On the Town with Buddy B in Diva Town, Part 2: Inaya Day

Inaya Day and her smoking hot band rocked the house at the Village Underground on Wednesday night and I was among the lucky crowd that got to experience this concert that started at 9:30 and went on until the wee hours.

Nick Lion and I headed to the West Village from W. 23rd St. where we'd just seen Gretchen Reinhagen perform (see part 1 of this article). Nick had parked right outside the Metropolitan Room, so it was to the Nickmobile to our next adventure!

Again, there were divas on-stage (Inaya, Toni Menage, keyboardist/singer Amina Buddafly) and off-stage (DeVonde Williams). The set proceeded with a series of rousing arrangements of pop cover classics, kicking off with "Papa Was a Rolling Stone." The '80s were revived via tunes like "Manic Monday" and "Message in a Bottle."

Ms Day and the band were a fine ensemble and vocal duties were generously shared by all. Guest vocalists took to the stage for songs like Billy Joel's "New York State of Mind" and the show was an epic extravaganza that broke for intermission close to three hours. It was unfortunate that, because of the long night and pervious show, and due to our obligations the next day, Nick and I had to leave during the break. Inaya doesn't put on mere shows, she puts on events! My review of her previous show with the group TRIo (with Ms Menage and Ria Alexander) described it as "a happening"

Toni Menage rocked her guest appearance on lead vocals with very soulful interpretations of Adele's "Rumor Has It," top-10 classics like "Killing Me Softly" and "It Takes Two." Ms Day, for her part, roused the audience with reggae renderings of "Sometimes I Get the Feeling" (rapid-fire dance-hall style) and "You Sexy Thing." Prior to that latter number, Ms Buddafy's straight-forward cover of Blondie's "Heart of Glass." had the audience on their feet on the cabaret floor, dancing to the end of the first set.

Lou Rawls' "You'll Never Find" and two Alicia Keys hits -- "No One" and "New York, New York" --were among popular favorites of the night. Over fifty years of pop, rock, reggae and rap were on display. We left, happy, into the night though wishing we could stay for more. A wonderful band that seemed to be able to do everything; courteous and attentive service at our table (from our waitress, Tatianna) and, most especially, the always dazzling vocals of Inaya Day among others finished off this night on the town in an exquisite, grand manner..

TRIo Creates an Unforgettable "Happening" at The Village Underground

Below street level, a major party was going on last night. The joint was jumpin' as Ria Alexander, Toni Menage and Inaya Day played to a wildly enthusiastic packed house as the girl group known, collectively, as TRIo. Menage exclaimed their music would not be "put in a box" and that was the understatement of the evening.

Accompanied by an amazing live band and two back-up girls under the musical direction of Jared "Red" Jacobs, who produced the group's wonderful e.p. cd (available at CD Baby and Amazon), it was a privilege for me to be at this performance (along with friend, club impresario Nick Lion).

The night's set, like the six-track recording, opened with the dance-club-ready, gospel-influenced "The Source" and ended with "Did I Forget to Say Thank You?" The ladies took turns on lead vocals, running the gamut from house to funk-rock.

Personal favorites of the evening included "Wallflower," "Hollywood" (featuring rapper Peter Gunz) and the wry "Rabbit in a Pot" (influenced by the film Fatal Attraction). Add to these the bonus of hearing Inaya sing her house classic, "Horny," live. That song segued into a gospel-influenced cover of "Gypsy Woman" that gave me goosebumps! While Inaya handled the refrains as only she can, Toni and Ria provided the classic girl group-styled chorus of la-da-dees and -das.

It was apparent the three divas (and band) were having as good a time as we, the audience, within the cozy, brick walls of The Village Underground. The club not only boasts a friendly and efficient staff, its sound system and lighting are top-notch. Three incredible female voices last night turned the venue into a true NYC happening.