It’s been a while since I’ve seen local funk, R and B icons Hippodrome. I missed their annual pre-Christmas bast at the Slice, but was glad to have caught the last part of their Jan. 7 show at the Slice.
They have three powerhouse vocalists in Shawna Romolliwa, Erica Hunt and Juran Greene who were taking turns singing lead on a variety of ”’60s and ’70s disco and pop and R and B favourites.
They had their rock solid rhythm section of bassist Paul Holden, drummer Brad Brouwer and percussionist Kyle Harmon, but had a new guitarist and had tweaked their horn section.
A Hippodrome show is always a hot, sweaty, energetic good time. So it was no surprise the show, for Pardip Athwal’s birthday, sold out quickly.
Everybody was dancing and having a good time.
Erica Hunt was helping belt out “ Hold I’m Coming” as I arrived.
Their exceptional cover of Stevie Wonder’s “ Signed Sealed and Delivered (I’m Yours)” was one of many sweaty highlights.
They wound down their second and last set of the night with a few crowd favourites including “Play That Funky Music.”
Erica Hunt belted out Proud Mary.” Shawna Romolliwa took on “ I Will Survive,” and Juran Green lead the blissed out crowd home with “Mustang Sally.”
— By Richard Amery, l.A. Beat Editor
