Earth, Wind & Fire have been around for 41 years and the band (including original members Verdine White, Philip Bailey and Ralph Johnson) paid a visit to the Western New York area this past Saturday night.
A band that encompasses many different genres of music, enjoyed a sold out performance at the Seneca Events Center. Opening up with one of their biggest hits in “Boogie Wonderland,” they had the crowd shaking and dancing right from the start. With Bailey’s vocals and White’s stage presence, they drove the Earth, Wind & Fire ship the entire night. Johnson added some background vocals and percussion throughout as well.
Bailey had the ultimate comment of the night as he stated how the next song “might not have been a top 10 in the charts but is on our hearts,” as the band went into “Serpentine Fire.” He also showed his range on songs like “Reasons.”
Earth, Wind & Fire slowed things down as stools were brought out and a stellar version of “After the Love” was delivered. Besides the original members previously mentioned, the band also included two percussionists, two guitarists, a drummer, a three piece horn section and one keyboardist.
The band still has what it takes to perform at a high level as a two hour show of amazing musicianship was displayed in Niagara Falls, NY.
Set List:
Boogie Wonderland
Sing a Song
Shining Star
Serpentine Fire
Sun Goddess
Gratitude
Saturday Night On Your Face
Kalimba Story
Evil
Head to the Sky
Devotion
That’s the Way of the World
Love’s Holiday
Can’t Hide Love
After the Love
Reasons
Got To Get You Into My Life (The Beatles cover)
Fantasy
September
Let’s Groove
Encore:
Mighty Mighty
In the Stone
We would like to thank Tony Astran from the Seneca Allegany Casino for the tickets and Mark Young from The Fame Factory for the photo pass so BackstageAxxess could review the show.
