Concert Reviews

Lionel Richie at Scotiabank Arena

August 12, 2023

Sometimes you just need a good palette cleanse.

I was at Queens of the Stone Age on Friday August 4th, and it was intense. Heavy, and not just in the sense of the music they play being quasi-stoner metal. Josh Homme has gone through a lot these past few years, and admitted more than a few times that performing is one of the only things that helps him deal with the emotional baggage he has to carry.

But enough about them. Four days later I was at the absolute opposite end of the spectrum by seeing Lionel Richie with Earth, Wind and Fire at Scotiabank Arena. In all fairness, Mr. Ritchie has not known the meaning of the words can’t slow down for quite some time. You can say you’ve achieved a life of luxury when you can book a tour in between taping seasons of American Idol.

Lionel may be privileged, but don’t you dare say it hasn’t been earned. The man has been a non-stop hit factory since he started getting the funk out with the Commodores in the late-’70s, and he isn’t afraid to brag about it more than a little in front of an adoring crowd ready to let loose and have fun on a warm weeknight.

The twelve(!) members of EW&F more than obliged in terms of getting the party started, thanks in no small part to the energy brought courtesy of the three “O.G.”’s including singer Philip Bailey. Boogie Wonderland helped get everyone off their feet as well. And yes, for those wondering they made sure to close by reminding us that September and the end of summer is just around the corner 🙁

Despite this fact, it is tough to be down on or hate on Lionel, given how responsible he is for putting so much greatness out into the world. I dare anyone to attend a show like the one in Toronto and not be thoroughly impressed by the sheer body of material. You KNOW you know every single song; if not you yourself then surely your parents. Lionel looked great too and was in high spirts handing out musical goodness that made us all forget any troubles we may have for at least a couple of hours. I mean c’mon, he opened with Hello and ends off with All Night Long it doesn’t get much more iconic than that!

 

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About author

Gilles LeBlanc literally fell into “alternative rock” way back at Lollapalooza 1992, where he got caught in his first mosh pit watching some band named Pearl Jam. Since then, he’s spent the better part of his life looking for music to match the liberating rush he felt that day, with a particular chest-beating emphasis on stuff coming out of his native Canada. You can follow his alter ego on Twitter: @ROCKthusiast.