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Live at Pacific Amphitheatre

August 5, 2024 Review by Michelle Cooper

Everyone sees me as a punk/ska chick. I mean, I did recently tear my meniscus in a mosh pit, but my roots are heavy in funk, R&B, and soul thanks to my mom’s love of Elvis, and watching “Soul Train” every Saturday morning. I spent those mornings religiously glued to the TV watching “Soul Train,” and it was there I discovered Kool & the Gang. Their song “Jungle Boogie” had me doing the “cowboy” dance, longing to be a “Soul Train” line dancer.

Knowing that part of my childhood, you can understand how when I got the opportunity to catch Kool & the Gang with Morris Day & the Time at The Pacific Amphitheatre, I was ecstatic to say the least.

The Pacific Amphitheatre is an iconic Orange County venue to see bands. Being an OC girl myself, I do enjoy seeing bands there thanks to the seating; no matter where you sit, you always get a good view of the stage and artists. If you enjoy animals, you will also get a glimpse of a llama, and maybe a mountain goat, grazing atop the grassy area, enjoying the tunes as well.

MORRIS DAY

Morris Day & the Time opened the night a little after 7 p.m. and judging by the crowd’s response, they were there to see them as much as the headliner! Everyone was up on their feet from the first song, “Cool,” right along with Morris, Jelly Roll, and the band.

Morris Day still exudes suaveness and style – he even brought out his infamous mirror to check himself – as he and the band sing and sway to his hits. As the crowd was mostly GenXers, in between songs they would sit, but that didn’t last long – each song simply made you want to join in and shake that booty, as the Time played their hits “Get it Up,” “Fishnet,” “777-9311,” “Oak Tree,” “Jungle Love,” and the most iconic song for them, “The Bird.”

My inner child squealed with glee when the music started and the big screens lit up with videos of the “Soul Train” logo and dancers, with Kool & the Gang moving in sync. The video rolled through the decades, depicting a 50-year career of funk.

As the video was coming to an end, the Grammy-winning band started to take the stage and once again the filled amphitheater was on their feet.

Robert “Kool” Bell, the only remaining original member of the band, was on bass, longtime members (they have been with the group for multiple decades!) Michael Ray was on trumpet, Curtis “Fitz” Williams on keys, and Shawn “Shawny Mac” McQuiller was on guitar. The gentlemen started their engaging set with “Open Sesame.”

The Godfathers of Funk continued with their many hits and had the whole crowd exuding the same energy that Morris Day & the Time did. It was seriously one huge party!

Everyone was dancing and singing along to “Fresh,” “Misled,” “Jungle Boogie,” “Cherish,” “Ladies Night,” “Celebration,” and of course for us in Southern California, we got a special treat, “Hollywood Swinging.”

It was such a fun, energetic night with the horns, the synchronicity of the bands’ moves, plus the songs that have been a part of our lives for many, many decades.

I woke up the next morning still excited that I actually got to see Morris Day & the Time, and Kool & the Gang live – it was almost like a hung-over feeling, but with excitement.

If you have a chance, check out these living legends – including when they perform later this year as they get inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

TO FOLLOW

SID 240805 | TRACI TURNER | EDITOR