Review | Nile Rodgers & Chic at the O2, in London
Find out what we thought of the gig at the O2
By Steve Brown
Words by Simon Button
Nile Rodgers & Chic shows come round more often than Christmas. Last year they headlined Bluesfest at The O2, this summer they played Greenwich Music Time, now they’re back on tour – popping back to The O2 to turn the venue into one giant party.
And I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again: There ain’t no party like a Chic party.
Rodgers is a brilliant guitarist, a fantastic songwriter and one helluva host. A new Chic album came out this year, called ‘It’s About Time’ and quite fabulous, but you wouldn’t have known it from the setlist.
The ultimate crowd-pleaser, Nile focussed instead on Chic’s disco hits like ‘Everybody Dance’, ‘I Want Your Love’ and ‘My Forbidden Lover’ and songs he’s co-written for other artists like Madonna’s ‘Like A Virgin’ and David Bowie’s ‘Let’s Dance’.
The most rousing moment came when vocalist Kimberley Davis did a slow-burn intro for ‘Get Lucky’ before the band – a peerless bunch of musicians who are so much more than just a backing group – ramped it up.
Other highlights included the Diana Ross double whammy of ‘I’m Coming Out’ and ‘Upside Down’ and spirited runs through such Sister Sledge smash hits as ‘Thinking Of You’ and ‘We Are Family’.
A Chic show is now such a well-oiled machine that there were no surprises in the setlist and personally I’d have liked to hear them at least play this year’s ‘Till The World Falls’ as well as 2015’s ‘I’ll Be There’ since they’re as catchy as anything Rodgers did in his disco heyday.
But a Chic show always leaves you on a high, especially when it ends with ‘Le Freak’ followed by ‘Good Times’. It’s like hearing all your favourite tunes at a huge party where ‘Everybody Dance’ isn’t just one of those tunes, it’s also an order that everybody obeys.
Rating: 4/5
For more about Nile Rodgers & Chic visit nilerodgers.com. For great deals on tickets and shows click here.