June 28, 2006
Editor's Picks
MUSIC
Sunoco Welcome America! Festival
Lionel Richie with Fantasia Barrino: Tues., July 4, 8:30-11pm. Free. Philadelphia Museum of Art, 26th St. and the Pkwy. Ohio Players: Sat., July 1, 6:30-9:30pm. Free. Great Plaza at Penn's Landing, Columbus Blvd. and Chestnut St. www.americasbirthday.com
Is Lionel Richie seriously the same guy who fronted the Commodores? I mean, really-Brickhouse? Machine Gun?
Nonetheless, having embarked upon the Sting route over the past two decades, Richie has not only inadvertently dissed the Commodores' output, but he's somehow managed to precariously perch himself in a Clintonian position, quietly threatening the fruits of his previous endeavors.
Thank God for the Ohio Players. This is the same gang that's sure to once again save the face of the '70s funk movement by displaying their Bill Withersesque musical one-upsmanship by scattering the goodness of their anthemish "Rollercoaster," and perhaps a lick or two of "Fire" around some preconceived commercialized rendering of "Skin Tight."
When all is said and done, however, the true blue lights shine through. They're not based on K-Mart, Costco or any Sam Walton-rooted enterprise. Instead they're all about the funk and the fireworks.
In fact, it's about the here and now-and isn't that the keystone of freedom? Or did I miss that day in middle school? (Joshua Valocchi)
No comments:
Post a Comment