photo by Luca DePalo

by Luca DePalo, Contributing Blogger

KC and the Sunshine Band

Bally’s Event Center, Lincoln, RI

May 9, 2026

On a Saturday night in Lincoln, Rhode Island, the famed KC & the Sunshine Band played to a sold-out crowd at the Bally’s Event Center. This show, which pushed two hours, turned a night of dull weather into a full-on disco party, remembering all of those ’70s classics.

photo by Luca DePalo

KC & the Sunshine Band was founded in 1973 in Hialeah, Florida and are still known as one of the most influential disco/funk bands to ever exist. With chart-topping hits like “Get Down Tight,” “That’s The Way (I Like It),” “I’m Your Boogie Man,” “(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty,” and “Please Don’t  Go,” the band continues to tour with founder and lead singer Harry Wayne Casey. This, being my third time seeing the band, I couldn’t wait to hear the setlist!

As the lights slowly dimmed down, the powerful 14-piece band slowly took the stage, performing a long medley of covers: “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me),” “I’m So Excited,” and a mix of other ’80s classics. Although I didn’t expect this, it felt perfect to introduce every band member.

photo by Luca DePalo

The band is musically directed by Nyne, who plays the keyboards and sings lead/background vocals. The rest of the band includes Fermin Goytisolo on the percussion, David Simmons on the drums, Stephen Lashley on the bass, John Reid and Cisco Dimas on the trumpet, Miles Fielder on the trombone, Felipe Lamoglia on the saxophone, Michael Joy on the keyboards, and Christopher Lane on the guitar. Following the band are the background vocalists and dancers: Maria De Crescenzo, Anika Ellis-Mungin, Nadia Albulet, and Tarian Green.

photo by Luca DePalo

After each member strutted onto the stage, then came Harry Wayne Casey, instantly kicking into “(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty,” with me and the rest of the crowd rising from our seats. Instantly, I realized that even though his voice wasn’t in perfect shape like past performances, he still had the charm like it was 1976 all over again.

Going up to the front of the stage, Casey shouted, “Good evening Lincoln! How we doin’ tonight?” He continued, “Let’s go back to back to 1977 with Saturday Night Fever,” before performing the famed “Boogie Shoes,” which showed off how he still has those boogie shoes even at the age of 75.

photo by Luca DePalo

Following that track, the hits just kept coming. “Please Don’t Go” brought the emotion, “I’m Your Boogie Man” lit up the horn section, and “Keep It Comin’ Love” lifted everyone up from their seats. Another shocking moment was during the song “Rock Your Baby,” where Casey walked right past me, through the crowd, and sang with passion. I never had the opportunity to meet him in the past, so being about five feet from him felt like I was face-to-face with a superhero!

photo by Luca DePalo

One of the key moments of the evening that stood with me was about halfway through the show when Casey had a short speech. Casey stated “I hate to tell you, but if you came here with any expectations, thinking you were gonna see a 23-year-old me up here tonight, you missed that 55 years ago.” With humor, Casey stated “What the hell happened to me? I mean, I can’t even remember if that’s the way I like it. And getting down tonight is easy, but getting back up… not so much! And yeah, then the pandemic came along and I gained all this weight, I’ve never weighed this much in my life. I thought, we may have to rename KC & the Sunshine Band to KFC & the Sunshine Band!”

photo by Luca DePalo

Soon after came the mega hits. “Give It Up” created a huge dance routine and “That’s the Way (I Like It)” allowed for a beautiful sing-along. With each member walking to the front of the stage and being greeted by applause, the band then ended with “Get Down Tonight,” the perfect track to end a disco party.

Overall, KC & the Sunshine Band proved yet again how they are the founders in funk music. The other members in the crowd and I just couldn’t get enough! Everybody needs a night out in life, and it just felt like the perfect time to have fun.

As always, I love attending all of these local shows. Go support live music and put on your “Boogie Shoes” when KC & the Sunshine Band comes nearby you sometime soon!