This didn’t feel like the usual Pacer Center gala. To be sure, the live auction dragged on too long (Pacer is a great cause, helping kids w disabilities). But, for a change, the crowd on Saturday at the Mpls Convention Center really partied. In fact, the area in front of the stage was packed by the second song (everyone could smell the incense burning onstage0. The aisles up front were jammed with dancers and partiers. Maybe Earth Wind & Fire just drew a younger crowd than the usual Pacer fare of Lionel Richie, Aretha Franklin and Michael Bolton.

 After a few songs, the security guard cleared the aisles and the area in the front of the stage, and the dancers were relegated to the side aisles. It was a relatively short 70-minute set but it was a winner. With three original members and a large cast, EWF offered a very entertaining, very rewarding mix of party jams, ballads and sophisticated jazz-soul musicianship. Singer Philip Bailey has gotten paunchy but his falsetto is in fine shape. Bassist Verdine White remains a high-energy machine (and how bout those fringed slacks). Smooth and energetic David Whitworth did a commendable job in the Maurice White role as alternate lead singer. (Maurice, the group’s founder and leader, has Parkinson’s.) 

Here’s the set list; please help eliminate the question marks:

1. Boogie Wonderland 2. Sing a Song 3. Shining Star 4. Sun Goddess?? 5. Serpentine Fire 6. ??? 7. After the Love Has Gone 8. Reasons 9. Got To Get You into My Life 10. Fantasy 11. September Song/Let’s Groove     Encore: 12. That’s the Way of the World

What did you think of the show? Please post your comments here:

This entry was posted on Sunday, April 27th, 2008 at 1:11 am and is filed under Concerts, Main. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.