Earth, Wind, & Fire Lights Up The Hollywood Bowl With Three-day Fireworks Spectacuar

 

Earth, Wind, & Fire

By Darlene Donloe

Earth, Wind & Fire (EWF) still got it!

The legendary R&B and funk band, which headlined the Hollywood Bowl for a three-day July 4 Fireworks Spectacular (July 2-4), lit up the venue with funk classic after funk classic, accompanied by breathtaking pyrotechnics high above the Hollywood Hills.

The holiday weekend started in true patriotic fashion with Thomas Wilkins leading the LA Philharmonic through several patriotic songs. The orchestra honored various branches of the military by playing the music associated with each branch.

Then, it was time for EWF, led by founding members Philip Bailey, Verdine White, and Ralph Johnson, to make it do what it do.

The band is so tight. The music sounds just like you’re listening to the record. EWF is genuinely one of the best bands – EVER!

It’s always a pleasure to watch Verdine White, the brother of the late co-founder of the group, Maurice White, who passed away on February 4, 2016. He always appears to be having the time of his life. Despite some medical limitations, Verdine was still magical on the bass. Raymond McKinley replaced him for some of the performance.

Bailey’s falsetto is impressive and legendary. An instrument on its own, that excellent vocal range and signature sound were on display throughout the night to the delight of the crowd. 

At 73, Bailey’s voice is still emotive. It is still as clear, pristine, and expressive as it was when the group first charted in 1969.

The group, which now includes Philip Bailey Jr., entertained the packed house with their timeless hits opening with Shining Star, then moving on to Sing A Song, Let’s Groove, Got To Get You Into My Life, Rock That!, Serpentine Fire, Devotion, After the Love Has Gone, I’ll Write A Song For You, Reasons, That’s The Way of the World, Fantasy, Boogie Wonderland, and ending their set with a triumphant finish - the ever popular, September.

Backed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic under Thomas Wilkins, the nine-time Grammy Award winners elevated the evening, fusing full-scale orchestration with their timeless hits.

The group, which has infused some younger blood into the band, still manages to display high energy during their set.

Founding members of EWF - Ralph Johnson, Philip Bailey, and Verdine White

Formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1969, EWF’s music, which appeals to a broader cross-section of listeners, spans multiple genres, including jazz, funk, soul, R&B, pop, Afro-pop, and Latin.  The group, which was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, is among the best-selling bands of all time.  The Hollywood Bowl, with its stunning natural beauty and fantastic acoustics, is the ideal setting for an EWF performance.

The near-flawless weather, the addition of the LA Philharmonic Orchestra, and the fireworks display with a Hollywood Hills backdrop made for a perfect night for a concert.

Earth, Wind & Fire, (July 2-4) Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles.

On the DONLOE SCALE: D (don’t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likeable), O (oh, yeah), and E (excellent), Earth Wind, & Fire at the Hollywood Bowl July 2-4 Fireworks Spectacular gets an E (excellent).