Lionel Richie, who’s sold more than 125 million albums worldwide along with earning four Grammys, an Oscar and a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, doesn’t have anything left to prove.
Yet Richie, who already holds a job as a judge on “American Idol,” is traveling the nation on the Sing A Song All Night Long tour, which stopped Sunday night at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh.
The singer, who’s synonymous with his sentimental ballads in the 1980s and his time in the Commodores, performed more than 90 minutes of his hits to a multigenerational audience (although it definitely skewed older).
First things first, Richie’s voice does not sound the same as it did in his heyday. Multiple throat surgeries in the 1990s for the 74-year-old (he’ll turn 75 on June 20) perhaps contributed to the vocal changes. But once you get past the stylistic change, Richie’s energy, showmanship and uplifting personality more than compensate for that.
Richie, who hadn’t performed in Pittsburgh since 1986, proved self-deprecating about remembering song lyrics while also flubbing a Pittsburgh reference after giving props to Steelers Nation.
“I understand we’re in Duck country as well,” he said before catching himself. “Penguins, I’m telling you, Penguins. Did I say Ducks? The Penguins country … You want to end a show real quick, say the wrong name.”
Emerging from the front of the stage that extended into the crowd amid a cloud of smoke, Richie and his band opened with “Hello” before a more up-tempo “Running With the Night.” He moved to a piano for the first of several times for a medley of “Easy” and “My Love.”
More @LionelRichie at @PPGPaintsArena in Pittsburgh pic.twitter.com/Ytg0JqkFiE
— Mike Palm (@MikePalmMedia) June 17, 2024
After name-dropping Luke Bryan, his fellow judge on “American Idol,” Richie played a country-tinged “Stuck on You,” even dropping a y’all into it.
Through the night, Richie played a bevy of songs from his time in the Commodores, including “Sail On” and “Three Times a Lady,” which might have had his strongest vocals of the night. After playing “Just to Be Close to You,” Richie offered some romantic advice to the male fans in attendance.
“That’s it. That’s all I can do. Let me explain that to you so you understand. Fellas, guys, I’m here for you,” Richie said. “If that song does not work for you, then you’re with the wrong lady tonight. That was the closer, if nothing else. You see, all you have to do, you put your arm around her, look her straight in the eye and say, ‘Isn’t Lionel amazing?’”
Although “Endless Love” was dropped from the set, there was no shortage of other chart-topping hits like an upbeat “Dancing on the Ceiling,” which featured a snippet of Van Halen’s “Jump.”
A funky “Brick House” gave way to two more mellow songs, “Still” and “Say You, Say Me,” where he played piano at the front of the stage. Richie then offered his thoughts on unity and compassion before going into “We Are the World,” which had thousands of phone lights flashing.
With a switch to a red leather jacket — his second wardrobe change of the night — Richie returned for an energetic encore of “All Night Long (All Night)” before sending the crowd out into the night.
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Earth, Wind & Fire may have started the show, but they were no typical opening act.
The longtime soul/funk band showed why they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. The band, which has been going for more than 50 years, includes three original members: Philip Bailey on vocals, Verdine White on bass and Ralph Johnson on percussion/vocals. They delivered a crowd-pleasing hour-plus of their hits like “Shining Star,” “Sing a Song” and “After the Love Has Gone.”
Boosted by a strong brass section, multiple percussionists/singers (including Bailey’s son) and two guitarists, the animated White provided a high-energy personality, while Bailey showed he can still hit the high notes on songs like “Reasons.”
The smooth funk of “Fantasy,” with shoutouts to the Steelers and Penguins, ramped up with an instrumental jam and served as the prelude for their funky disco hit, “Boogie Wonderland” and the synth-funk of “Let’s Groove.” The singalong anthem of “September” closed their set.
.@EarthWindFire at @PPGPaintsArena in Pittsburgh pic.twitter.com/jbslOcBPFc
— Mike Palm (@MikePalmMedia) June 17, 2024
Mike Palm is a TribLive digital producer who also writes music reviews and features. A Westmoreland County native, he joined the Trib in 2001, where he spent years on the sports copy desk, including serving as night sports editor. He has been with the multimedia staff since 2013. He can be reached at mpalm@triblive.com.
