Earth Wind and Fire Hammersmith Carling Apollo

It’s been a while. If memory serves me correctly, it’s five years since the band’s last live showing here in the UK. Their mentor and leader, Maurice White may no longer be a part of the touring band but his presence, in spirit, is omnipotent tonight.

But as the band walk on to rapturous applause and break into ‘Boogie Wonderland’, the talking point is very much Verdine White’s cat suit of bright ochre spandex with furry white cuffs and knee length boots! He’s looking hot not least because he is also the dance troupe tonight, ducking and diving through every bar of the music, the consummate entertainer!

The show is essentially a showcase of EWF’s finest moments from a career that has spanned more than thirty years. From the splendours of early songs like ‘Mighty mighty’ and ‘Evil’ right through to their last major UK hit and dance floor filler ‘Let’s groove’, we are treated to a evening of magnificence, magic and music.

As ever the highlights are many and varied from Philip Bailey’s searing vocal virtuoso on ‘Reasons’; David Whitworth’s rendition of ‘You can’t hide love’; the whole band’s walk through on Alicia Keys’ ‘You don’t know my name’ as the background for the introductions to the members of the band; ‘Shining star’ which epitomises the band’s unique blend of melody, harmony and raw groove; and, of course, the encore ‘That’s the way of the world’ – timeless, an undiscovered classic.

Hopefully we have not heard the last from EWF. Hurry back when you can!

Set list: Boogie wonderland/ System of survival; Jupiter; Getaway; Serpentine fire; ?; Got to get you into my life; You can’t hide love; I’ll write a song for you; After the love has gone; Getaway instrumental; Reasons; Devotion; Sing a song; Shining star; Fantasy; September/ Evil; Let’s groove; Mighty mighty. Encore - That’s the way of the world.

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howardtowers.com by Alan Howard Email