Kool & The Gang in Boston – May 14, 2023

Legendary funk ensemble Kool & The Gang took over MGM Music Hall in Boston, joined by The Spinners and Average White Band. It was a special occasion, as many families were in attendance to celebrate Mother’s Day down at the Fenway venue. From sequins to suits in bright colors, fans were dressed to the nines and ready to party all night.

The Spinners

R&B vocal group The Spinners kicked off the festivities with “Could It Be I’m Falling In Love”, the first of many hits that would soon follow. The Motown vibe was prevalent, as the group pays tribute to the original Spinners lineup; from the matching pink suits to the smooth choreography, the performance certainly brought many fans back in time to their teenage years. The group celebrated their recent induction into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame, a well deserved recognition as Motown icons. Serenading the crowd with classics like “I’ll Be Around” and “It’s A Shame”, as well as paying a heartfelt tribute to mothers on their day, The Spinners brought a smile to everyone’s faces.

Average White Band

Next up was Scottish funk band Average White Band, keeping the party going with the starter “Person to Person”. With founding members Alan Gorrie on bass and Onnie McIntyre on lead guitar, the band had the crowd up on their feet immediately. Lead singer Brent Carter thanked the two for keeping Average White Band alive, as they made their way through a series of funky classics like “Cut The Cake” and “Whatcha Gonna Do For Me”. The climax of the performance arrived with the first few notes of “Pick Up The Pieces”; as the sax duo approached the edge of the stage, the audience went crazy.

Kool & The Gang

The room felt electric as fans waited for Kool & The Gang to take over, and they would erupt onto the stage with great energy. In separate groups, the band rushed to the front and hyped up the crowd, with founding member Robert “Kool” Bell at the lead. They would get started with “Fresh” and “Misled”, getting everybody in attendance up and grooving. As the Gang unleashed “Let The Music Take Your Mind” and “Open Sesame”, the band took turns to come to the front of the stage; Robert “Kool” Bell would also take the time to thank the crowd, as well as talk about the origins of the band’s name and how meaningful it was to still be present.

Kool & The Gang continued their funk attack with party classic “Jungle Boogie”, with the entire band taking center stage. As everyone was up and dancing to “Hollywood Swinging”, they would slow things down with the iconic ballad “Cherish”, with the crowd taking over singing along and lighting up the room with their phones. The break would be followed by an explosive last lap including “Ladies Night” and “Get Down On It”, and mega hit “Celebration” would bring the party to a close. It was a fun night that got fans to escape and boogie for a little while, one they wouldn’t forget.