Time to Sing A Song with Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire All Night Long!!

Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL 26AUG2023

Arena tours stopping in Tampa, FL is nothing new. The city has welcomed some of the biggest and best tours for decades. With its gorgeous location in downtown Tampa and amazing access for bands coming from or going to Miami, it is a natural stop for some of the biggest and best tours. So when Lionel Richie and Earth Wind & Fire announced they would be coming to Amalie Arena on August 26th, 2023, the tickets sold quickly, and the show was officially sold out.

The multi-generational crowd packed the arena, even selling out the seats to the side and slightly behind the stage!! Kicking off the night were the mighty elements of the universe, Earth, Wind, & Fire. As someone who grew up listening to them while riding with my dad on weekends, I have more fond memories of this band than many others.

Original members Verdine White on bass and vocals, Philip Bailey Sr. on lead vocals and percussion, and Ralph Johnson also on percussion and vocals haven’t lost a step. Completing the sound were the other members Philip Bailey Jr. on percussion and vocals, B. David Whitworth on percussion, Myron McKinley on keyboards & musical director, John Paris on drums, Morris O’Connor playing lead guitar, and Serg Dimitrijevic mastering the rhythm guitar. 

Kicking off with “Shining Star,” White took control of the stage, as his bass rang out across the arena, and he commanded the stage. Bailey Sr.’s interaction with the audience got people up and dancing all over. He and Johnson spent a good chunk of the evening playing up with the fans, including getting the arena to be lit by cellphones as he introduced “Reasons.”

Singing along from my seat by this point, the concert flooded me with emotions and memories that you just can’t put a price on. Keeping that feeling going through “After the Love Has Gone” and “Fantasy” (as well as a few others) it was easy to see why the arena was packed from the first notes. Even after all these years, these three are keeping the elements alive and the rest of the band plays perfectly to keep time with any changes the core members want.

Introducing the band before launching into “Boogie Wonderland,” they made use of the full catwalk stage, and the air was simply electric with excitement. When “September” played through…The arena came alive with an excitement that took the set to a whole new level. As my wife perfectly explained it, “It’s a weird way to describe it, but you could almost feel the emotions of everyone around you with this song.

There was a mix of happiness, excitement, and sadness too. But all the emotions blended together to create the feeling of being here and experiencing this song at this very moment. It was lovely.” The 16-song set was a great mix of hits, with a few hidden gems and a bushel of talent along the way!

Headlining and following that amazing band was Lionel Richie. In a subtle and almost sensuous nod to the overwhelming the senses that Earth, Wind, & Fire brought the audience, Richie opened with “Hello” in a very soft rendition of the already touching song.

Coming up from a lift at the front of the catwalk, smoke filled the stage as brilliant white backlights hit the stage in pockets. The soft soulful lines of the song carried across the arena as people took a moment to sing along and make an introduction to the maestro himself. 

Telling the audience “Alright, let’s get this party started!” the stage lit up, and just like that we were “Running With the Night.” Working the crowd, he complimented the audience on their loudness, and told the youngsters “What you are going to see tonight; it is how crazy grown folk are. Tonight, you are going to believe your mother. You are going to see how your mother can be,” as he pointed to a few ladies near the catwalk. While people laughed at this statement, it was not all that far from the truth. 

Transitioning into “Easy/My Love,” Richie started exploring the catwalk even more as he walked away from his piano towards the end of the song. Joined by his saxophone player, guitarist, and bassist at separate points, he mentioned he had not been to Tampa in some time, asked to be played to so it would sound like he was being chased down the street.” They nailed the combo they wanted, and the audience ate it up.

Doing some more interaction, he let the fans know that he had the best seat in the house as he could see everyone. He also reminded the audience, “My job is to warm them up, your job is to get them home. I’m just a servant.”

This also tipped the cap towards his next point. In his opinion, being called “Mister” conveys a level of respectability. So when the new generation calls him simply “Lionel” it brings him a deep sense of joy as it seems to remind him of being younger.

No show from Lionel Richie would be complete without paying homage to the historical career he enjoyed with The Commodores. A medley of “Fancy Daner,” “Sweet Love,” “Lady You Bring Me Up,” and “Just To Be Close” was a great way to get things going and bring the crowd on a journey through time. Teasing “Endless Love” by mentioning Diana Ross had many hoping and ready for her to join him, but alas she did not.

However, he reminded the audience “There’s probably 30,000-35,000 Dianas here tonight!” as he asked them to sing her part with him. 

The energy needed to go up from there. With help from a little pyro, a medley of “Brick House,” “Skintight,” and “Fire” got the crowd back on their feet and dancing. When he got to “Say You, Say Me” another piano rose from the front of the stage.

The lighting transcended time and transported you back to 1986. It’s a powerful emotion to hear this song. A quick costume change and reemergence from under the stage, and another singalong of “We Are The World” came.

With the red sequined jacket, Richie had people singing along, including my neighbors and myself who were all doing the Bob Dylan “quiet mutter” singing to the rhythm. Closing with an extended “All Night Long” the tour left no corner of his career untouched.

The tour now rolls into Austin, TX on August 29th, crosses through the West, and ends on September 16th, with a three-night residency in Vegas coming up in October as well!!!