Photo: iTunes
"Ladies and gentleman," booms a deep voice the PA, "we are proud to bring you tonight, the man who brought you hits like 'Dance, Dance, Dance', 'Everybody Dance', 'I Want Your Love', 'Le Freak', 'Good Times' and 'We Are Family' - put your hands together and make some noise for Nile Rodgers and Chiiiiiiic."
Yeah, when it comes to hits, you won't find a more prolific or consistent master of the artform than Nile Rodgers. Most artists of his age just roll out their greatest hits, but when Rodgers and Chic do it, there's a key difference - they're playing the greatest hits of all time. Plus, the partnership that comes with the support act of Janelle Monae was a true stroke of genius. Can you really think of a better place to be on a Saturday night in London? Didn't think so.
All of the hype that surrounds Janelle Monae as the successor to James Brown and Prince is more than justified. With a monochrome army of a backing band, her set is a perfectly orchestrated and choreographed balance of artistry and shameless funk hedonism - without ever seeming 'retro' or gimmicky. The fervour that meets 'Dance Apocalyptic', 'Tightrope' and her flawless cover of The Jackson 5's 'I Want You Back' mark Monae as the rarest of talents and leaves a hollow depression that there aren't more like her in pop.
It's beyond timeless: Janelle Monae creates her own little universe. You'd struggle to find a more captivating performer and she's awesome enough to be headlining in her own right, but then then would distract from the relentless run of brilliance that comes with tonight's show.
Opening with 'Everybody Dance' before kicking straight into 'Dance Dance Dance', Rodgers and Chic make their mission statement pretty damn clear: they're here to make you move and have a good time, all the time.
"When you hear us play and you ask 'how come they playing that song by Diana Ross?' 'How come they playing that song by Sister Sledge? 'How come they playing that song by David Bowie?' I just want you to know that every song you hear tonight..." he shrugs before pointing down to that infamous wide buck-toothed grin to the elation of an adoring Roundhouse. Then it's straight into two of his greatest moments - 'I'm Coming Out' and 'Upside Down'. Seriously - what an absolute bloody king.
iTunes Festival crowds of competition winners can often be a little tame and reserved, but that's pretty much impossible when Chic are in earshot. An infectious wave of celebration spreads around the room like a disease - even all over the more timid patrons in the far corners. As the Roundhouse loses its mind to 'Lost In Music', 'Notorious', 'The Greatest Dancer', 'We Are Family' and 'Let's Dance', the atmosphere falls somewhere between a wild carnival and the most awesome wedding disco of all time.
The fiesta becomes manifest when Monae, her band and countless others swarm the stage for the outro of 'Le Freak' and 'Good Times'. Pumped-up Londoners jump on each others shoulders to go batshit mental to some pretty phat slap-bass and that legendary refrain of "HOTEL, MOTEL, HOLIDAY INN." Make no mistake, these are THE good times.
The only disappointment is that we're lead into a backing track karaoke rendition of 'Get Lucky', instead of a full band version, but Rodgers has already given us so much. Many artists would kill just for a handful of these hits, but that's the glory of Nile Rodgers: he's basically is music personified - a living, breathing, dancing good time.
