Chic – Rogers Arena – August 28, 2016
Opening for Duran Duran on Sunday night, Chic got the night off to a rousing start. Founding member Nile Rodgers lead the band and the audience through 4 decades of hits that had the audience on their feet. Ask most people to name a Chic song and they’ll say “Le Freak” which is of course one of their signature tunes but the Chic/Nile Rodgers catalogue is packed with music that has touched everyone. While Chic’s heydays were in the disco era, the 63 year old cancer-survivor has been working steadily since. While all the rest of the original Chic band members have moved on, the new additions respect the sound and power of the group’s hits especially singers Kimberly Davis and Folami Ankoanda.
Kicking off the night with “Everybody Dance” set the tone for the hour long set, everybody danced, and didn’t stop until they left the stage to the disco classic “Good Times”. In between, we were treated to hit after hit from Chic tracks to those written by Rodgers for other artists. Diana Ross hits “I’m Coming Out” and “Upside Down” made way for Sister Sledge’s “He’s The Greatest Dancer” and “We Are Family” then to Daft Punk Grammy award winner “Get Lucky” and in tribute to David Bowie “Let’s Dance” was the hit that sealed Rodgers’ reputation as a hit maker.
No one in the audience seemed to be ready for the Chic set to end, especially those who were brought onstage to join the dance party. Even after an hour it felt like there was much more in the tank from the band. Everyone I spoke to hoped for more from Chic and Nile Rodgers soon. We didn’t have to wait long as the producer/writer put on his guitarist hat once again as he joined Duran Duran on stage for a couple of the tracks he has worked on with the British group.
Chic remains on the road with Duran Duran’s Paper Gods Tour for more dates through North America and hopefully audiences will be able to catch a Chic headlining show in the near future.