Earth, Wind & Fire and Chicago make St. Paul fans feel the love

“Don’t go anywhere,” Earth Wind & Fire singer Philip Bailey told the cheering crowd at the end of his group’s grandiose performance at the Xcel Energy Center on Saturday night. “Don’t go anywhere. Don’t go anywhere.”

Because something very special was about to happen. Chicago, the opening act on the Heart & Soul 2024 tour, was to play an extended encore with EWF, culminating in a stunning version of “25 or 6 to 4”.

You know “25 or 6 to 4,” the song that every high school and college marching band has played for decades. Chicago has been playing it since 1970, when it became a hit on their second album. But not quite the way they played it on Saturday.

Chicago’s Tony Obrohta started with a buzzsaw guitar while EWF’s Verdine White added some funk bass before Chicago’s three-piece horn section stepped forward to provide the familiar oomph. Neil Donell, Chicago’s singer since 2018, offered his best impersonation of a soaring Peter Cetera. EWF’s Bailey took over the second verse, singing it at just the right moment with his falsetto.

This nearly seven-minute rendition of “25 or 6 to 4” took on a slightly faster tempo and a stronger intensity. Three different guitarists – one from Chicago, two from EWF – took turns soloing mid-song, with EWF’s Serge Dimitrijevic rocketing into space and bandmate Myron McKinley adding some pointed filigree. Then Chicago’s horns catapulted the tune into a new universe, echoing Donell’s high tenor voice. Time for the bands to get going – all 23 musicians.

This horn-driven energy blast ended with 72-year-old EWF co-founder White and 76-year-old Chicago co-founder and trombonist James Pankow – the most hyped-up performers in their respective groups – front row for a very physical and musical finale.

While this number was the highlight of the encore, the previous 25 minutes were marked by an exciting, seamless medley in which the two Rock & Roll Hall of Fame bands took turns playing songs, with all the musicians participating in each song. In the middle of Chicago’s “Free,” with its Latin percussion groove, a James Brown concerto suddenly erupted with funky horns and EWF singer B. David Whitworth demonstrated offbeat dance moves reminiscent of the Godfather of Soul.

The Heart & Soul Tour marked the first time since 2018 that these two groups — both of which got their start in the Windy City in the 1960s — have toured together. Each played 75 minutes before an encore. Although they had several radio hits in the ’70s and ’80s, these ensembles pride themselves on their complex, often jazzy musicianship between sing-along choruses.

Chicago did a great job of turning a medley of “Make Me Smile” and “Colour My World” into a captivating suite with a classical touch. The group gained momentum with “Only the Beginning,” which featured keyboardist and founding member Robert Lamm’s best vocals, and “I’m a Man,” which climaxed with a drum and percussion duet.

Donell, the 68-year-old veteran Canadian studio singer, hit Cetera’s high notes, but his head voice sounded strained. It also seemed odd that the supposed lead singer was standing on the far right or far left of the stage, rather than in the middle. And neither Donell nor Lamm bothered to introduce the eleven members of Chicago.

By contrast, EWF’s set was undeniable. The veteran R&B ensemble was more energetic than last year’s St. Paul show with Lionel Richie. It started with a bang with “Shining Star,” got jazzy with the instrumental “Sun Goddess,” jammed slowly with the cuddly “Reasons” and “After the Love Has Gone,” and closed with a dance-fueled blast of the falsetto-fueled “Fantasy,” a funky remix of “Boogie Wonderland,” the groovy “Let’s Groove” and “September,” which had a crowd made up mostly of baby boomers as party-happy as they come these days.

Then Bailey, 73, begged the crowd not to leave. And all 12,000 fans stayed for the encore. He was right.

At the end of the fulfilling and exhausting three-and-a-half-hour program, Bailey spoke up again: “I have a question: Can you feel the love?”

The six original members – three from each band – bowed. And White and Pankow walked away together, one arm around the other.