Concert Review: Lionel Richie + Earth, Wind, & Fire
Lionel Richie
Review & Photos by Victoria Allen / Lionel Richie Gallery / Earth, Wind, & Fire Gallery
Austin was the last stop on Lionel Richie's "Sing a Song All Night Long" tour and he made sure the crowd did just that. Richie wanted to end the tour with a bang. With Earth, Wind, & Fire as his supporting opener and many spectacular displays, the performance was definitely one to remember. The seats were filled at the Moody Center and the night featured many hit tunes!
Earth, Wind, & Fire
Earth, Wind, & Fire gave a powerful performance. For the younger generations, I'm not talking about the Avatar. Earth, Wind, & Fire have been together since 1969 and their soulful, disco tunes are highly recognized world-wide. The crowd couldn't help but dance when the group played many of their phenomenal hits like "September," "Let’s Groove," and "Boogie Wonderland." Hearing the group sing live and full force with instrumental support was an unmatched experience. Everyone was standing up, clapping and grooving to the music!
The lights dimmed as footage from years of shows played across every projector in the room. Suddenly the stage was engulfed in fog and Lionel Richie made his way down center stage. The amazing entrance had everyone standing in anticipation. The moment he appeared on stage everyone was clapping and cheers were ringing out of all directions.
The set featured a multitude of special effects. The first one happened three songs into the concert, when a beautiful, white piano rose from below the floor. Richie made his way over to the piano while entertaining fans with some witty crowd work. He then performed an extended, solo rendition of Easy. The 1977 hit was originally performed by the Commodores, which is a soul band Lionel Richie was a part of for many years.
Richie shared many anecdotes throughout his concert. He talked about a previous collaboration with Diana Ross before singing his tune, Endless Love. He also reminisced about being in the Commodores and followed it up with the group's chart topping hit, Brick House. The set included explosive fire pyrotechnics that really added to the impact of the show.
One of the most memorable moments of the night came when Richie shared the story of co-writing with Michael Jackson during the production for “We Are the World.” The iconic song featured a massive collaboration between 45 legendary artists. When Lionel Richie sang the chorus, there wasn't a soul in sight not singing along. He mentioned that everyone will experience life and death, which is why "coming together" for moments like this are truly important. This message resonated with many in attendance as they held their lights high and swayed together.
Earth, Wind, & Fire and Lionel Richie put on an epic concert that included a monumental setlist. For most, the show made for an unforgettable night and was truly a blast from the past. Richie ended the concert on a perfect note by performing his highly anticipated hit, “All Night Long.” It was the best way to close out his "Sing a Song All Night Long" tour.