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Raphael Saadiq is groove master at the Cabooze

Entertaining two-hour show should have been outdoors on the Cabooze plaza.

June 6, 2011 at 2:37PM

(The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Associated Press photo

Several thoughts after experiencing Raphael Saadiq's thoroughly entertaining two-hour performance Saturday night at the Cabooze:

• The considerably talented Saadiq is more of a groove master than a great songwriter.

• He had a well-drilled, funky band, featuring guitarist Levi Seacer Jr. Seacer, who used to play with Prince, was nearly unrecognizable in his Michael Bland-evoking overalls. Btw, Seacer and Saadiq both got their starts in Sheila E's band back in the day.

• Saadiq had some filler between his several thrillers.

• He owes a debt to Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, James Brown, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder and other early R&B stars. Said Saadiq: "There is no such thing as old school. Either you went to school or you didn't."

• The crowd welcomed his new stuff but went wild for the Tony! Toni! Tone! oldie "Anniversary" (which evoked Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis). And everybody partied to Lucy Pearl's "Dance Tonight." (I actually saw Lucy Pearl live, opening for Jill Scott at L.A.'s Universal Amphitheater.) Saadiq has been making crowd-pleasing music for a long time.

• This was a fun party but Saadiq's 2009 Fine Line gig may have been more satisfying.

• Saadiq drew one of the more diverse music crowds in the Twin Cities — in terms of race and age.

• This show was originally scheduled for the Cabooze plaza but was moved inside, presumably because of slow advance ticket sales. However, the Cabooze was packed, the weather was perfect and outside on the plaza is where this show should have been.