at 1:15am.


The set listing:

·         Re-Enter Black Light (Entersection)

·         Thank You (For Letting Me Be Myself Again)

·         Red Hot Momma

·         Y-Spy

·         If You Don't Like The Effects, Don't Produce The Cause

·         Straight Ahead

·         Chocolate City

·         Supergroovalisticprosifunkstication

·         Comin' Round The Mountain

·         Baby I Owe You Something Good

·         Can You Get To That

·         Flashlight/WOO-Lite

·         Smokey

·         Up For The Down Stroke


ENCORE:

·         Night of The Thumpasorus Peoples




MORE HIGHLIGHTS:

1.     Gregg Fitz is just too damn funky......singing the vocals for "Smokey".....SMOKEY!!And he wasn't bad on the keyboards during "Can You Get To That" and "If You Don't Like the Effects, Don't Produce The Cause"!

2.     Mike Reuben's guitar playing was smokin' on the introduction to "Baby I Owe You Something Good". And the intro to "Can You Get To That?" was good! Plus, he is a very nice guy!

3.     Bernie's psychotic spasms on the keys on the song "Chocolate City" were beyond wonderful.....SO FUNKY YOU CAN SMELL 'EM!!!

4.     Some people were singing the chant to "Supergroovalistic" aloud, before B. J., Gregg and Bernie could sing them......so Bernie gave the mic to a big guy in the audience and WOO fans (including me) were singing into the mic! WOO fans were getting their WOO on!!!

 

 

As a bonus, Starr Cullars was at the show and she begged me to see her after the show. She needed me to send her as many photos of her as I could for an upcoming project of hers. She took me upstairs, where all of the WOO band members were hanging out!! So, I was talking to B. J. and telling him how much I love her voice. I told Gabe that his heavy-duty drumming was one of the biggest highlights of the show. I decided to help Starr by snapping extra photos of her alone, and photos of her and selected WOO musicians!! Gregg was so eager to get into a couple of the pictures!! Bernie is such a wonderful person to be around! Donna and Mike are really cool!! Gregg and Gabe are so comical......especially Gabe!

 

By the way, special shout-out to the Internet's own Sean Booth, who was able to make it to the North Star Bar........WAT UP, HOMEY?!!!

 

 

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