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?*Entertairir '^p* *saHp ^-!gg^^TLgjaff^E^pSp^:;: : ^jjjj^^SsiB. ? 01' ' ~ ' j5W ? i^k-^'^V. : ;^s^>^, "< ' By DOROTHY GRAY SUA Writer For two hours Wednesday ^ flight, the Carolina Coliseum was captivated by the magnetism of Earth, Wind and Fire. At about 8 p.m., the crowd started entering the coliseum for the event. Many people were dressed up for the occasion. There was no opening band, so the wait for Earth, Wind and Fire 1/vvirf 5CUIHCU & auiui lUII^. At about 8:50, the anticipation ended; on the Q| ffttage appeared a gigantic character dressed in a black cape. He resembled Darth Vader of Star Wars, and the music that accompanied his entrance was equally alluring. Within minutes, the big figure pointed its finger out toward tne audience, and a blue ball appeared in the back of the coliseum. It was extended to the stage on a (% /gtFingSUDDENLY, the figure of a green bird was presented on a screen, a deep voice erupted with an announcement. . . "Ladies and Gentlemen, Earth, Wind and Fire!" Thirteen men in an array of colorful costumes entered the stage and danced in unison. After such a O {Magnificent audio-visual presentation, the audience held high expectations for this dancing group of men. For the first few minutes, the sound wasn't quite up tc the perfection the band later achieved in the show. i '-L. ~ Vi. >aEfeS-ft \rVI i. -- - r ^ ' VHI t nent Cor ? Wi Earth, Wind and Fire began with a little improvision before breaking into "Getaway." With so many people to watch on stage, there wasn't a moment during their two hour performance to feel bored or unentertained. EARTH, WIND and Fire included many of their top forty hits in their performance, along with some other excellent material off their LP's. Incidentally, every Columbia album by Earth Wind, and Fire has gone gold. It was especially interesting to listen to their improvisation on familiar songs; this definitely enhanced their exuberant performance. One number that really got the crowd going in the earlier part of the show was "Sing a Song." This happy song was performed with lots of snunk hv the hand and the feeling filtered into the audience. Maurice White, lead vocalist and producer of the band, exhibited his extraordinary talents on such songs as: "Shining Star," i "Gratitude," "Let Your Feelings Show " and "Can't Hide Love." It was unt fortunate that his microphone was not working properly and he didn't switch microphones until his > intimate, touching per formance of "After the Love is Gone." v v oi ^ 7 I.. WWBStvtP. WS - ? ' : V" fc' v^sr > ^ &B Maurice White display wmmmmmommmmmmmmmmmwmmmmmmmommmam cairn, nbinei ith Mu Philip Bailey was awesome with his lead vocals on "Reasons" and "Fantasy." When Andrew Woolfolk added his saxophone to "Reasons" the crowd responded energetically. The introduction to "Reasons" was a short piece called "Brazilian Knyme. fnuip Bailey sang lead and Maurice White added vocal harmony; they both snapped their fingers to the beat. The smooth blending of the two voices mesmerized the crowd. ON SEPTEMBER and "Got to Get You Into My Philip Bailey sang tl ed his extraordinary talen ts on "Gratitude," "5hj ning S4 Wind e Cnirii isical I Life" the entire band was at their peak. One could not sit still through the two songs. At this point in the show, the audience seemed almost like a part of the show. Many people were on their feet dancing with the band. "That's the Way of the World" which Maurice White defined as the band's anthem, was prooably the best number of all. The entire adoring audience was up on its feet for the song. Towards the end of the show, eccentric, exotic instrumentals brought back the big man in the black cape. Maurice White disappeared for a few moments and reappeared to te beautiful "Reasons." ^ And Fi tual Ei ixcelli outshine the evil character and send him away. The encore was Earth, Wind and Fire's latest 1 single, "Groove It." By this 1* At ? ume, me audience was as energetic as the 1 band . . . but the concert was over. The audience was disbelieving and just wouldn't leave Even after the lights were on, people were dancing instead of exiting; they wanted more. HBmI Earth, Wind and Fire gav< i T: i V;.. jc". \ z : '. :Ti>. j - V |Kk : taMjipgBirai w" and "Can't Hide Love." ire tergy jnce EARTH, WIND and Fire is a band that bridges the gap between performer and audience; watching them, one becomes a part of them. They are the type of band that fans don't tire of Listening to. They spread such a warm, special feeling that you fear losing when the T"V U 41 ? uiuaic a uvci. rcrildpb lIUll 5 why Earth, Wind and Fire is so universally appealing? they symbolize love and happiness. <d9 I I S(j; ' \JB | ft i v j Prv I Bnpn^Mr ; an intense performance. st* nwt? fcyCMriovmi