Nile Rodgers and Chic - Brightens up Bristol Harbour

*****
'Good Times' and Soul enhancing music on Bristol Harbourside 

Nile Rodgers and Chic ***** Nile Rodgers first formed Chic in 1972 and shortly after arranged a gig at Bristol Harbourside which has been delayed once or twice and finally took place in 2022, well ok this is a slight exaggeration unsurprisingly it was planned for 2020 and the rest is history as they say. But hey were here now so let’s have a party, Nile was keen to start one. From the moment they came you can see this a show not just a concert, ‘Chic Cheer’ was the first song. Bristol "clap your hands" was the instruction and the seemingly capacity crowd duly obliged. 

Next song up was ‘Dance, Dance, Dance’ once again moat of the crowd copied the implied instruction instantly. What was instantly noticeable from our vantage point was how mixed the crowd was from a ten year olds to pensioners all of whom seem to know all the songs. Not forgetting of course the man centre stage is now 70 years young and taking everyone’s attention. In trademark style he wore a suit completely white while the rest of band were in black. Apart from of course the two wonderful female singers who were decked out in green and leading the onstage dance, which you can see in the photo's.

I can honestly say this is one of the best atmospheres of any gig on the front and I’ve been to many in the last ten years or so. The hits just kept coming, most written and produced before even I was born but these songs are part of musical culture. Whilst being aware he had written songs for a lot or people I must admit to being ignorant of quite how many, he said every song he played tonight he had written or produced and that over time had included songs for Sister Sledge, Lady Gaga, Diana Ross and more. Now was the time to treat to some of them as he played some of his number ones ‘I’m coming Out’, ‘Upside Down’, ‘He’s the greatest Dancer’ and ‘We are Family’ all in quick succession it seemed pretty much a live history of disco all attributed to one man.

We moved through history a bit to the early 1980’s next with Madonna tracks including ‘Material Girl’ and ‘Like a Virgin' yet more classic tunes he’s worked on or wrote. Next up was ‘Modern Love’ by Bowie I appreciate I am listing songs more than normal, but it’s not often you go to a gig and know pretty much the whole set, an amusing aside was seeing people running to the toilet and back to not miss much of the show. Sister Sledge track ‘Lost in Music’ I think was symbolic of how the whole of the crowd by the river were feeling tonight. ‘Get Lucky’ was a good reminder that he is not just a heritage act, as the awful phrase goes, but has quite recently been bothering the charts too. Although he poignantly reminded us of the frailties of even the most long-lasting people in revealing when ‘Get Lucky’ was released he had just completed treatment for Cancer, even more lucky he is now completely free of it. 

In a bit of self-evaluation, I realised as an eighteen year-old when I first starting writing about music, I would have turned my nose up at a gig like this, only wanting to see certain genres but I realised I must have missed a lot as this is probably the foundation of a lot of music. ‘Notorious’ by Duran Duran also showed the range of genres he has been involved with; Disco may have been the foundation, but his influence has been wide ranging. From somebody who has been involved with half a billion albums sold you’d think he might like to find a nice beach to retire by, but you can tell playing is still very much his passion. 

The ending was a bit Vegas with an elongated introducing the band section, but they all deserve the recognition. Nile genuinely seemed lost for words at the end with the ovation he received when he was introduced. The final trio of songs was quite a way to finish ‘Let’s Dance’ had the crowd literally jumping. Then it was back to Chic songs and probably the most famous to end it off ‘Le Freak’ and finally ‘Good Times’ which includes the line “happy days are here again” and after tonight it really does, finally, feel like they are. Music is good for the soul and when played well and with passion can just make you feel good, if you ever need to test that get along to a Nile Rogers and Chic gig.

Review by Jon Cooper and Photo's by Steve Owen (Icarus Photography)

Nile Rodgers and Chic - Setlist
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Chic Cheer
Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)
Everybody Dance
I want your Love
I'm Coming Out / Upside Down (Diana Ross Cover)
He's the greatest Dancer / We are Family (Sister Sledge Cover)
Like a Virgin / Material Girl / Modern Love (Madoona Cover)
Spacer (Sheila and B. Devotion Cover)
Notorious (Duran Duran Cover)
Lost in Music (Sister Sledge Cover)
Thinking of You (Sister Sledge Cover)
My feet keep Dancing (Chic Cover)
Get Lucky (Daft Punk Cover)
My forbidden Lover (Chic Cover)
Let's Dance (David Bowie Cover)
Le Freak (Chic Cover)
Good Times (Chic Cover)

Check Out! a live Performance Video from Glastonbury 2017 of 'Good Times' Below...