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photos by Colin Kerrigan
Earth, Wind & Fire help Philly celebrate Independence Day
A little after 1 p.m., the Parkway was already jammed with people who had come from near and far for the Fourth of July celebration in Philadelphia - and it stayed that way well into the night as the Roots repeatedly rocked the stage, and Earth, Wind & Fire's Philip Bailey hit some stratospheric high notes.The Roots hosted and performed at their Fourth of July Jam in Philly with Earth Wind and Fire, Michael McDonald, Estelle, Sara Bareilles, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Boyz II Men and others. The concert, which was billed as "the largest free concert in America," lived up to its title, though as expected at a concert that big, not everyone has a positive experience. According to Anthony Sbarro, "Way too many people at the Roots Fourth Of July on the Parkway concert. Good luck to whomever is going! I'd recommend against it." Tamika Chandler posted a video to her YouTube account of what she dubbed the "4th of July Jam Fiasco." The video description and tags read:Many came in red, white, and blue attire, with their children, their spouses, and their dogs.
Courtney Beckett, 22, a medical assistant from West Chester, even brought her six-foot boa constrictor, Sampson.
"They're cold-blooded, so they need heat," she explained as her cousin, Zhabree Jacobs, 8, let the reptile curl around her shoulders.
And, boy, did that snake get grilled.
Temperatures pushed 90 most of the day at the Wawa Welcome America celebration Monday, as people ate gyros and cheesesteaks, swayed to music, and reunited with friends and family to party Philadelphia-style.
Organizers had no official crowd count, although Mayor Nutter said, "This might be the largest Fourth of July event ever." The event has been known to draw a million or more people.
With a pink-and-orange sunset in the background and Sara Bareilles and the Roots performing. [Philly.com]
People arguing & fighting. I wanted to enjoy the concert but because so many people were trying to budge in front of those who were smart enough to be early and sitting down in their own seats, I ended up filming the entertaining arguments/fights that arose from this.Check out her video work, and a video of Estelle and Michael McDonald performing "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" together, below.Parkway, Philadelphia, Philly, Jam, Concert, Fourth, 4th, of, July, Fireworks, Fights, Beer, Drunk, Arguing, Arguments, yelling, crowded, crowds, kids, pot, marijuana, smoking, wild, fiasco, rude, the roots, earth, wind, fire, &, and, PA, pennsylvania, city, mayor, nutter, police, popo, smh, penn's landing, downtown, city, delaware river, wawa, michael mcdonald, sarah bareilles
In other Roots news, Black Thought plays Brooklyn Bowl tonight (7/5) with J. Period, Mr. Mecca, Skotch Davis, Boogie Blind and DJ Suga Ray. Questlove DJs the same venue every Thursday. This Thursday is a "special free edition".
More pictures and videos from the 4th of July Jam below...
--
4th of July Jam Fiasco
Philly Mayor Michael Nutter
The Roots
Sara Bareilles
Estelle
Michael McDonald
Boyz II Men
Kenny Gamble (of Gamble and Huff)
Earth, Wind, and Fire
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Now that's what I call style, baby.
Posted by Anonymous | July 5, 2011 12:55 PM
bold is back baby!
Posted by Anonymous | July 5, 2011 1:00 PM
That bassist looks like he's about to poop his pants.
Posted by Anonymous | July 5, 2011 1:16 PM
Dirt, Hot Air, and No Fire
As true now as it was in 1978
And having to truck on down to Filthydelphia for it?
Music is dead.
Posted by Anonymous | July 5, 2011 1:31 PM
Yesterday's celebration was awesome! I was there, you guys obviously were not. Don't blindly hate on something you know nothing about...makes ya look like a damn fool!
Posted by Anonymous | July 5, 2011 1:34 PM
Earth Wind and Fire suck and Philadelphia is a shit-hole
I'm glad you had fun, 1:34.
You obviously lack the sense of carton of Juicy Juice
Posted by Anonymous | July 5, 2011 1:36 PM
All that Tamika Chandler video showed was an overcrowded event full of people acting reasonable and talking things out. She's clearly never been to a real fiasco...like a free Drake concert.
Posted by Anonymous | July 5, 2011 1:38 PM
or a Smiff an Wessun release party
Posted by Anonymous | July 5, 2011 1:38 PM
Dj Jazzy Jeff was awesome! The Roots can play with anyone even Michael McDonald. We do whatever we want in philly, thats why we own.
Posted by Blayer | July 5, 2011 1:48 PM
philly's a pit, yo
Posted by Anonymous | July 5, 2011 1:49 PM
Questlove isn't nearly as cool as he thinks he is, as evidenced by the fact that he had fucking Sara Bareilles and Michael McDonald play this show.
Also, someone should probably let the bassist of Earth, Wind and Fire know that it is no longer the 70s.
Posted by Anonymous | July 5, 2011 1:51 PM
I'm glad we live in a city that has these kinds of events, and the women in the area are looking hotter than ever! It's just that we have to work a little harder at keeping this place clean. Don't let your kids drop their fucking trash on the ground. Take your bottles and paper home for recycling. It can't be that difficult. In Chicago, they spray wash the sidewalks at night, which makes the city look nicer, instead of it being all shitted up with black hunks of gum. Let's make a better effort, okay?!
Posted by David Strickler | July 5, 2011 1:52 PM
Michael McDonald? Boyz II Men? Sara Bareilles?
I am puzzled.
Posted by Anonymous | July 5, 2011 2:10 PM
Boyz II Men are from Philly, they were a surprise, and they made the crowd explode. What don't you understand?
I guess liking Michale McDonald is gonna be the next 'liking Harry Nilsson'.
The Sara Bareilles was def kinda weird though.
Posted by Anonymous | July 5, 2011 2:15 PM
The power of Maestro McDonald COMPELS you!
Posted by Anonymous | July 5, 2011 2:30 PM
Comrade Mikael McDonald
Posted by Anonymous | July 5, 2011 3:34 PM
Agreed - Philly really is a shit hole. It's time to drop a bomb on this fucking dump.
Posted by Anonymous | July 5, 2011 3:55 PM
Is it me, or does Michael McDonald sound like he's trying to sing with his mouth full? I can't make out half of the lyrics to his songs.
Posted by Anonymous | July 5, 2011 4:02 PM
If it weren't for the Googles, I wouldn't know any lyrics to 'What a Fool Believes' beyond "She came from some blah blah blah blah blah..." up until the chorus.
Posted by Anonymous | July 5, 2011 4:05 PM
bass player appears to be wearing a bump-it
Posted by Anonymous | July 5, 2011 4:16 PM
philly is a bum pit
Posted by Anonymous | July 5, 2011 5:33 PM
Nice touch, 3:34.
Kenny Loggins makes :( face
Posted by Anonymous | July 6, 2011 9:39 AM
Kenny Loggins makes :( face
Posted by forum | December 5, 2011 12:08 PM
philly's a pit, yo
Posted by AshwinKhan | January 10, 2013 5:09 PM