WEB EXCLUSIVE: Concert series: The end of a summer so fair
Hollywood by Choice
Say What? The L.A. County Fair’s End of Summer Concert Series is serious and soulful. I had the privilege of attending the Sept. 3 concert that featured the '70s bands, Lakeside, Rose Royce and the Ohio Players. I had a funky good time.
A Sony Music executive once told me that a hit will always be a hit, and that surely was the case on Saturday. Although the three bands didn’t have all of their original members, the funk and soul still flowed.
My Dayton, Ohio, homeboys showed out. I am especially close to Lakeside because some of the members lived up the street from me, and the band is named after our favorite park, Lakeside. This park, walking distance from us, was like a small carnival. It had rides, carnival food, and all kids and teens from around the area could hang out all day. Lakeside was the place.
The crowd was primed and ready when Lakeside opened the show. Performing their biggest hits, the crowd was swinging and swaying to the music under the stars, in the perfect California weather. “Fantastic Voyage” was, in a word, fantastic.
By the time Rose Royce hit the stage the funk had set in and they were ready to add the soul, and we were hit with “Wishing on a Star”—perfect in the California night air. While Lakeside simply jammed song after song, Rose Royce had a different agenda, introducing the audience to band members, loads of musician solos and so forth. Then, as a new member was steadily talking, and the audience listening, he broke out with, “This is How We Do It…,” and the crowd went wild.
By the time the Ohio Players hit the stage, they too did a lot of talking and musician solos, but when they broke out with “Fire,” they sent the crowd home happily funked out.
This Friday, Sept. 9, my girls take the stage: En Vogue, Salt-N-Pepa and the Emotions. All these sisters can jam, and we’re talking the real deal, baby.
En Vogue is on the comeback trail. Their classy, style and outstanding voices captivated audiences around the world, so you don’t want to miss them when they mount the stage at the fair. The group reunited, celebrated 20 years of performing and released a 20th anniversary CD; they love to sing and have no plans to ever let go.
Salt-N-Pepa is also back. They were the first all-female rap crew and also one of the first to cross over into the pop mainstream. I don’t know if they will be singing their phenomenal hit, “Push It,” but it’s OK if they don’t. They have plenty of other hits to thrill the audience.
And if you don’t remember the Emotions—think “Best of My Love"—the girls got you off your feet back in the day, and will do it again. Sisters Jeanette, Wanda & Sheila Hutchinson make up the legendary group. These girls could sing, and no doubt would have become the hottest girl group in the nation if they hadn’t walked away from it. But, baby, all the girls are back, and you can bet your bottom dollar that it’s going to be one heck of a show. Try to buy your tickets now, because I’m sure they will be going fast.
Mark your calendars for War on Friday, Sept. 16; the Doobie Brothers, Thursday, Sept. 22; Tower of Power, Friday, Sept. 23; Michael McDonald/Boz Scaggs, Saturday, Sept. 24, and closing out the End of Summer Concert Series, none other than Earth, Wind & Fire, Sunday, Oct. 2.
For more information on the shows and ticket sales, go to www.lacountyfair.com.
Gail can be reached at hollywoodbychoice_gail@yahoo.com
According to the Hollywood Reporter (THR) “Think Like a Man” scored one of the best openings in recent memory for an African American-themed film in debuting at $33 million.
Futhermore, “Think Like a Man,” adapted from Steve Harvey’s best-selling advice book, “Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man,” gets bragging rights to being the film to topple Lionsgate’s blockbuster “The Hunger Games”—which has now grossed $357 million domestically—from it’s No. 1 perch.
Bishop T.D. Jakes’ “Woman Thou Art Loosed!: On the 7th Day,” a Neema Barnette film starring Golden Globe® nominee Blair Underwood (“Madea’s Family Reunion,” “Set It Off”), Sharon Leal (“Why Did I Get Married Too?”), Nicole Beharie (“American Violet”), Nicoye Banks (“Law & Order”) and Emmy Award® nominee Pam Grier (“Just Wright”), did a box office ‘wow’ when it performed better than anyone predicted, including the makers of the film.
In a past article, I railed against two reality shows airing on VH1—“Basketball Wives” (Miami and L.A. telecasts) and “Love and Hip Hop.” This time I come in praise of a different type of reality show airing on VH1: “Styled by June.”
What I like about this show is that it depicts a Black woman following her dreams. Yes, the drama is still there, but not what you’d expect. What we see is a woman using her gifts to help others see what they don’t see in themselves.
Actress Octavia Spencer walked away with the Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role at the 84th annual Academy Awards Show Sunday. Spencer’s character Minny Jackson in “The Help” aptly displayed her comedic as well as dramatic abilities and demonstrated how grounded an actress she is. Her grace and beauty warmed the audience and her sincere words touched the hearts of many. Spencer is the fifth Black actress to win in the Best Supporting Actress category.
The Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) celebrates its 20th anniversary starting this evening with the opening-night gala and screening of the Los Angeles premiere of “Think Like a Man.”
Based on the New York Times best-selling book by television-and-radio host and comic, Steve Harvey. The ensemble cast includes Michael Ealy, Jerry Ferrara, Meagan Good, Regina Hall, Kevin Hart, Taraji P. Henson, Terrence J, Jenifer Lewis, Romany Malco, Gary Owen, Gabrielle Union and Chris Brown.
