Two bands, from the same era, on the charts at similar time periods, playing together. Two bands collaborating for one tour, seems to be something more common. Chicago, and Earth, Wind, & Fire, revisited their hit songs that came (for Chicago in the late '60s/early '70s, and in the '80s), and Earth, Wind, & Fire, in the '70s. Each band, has three respective original members, still a part of their ensembles. Folks, it was the encore, the blew the roof off the Xcel Energy Center on Saturday night! Both bands, sang on each others songs. The encore would alternate, between a Chicago number, and an Earth, Wind, & Fire number.
So, this encore included EWF's "September", followed by a funky, spirited, jam by Chicago, called "Free" (an ode to the memories of the '60s), Earth, Wind, & Fire's "Sing A Song", came next, before, Chicago asked the relevant, and yet common question, "Does Anybody Know What Time It Is?" Earth, Wind, & Fire's "Shining Star", and Chicago's "25 Or 6 To 4" book-ended a fabulous concert. To rewind, and set the stage, the two bands, came out together, for a three song opener including "Beginnings", "In The Stone" (the first of the Earth, Wind, & Fire songs played), and "Dialogue Part I & II.)
Earth, Wind, & Fire played solo, during the middle of the show, and played other chestnuts from their catalog. Songs like "Boogie Wonderland", "Serpentine Fire", "Devotion", "That's The Way of The World", "After The Love Has Gone", a cover of The Beatles' "Got To Get You Into My Life", and "Let's Groove", put the audience, in a jovial mood, which is one reason why Earth, Wind, & Fire, are still so popular, particularly with fans who grew up, in the 1970s, during the heyday of the band. Phil Bailey's singing, and falsetto, Vernon White's singing and bass playing, and more vocals from Phil Bailey Jr., Ralph Johnson on drums and vocals, and, searing tandem lead guitar work from Serg Dimitrijevic, and Morris O'Connor.
Chicago's songs, including many from their early days, with horns, and also, in their more pop oriented era in the 1980s. Younger fans, were immediately familiar with pop ballads such as "You're The Inspiration", and "Hard Habit To Break", which, thankfully, were given more spunk, via the horn section, including Lee Loughnane on trumpet and flugelhorn, James Pankow on trombone, and Walter Parazaider on saxophones and flute. Their more classic numbers, were also quite familiar, such as "Does Anybody Know What Time It Is?", the ballad "Colour My World", and the psychedelic rockers "I Just Wanna Be Free" and "I'm A Man" (written and made equally famous by Chicago's contemporaries, the Spencer Davis Group).
As mentioned, "Free", "Does Anybody Know What Time It Is", and "25 Or 6 To 4", were performed as part of the encore, with Earth, Wind, & Fire. The music of these two bands, transcends generations, and the two bands each looked like they were having lots of fun, playing together. A win win, for the bands, and their fans.
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