If anyone needed proof that disco isn’t dead, the sight of thousands of glitter-streaked faces singing into the night with Nile Rodgers & CHIC is as undeniable as it gets. Dressed in a baby pink jacket and his trademark white hat, the 69-year-old turned the concrete expanse of Bristol’s Lloyds Amphitheatre into a giant outdoor dancefloor last night (Thursday, July 14).
Even as someone who is usually more of a self-conscious toe-tapper at gigs, I found myself bouncing along and shimmying and shaking with the best of them, surprised by how many songs I knew all the words to despite not considering myself a dedicated fan. It was the second of two consecutive nights they played as part of the Bristol Beacon Presents series, which ends tonight with Belle and Sebastian, and it had been two years in the making thanks to coronavirus delays.
They opened with the funky baseline of Chic Cheer and smashed out a few more of the Chic classics, including Everybody Dance and I Want Your Love, before the setlist turned to Rodgers’ brimming back catalogue of hits. CHIC singer Audrey Martells did Diana Ross justice with her unfaltering cover of I’m Coming Out, and a string of bangers from Sister Sledge followed.
Read more: Nile Rodgers' heartwarming response to Bristol crowd on first night
There were as many sequined and flamboyant disco outfits in the crowd than there were at Elton John’s gig last month, with a mix of generations all enjoying the golden era of disco - from the baby in noise-cancelling headphones asleep on his dad’s chest, to the wrinkly couple bobbing along in sync, and every age in between. Special mention to the 20-something woman having the time of her life near me, who was holding an imaginary microphone every time she sung along with a chorus.
Groups of friends surged together, arms flung over each other’s shoulders, as the drums and keyboard sounded the start of We are Family, before a Madonna medley of Like a Virgin and Material Girl prompted a mass singalong. “Here’s the fun thing about music - tonight it’s my show and I get to play both,” Rodgers announced after recalling the records’ success when they were released in 1984.
He was in a reflective mood as the night continued, introducing Lost in Music as “basically the way I feel every day of my life”. His most poignant revelation was towards the end, when he recalled how his cancer diagnosis inspired the lyrics of Daft Punk’s Get Lucky.
“I’m still cancer free!” he exclaimed to deafening whoops of support from the audience. In a moving moment that I know he has recreated at various locations on stage, he encouraged people to light up their phones and hold them high - “make it look like stars in the sky, because that’s what this song is about”.
From my viewpoint standing on the steps overlooking the sea of people, the spectacle was something I wish my camera could have done justice to.
At points during the two-hour show he reflected on the highs and lows of his career, which now spans some 50 years, and there was some impressive name-dropping as he recalled conversations with some of the A-listers he has worked with. Perhaps more surprisingly, if my ears didn’t fail me, I’m sure he wished Conor McGregor a happy birthday at one point.
But despite his name being singled out on the line-up - Nile Rodgers & CHIC - the night was by no means the ‘Nile Rodgers Show’. He hailed the audience members as “my artists tonight” and you could see the joy as he watched thousands of people sing his lyrics back to him.
Each of the incredible musicians on stage was given their own slot beneath the spotlight, from an awesome saxophone solo to a jaw-dropping demonstration of Kimberly Davis’s vocals. One particular note that she belted out through the harbourside had Rodgers dropping onto one knee at her side and bowing in adoration, as the stunned crowd whooped in appreciation.
The boaters floating in ear shot behind the stage, having moored up for Bristol Harbour Festival today, would be forgiven for thinking Christina Aguilera had turned up. Other throwback bangers from the set list included Duran Duran's Notorious and Modjo's Lady.
The set ended with everyone enthusiastically clapping and stomping along to Good Times, which had a surprise element with a bit of Rapper's Delight woven in. For me the highlight was the penultimate song, Le Freak, which was so much fun it had me wishing it was Wednesday so I could see it all over again the next night.
It seems the feeling was mutual, with Rodgers tweeting at 12.30am this morning: “Thanks @Bristol_Beacon once again for the best night of our lives.”
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