Concert Review—

Earth, Wind & Fire Provides Palace Subjects Many Reasons To Celebrate

By John Voket

If fans attending Waterbury’s Palace Theater Anniversary celebration on December 30 thought headliners Earth, Wind & Fire were fired up during the show, I wonder what the mood was like just a few hours later when band members learned about their two Grammy nominations.

Early on the morning of December 31, Earth, Wind & Fire members learned they had secured nominations for Best R&B Album for their latest release, Illumination, as well as for Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who were nominated for Best Production Non-Classical for the single “Pure Gold.”

It seems appropriate that the back to back Grammy announcements capped a fantastic 35th anniversary year for this popular classic pop/funk act. EWF kicked off 2004 early last January appearing with Kenny G on The Tonight Show debuting a brand new selection from their soon-to-be-released album Illumination.

Throughout the year the band continued in a high-profile mode appearing at the Super Bowl pre-game concert, on the 47th Annual Grammy Awards broadcast, performing at a relief concert for Asian tsunami victims, having their material featured in the motion pictures Roll Bounce and Be Cool, as well as performing in Moscow, at Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting, and for a very special Tribute on Ice special filmed in Bridgeport and televised on NBC last November.

The band’s recent three date mini-tour started off in New York City and ended on New Year’s Eve at Turning Stone Casino in upstate New York. But the local highlight of this short junket had to be headlining a gala and concert celebrating the first anniversary of The Palace.

With about half the ticket holders arriving two hours before the show to attend a celebratory party, the band could be heard running through its sound check in the adjacent Webster Hall. This only heightened the excitement for the crowd that appeared to be heavily populated with attendees age 30-plus who undoubtedly grew up listening to the hits that emanated from this Chicago-based ensemble.

According to the band’s fan site, 35 years into their musical journey circling the globe, and after earning eight Grammy Awards, four American Music Awards, eight double platinum/Top 10 Pop albums, eight #1 R&B singles, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a year 2000 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Lifetime Achievement honors from the NAACP, ASCAP and BET, “Earth, Wind & Fire [EWF] and their music remains as inspirational and influential as ever.”

The current lineup still features EWF co-founders Ralph Johnson, bassist Verdine White (younger brother of co-founder, long-time frontman and spiritual mentor Maurice), and Philip Bailey, who still delivers occasional samples of his four-octave vocal range. The current configuration is rounded out by two talented guitarists, two back-up vocalists/percussionists, a lead drummer, and keyboardist/musical director Myron McKinley

In addition, Earth, Wind & Fire’s trademark staccato accents provided many high points of the set, and were deftly delivered by one of the hottest three-piece horn sections in the business. The combination of those infectious horns and the many hits EWF performed for the enthusiastic crowd added up to a memorable night for every person in the Palace.

The show opened with a warm-up number to get all the dials and meters in sync, then the three original members appeared in a haze of fog and swirling lights, kicking into “Lovely People,” from the new album. From that point on it was off to the races with the hits “Shining Star,” “Saturday Night,” “Boogie Wonderland” and “Serpentine Fire,” bringing the sold-out crowd repeatedly to its feet.

Bailey then took a brief interlude to talk about the African miniature piano, the Kalimbe, which was prominently featured early on in the group’s material.

“This is the original Kalimbe that the band used, and it was passed on to me by Maurice White,” Bailey told the audience. He then proceeded to play a two minute solo with very minimal backup, showcasing the amazing versatility of the mellow sounding instrument.

After a couple more dips into “Illumination” including a rendition of the aforementioned “Pure Gold,” EWF returned to the hit machine rolling out “After the Love Has Gone,” a spiritually-infused medley that included “Reasons,” “Head to the Sky,” and Devotion.”

As the set continued, the band showed no sign of losing momentum, especially with White smiling broadly and running around the stage like a madman while pumping out alternating snappy and deep funky basslines.

The evening wrapped up with a nonstop string of hits throwing back everyone to the ‘70s, and literally turned the Palace into a giant disco for more than 15 minutes as the crowd sang and danced to “Sing A Song,” “September,” “Fantasy,” “Let’s Groove” and “Getaway.”

And as the band prepared to get away to what would be just a short few hours before they became Grammy nominees once again, Earth, Wind & Fire couldn’t resist returning for an encore of “That’s the Way of the World.”

With the incredible energy the seasoned members of the band continuing to sustain so remarkably after 35 years, it’s no wonder that Earth, Wind & Fire continues to sell out halls and coliseums.

And it’s nothing short of wonderful that EWF continues to rake in world-class exposure and Grammy nominations decades after many acts that were topping the pop charts just a few months ago have faded into hazy memory.