Kool and the Gang, Fringe by the Sea review: 'a dose of authentic funk'
He may be 75 now, but Robert ‘Kool’ Bell is still slapping out thick, heavy basslines on his long-necked bass, writes David Pollock
Kool and the Gang, Big Top, North Berwick ★★★★
Despite being one step removed from a tribute act these days, New Jersey’s crossover soul and funk ensemble of the 1970s Kool and the Gang still brought a raw, authentic, musicialy sound to Friday night on the final weekend of North Berwick’s Fringe By the Sea festival.
Their remaining link to the past, and the only surviving member of the group from its foundation year of 1964, is the man who gave the band its name; bassist Robert ‘Kool’ Bell, now 75 years old and not as primed as he once was for the other members’ formation dancing, but still slapping out thick, heavy basslines on his long-necked bass. Otherwise keyboard player Curtis Williams has been there since 1982, the later stages of the band’s long run of big hits, while the rest of the ten-piece ensemble have been pieced together since the 1990s. The third longest-served is singer and guitarist Shawn McQuiller, a dynamo in an aqua-blue sequined suit here.
McQuiller’s presence was most clearly felt on songs with a strong vocal lead, including Fresh, the cod-Jamaican, almost easy listening rhythms of Let’s Go Dancin’ (Oh La La La) and the swaggering Ladies’ Night.
Elsewhere the musical playing was precise, loud and filled with energy, bringing a dose of authentic funk to the event. Jungle Boogie, well-known by fans of Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction, sounded true to the original’s moody, groove-laden low end, with a trio of horn player blasting out their parts over its extended running time.
Hollywood Swinging felt strangely like a covers medley, so often has Kool and the Gang’s original been sampled by rap classics, segueing into a lengthy trombone finale from Jermaine Bryson, while Get Down On It was enhanced by Louis Taylor’s saxophone and the audience blasting out the chorus themselves. Foregoing any unknown songs for a stream of pure hits, they closed on Celebration, the perfect ending to an exciting and energetic night.
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