Live Report : Chic/Earth Wind & Fire, Philadelphia (01/08/2017)

When the musical elements of the universe, Earth, Wind & Fire join together with an eloquent sound that is Chic, a mesmerizing musical experience forms.  Earth, Wind & Fire along with Chic feat. Nile Rodgers are currently traveling throughout the United States to bring audiences a night of soul, disco, and funk that will leave fans with sore feet the following day. The 2054 Tour surely conveys a type of concert that would be seen 37 years from now due to its futuristic stage effects that compliment the timeless music created from the two iconic bands.

Chic’s presence on stage exactly reflects the meaning of the band’s name.  The band, led by Nile Rodgers has the appearance of a pristine jazz club band but with an energetic twist. Nile Rodgers narrates the band’s entire performance discussing the development and significances of each song that he helped create.  Chic not only delivers their classic hits but also dives into songs that were created through Rodgers’ collaborations with such artists as Daft Punk, David Bowie, Sister Sledge, and Diana Ross. Chic is truly a spectacle to see with Nile Rodgers’ funky chops on his legendary “Hitmaker” Stratocaster, bass player Jerry Barnes’ superb skill of generating alluring beats, and the heavenly voices of singers Folami Ankoanda and Kimberly Davis. Chic not only creates a “Good Time” for concert goers but captivates the audience with their individual and unique skills as musicians, having audience members constantly directing their attention to different members of the group throughout the show.

Chic feat. Nile Rodgers

The second Earth, Wind & Fire takes the stage, audience members are surrounded by sounds and visual effects that would make it appear as if they were transported to another planet. Earth, Wind & Fire consists of eleven talented musicians with three remaining members from the original group : Verdine White, Ralph Johnson and Philip Bailey. The band performance is nothing less than extraordinary. Philip Bailey not only astonishes the audience with his magnificent voice and vocal range but adds the group’s distinct sound throughout the concert by playing the kalimba. Bass player Verdine White causes an irresistible sensation for fans to dance as he constantly boogies around the stage thumping his bass. Throughout the performance, each musician in the band takes turns stunning the audience with solo instrumental and vocal performances. It’s truly a family affair as Philip Bailey’s son, Philip Bailey Jr., assists in background vocals as a member of the group while the band pays tribute to the founder of the group and brother of Verdine White, Maurice White.  Earth, Wind & Fire truly makes a statement with their performance by showing how an old school band that has been around for over forty years only gets better with age like a fine red wine.

Over the years, each band has created a memorable soundtrack for people’s lives. The 2054 Tour is sure to generate pleasant reflections for long-time fans that grew up during each band’s prime, while also creating a night to remember for everyone in attendance, no matter their age. We can only hope that when we reach the year 2054, performances and musicians like this will still exist.

Verdine White, Philip Bailey & Ralph Johnson (Earth Wind & Fire)

Adam Kita

Chic Set List

• Everybody Dance
• Dance, Dance, Dance
• I Want Your Love
• I’m Coming Out
• Upside Down
• He’s The Greatest Dancer
• We Are Family
• Get Lucky
• Let’s Dance
• Le Freak
• Good Times

Earth, Wind & Fire Set List

• Shining Star
• Get Away / Let Your Feelings Show
• Sing a Song
• On Your Face
• Serpentine Fire
• Kalimba Story
• Evil
• Can’t Hide Love
• Head to the Sky / Devotion
• That’s the Way of the World
• After the Love Has Gone
• Reasons
• Power / Africano
• September
• Boogie Wonderland
• Let’s Groove
• Fantasy / In the Stone

Live report : The Revolution, Philadelphia (Theater of the Living Arts 04/30/2017)

Parmi toutes les performances des cérémonies d’Awards et les nombreux artistes essayant de rendre hommage à Prince, son plus grand tribute live parcourt en ce moment les États-Unis sous la forme de son backing-band le plus célèbre, The Revolution.  Plus de 30 ans après la séparation du groupe, ses membres sont toujours aussi en place. Ils se sont même améliorés avec l’âge. Dr. Fink et Lisa Coleman électrisent l’auditoire grâce à la maitrise de leurs claviers tandis que Bobby Z. continue de marteler le rythme qui menace de faire sécrouler le Living Theater de Philadelphie. Les fans dansent et se pincent presque en voyant Brown Mark slapper le funk et Wendy Melvoin distille des licks de guitare en démontrant à la fois son talent personnel et son lien très profond avec la musique de Prince.  Afin de renforcer l’énergie vocale de Brown Mark et Wendy, le groupe a invité Stokley Williams de Mint Condition (et natif du Minnesota), que Wendy présente comme un des chanteurs préférés de Prince. Stokley contribue à la performance en reproduisant le falsetto des hits mémorables, et il ajoute également sa propre voix instantanément identifiable à d’autre classiques pour le grand plaisir de ses (nouveaux) fans.

Tout au long de la performance, Wendy lutte contre les larmes en racontant ses souvenirs de Prince et l’impact que le musicien a exercé sur leurs vies. Lisa et Wendy rendent un hommage personnel en interprétant en duo vocal/instrumental de leur création commune “Sometimes it Snows in April”.  Le public a aussi droit à une surprise inattendue lorsque le groupe se plonge dans le fameux Vault, en jouant “Destiny” et “Roadhouse Garden”.  Cette soirée est une célébration et donne à chacun l’impression de se retrouver dans un club de Minneapolis au coeur des années 1980

Malheureusement, nous n’aurons plus l’occasion d’assister à une autre performance sidérante de Prince.  Par chance, The Revolution a trouvé le moyen de réjouir ses fans tout en célébrant sa mémoire. Grâce à eux, le Minneapolis Sound n’a pas fini de résonner aux quatre coins du globe.

Adam Kita

• 

  Brown Mark and Dr. Fink

• 

  Brown Mark and Wendy Melvoin

• 

  Brown Mark & Stockley Williams

• 

  Wendy Melvoin

Setlist

• Computer Blue
• America
• Mountains
• Automatic
• Take Me With You
• Uptown
• D.M.S.R.
• Destiny
• Roadhouse Garden
• Raspberry Beret
• Erotic City
• Let’s Work
• 1999
• Paisley Park
• Controversy/ Mutiny
• Sometimes it Snows in April
• Let’s Go Crazy
• Delirious
• Kiss
• When Doves Cry
• Purple Rain

Encore

• I Would Die 4 U
• Baby I’m a Star

Vidéo : Pharrell Williams en concert au Made in America Festival

Le week-end dernier, Pharrell Williams participait au festival Made in America organisé à Philadelphie. Le super producteur a passé en revue les hits de sa longue carrière : des Neptunes à N*E*R*D en passant par les tubes de son dernier opus G I R L. Revivez son concert dans son intégralité dans la vidéo ci-dessus.