Earth, Wind & Fire were a funky force of nature with Chicago in Phoenix
Chicago had just welcomed fans to Footprint Center in Phoenix with "Introduction" and "Dialogue (Part I & 11)" on Thursday, Aug. 29, when James Pankow, a founding member whose trombone-twirling antics have become a key part of the live show, took a moment to reflect on what a thrill it was to share a stage with "our old friends and amazing musical brothers, Earth, Wind & Fire."
The two groups have done several co-headlining tours since 2004, a horn-fueled summit that inevitably ends in both bands joining forces on a very crowded stage to play each other's songs.
"It's going to be insane," Pankow promised. "So save your energy. In the meantime, however, get set for a lot of hit songs."
A lot of hit songs, as it turns out, may have been an understatement.
Earth, Wind & Fire and Chicago setlist: All the songs they played in Phoenix
Chicago played their greatest hits and more challenging material
Chicago's set went heavy on the hits, from 1969's "Beginnings" (which failed to chart until their label re-released it two years later, by which point they'd had their first three Top 10 singles) through "Saturday in the Park," "Just You 'n' Me," "Call on Me," "Old Days," "If You Leave Me Now," "Hard to Say I'm Sorry," "Hard Habit to Break" and "You're the Inspiration," all before ending the set with "Feelin' Stronger Every Day."
They also dusted off the suite that took up nearly the entire second side of 1970's "Chicago" — "Ballet for a Girlin Buchannon," from which they plucked two early Top 10 singles, "Make Me Smile" and "Colour My World."
They've gone through countless lineup changes in the years since their first taste of chart success with "Make Me Smile." Only Pankow, keyboard-playing singer Robert Lamm and trumpet player Lee Loughnane remain. Other than that, the longest-serving member of the current touring lineup is Walfredo Reyes Jr., their drummer, who joined in 2012.
But it's a solid touring unit, more than capable of navigating the intricate arrangements of their earliest work, which often felt more like progressive rock than the easy-listening ballads that became their stock in trade, with a vocalist, Neil Donell, whose smooth upper register can handle the high notes of their most successful soft-rock ballads, from "If You Leave Me Now" to "Hard to Say I'm Sorry."
The crowd went wild in response to the high note he held for what felt like an eternity on "You're the Inspiration" for obvious reasons. And Lamm, who may be slowing down a bit as he approaches 80, still has the voice to deliver his signature songs, from "Beginnings" and "Does Anybody Know What Time It Is?" to "Saturday in the Park."
They passed the mic around a lot, though. Even Loughnane sang a little lead before the set was through. And by the time they closed with "Feelin' Stronger Every Day," it was clear that the Chicago fans at Footprint Center had been satisfied.
Earth, Wind and Fire kicks off their set with 'Shining Star'
Earth, Wind & Fire and Chicago have some things in common — primarily use of horns and both being formed in Chicago but also the matter of having all their biggest pop successes in the '70s and '80s. There are two specific generations that will definitely see the value in a night devoted to a soundtrack of that chapter of their lives.
At the same time, they're two very different bands, a point made obvious within seconds of Earth, Wind & Fire announcing their arrival with the effervescent funk of "Shining Star," a breakthrough single that remains one of the greatest moments in the history of funk a lifetime later.
We often speak of commanding the stage. But what Earth, Wind & Fire achieved on "Shining Star" at Footprint Center? You could teach a master class in commanding the stage with that performance as the only source material.
Shining Stars: Best Earth, Wind and Fire songs, from 'September' to 'Let's Groove'
And they never looked back in the course of a set that played to all their many strengths, offsetting hits as essential as "Serpentine Fire" and "Saturday Nite" with lesser-known highlights as brilliantly performed as "Let Your Feelings Show," a killer album cut that brought the first side of their final effort of the '70s to an exhilarating close, and their collaboration with jazz great Ramsey Lewis on "Sun Goddess."
Something magical happened just a few songs after "Sun Goddess," though, when Philip Bailey ushered in the awe-inspiring back half of the set with those high notes on "Reasons," the opening salvo of a seamless hit parade that made its way through "After the Love Has Gone," "That's the Way of The World," "Fantasy," "Boogie Wonderland," "Let's Groove," which drew a huge reaction, and the song that now defines their legacy, "September."
It was electrifying, packed with half the classics on our recent countdown of Earth, Wind & Fire's 20 best songs.
Earth, Wind and Fire's current lineup does the hits proud
Like Chicago, Earth, Wind & Fire have been through many lineup changes in the years since "Shining Star," with Bailey, founding bassist Verdine White (whose brother, the late Maurice White, was their visionary bandleader) and singing percussionist Ralph Johnson as the only holdouts from the early days..
The longest-serving members of the current touring band with no connection to the hit years are saxophonist Gary Bias and trombone player Reggie Young, both of whom signed on in 1987. The other members are primarily 21st century add-ons, including singing percussionists Philip Doron Bailey (Bailey's son) and B. David Whitworth.
It's a talented collection of musicians who never make you wonder if they're propping up the three remaining members of the golden age — in part, because those three remaining members of the hit years more than hold their own in the cross-generational mix.
Bailey's vocals Thursday night were beyond reproach, still hitting high notes singers half his age would just assume were made-up notes no human being could actually hit. Verdine White was a force of nature on the bass in ways that should have been quite obvious long before he took that solo. And Johnson was a charismatic presence whose sense of showmanship remains a key component of their live aesthetic.
The full ensemble was a joyous funk and soul revue whose members grooved as one, their movements often synchronized without feeling overly choreographed.
By the time they followed "Fantasy" with "Boogie Wonderland," it was feeling like Earth, Wind & Fire should be the first legacy artists to headline the Super Bowl Halftime Show in ages. They've already got the show together. And their greatest hits still resonate.
The concert ended, as Pankow promised, with the members of both bands joining forces on a six-song encore that started off strong on the Earth, Wind & Fire classic "In the Stone" and ended with crowd-pleasing versions of Earth, Wind & Fire's brilliant reinvention of the Beatles' song "Got to Get You Into My Life" and Chicago's "25 or 6 to 4."
Ed has covered pop music for The Republic since 2007, reviewing festivals and concerts, interviewing legends, covering the local scene and more. He did the same in Pittsburgh for more than a decade. Follow him on X and Instagram @edmasley and on Facebook as Ed Masley. Email him at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Earth, Wind and Fire and Chicago served up all the hits in Phoenix
