There was a combination of midriffs, hoodies and cowboy hats as fans of all ages shook their groove thangs to the vibe of two of the hottest musical groups today.
The Black Eyed Peas and Pussycat Dolls played to a packed audience at the Six Flags Darien Lake Performing Arts Center this past Friday night.
The Songs of Love Foundation created a warm atmosphere from the beginning. The group, which records and produces personalized songs for children and teens facing tough medical challenges, enlisted the audience and members of the Black Eyed Peas to help sing the chorus of the 10,000th "Song of Love" for 14-year-old Sickle Cell Patient, Saeed Boynes.
Purple lights flooded metal scaffolding on stage as the DJ concocted a club-esque ambiance for the night. There was never a lull in the dancing and singing, neither on stage nor in the crowd.
The chorography of the Pussy Cat Dolls was vigorous and full of sex appeal. The Dolls swung and twirled all over the two-story scaffolding, an act reminiscent of cage dancers from the disco era.
"When the Pussycat Dolls got up and did that thing where they pop their butt up in the air, that was incredible," said Kevin Liddle, a computer sales associate for a company in Buffalo. "My jaw was on the ground for almost 20 minutes!"
Lead singer Nicole Scherzinger gave a mind-blowing performance, her soulful vocals on full display. "Buttons," "Beep," "Sickwitu" and Donna Summer's "Hot Stuff" got the audience wound up and wiggling in the aisles.
"(The Pussycat Dolls) are pretty talented," said Alicia Manary, a landscape sales associate from Ontario. "The dancing was my favorite part."
The DJ maintained that excitement between sets.
While the Pussycat Dolls gave a vigorous show, the Black Eyed Peas pushed it off the Richter Scale, especially with hits like "Let's Get Retarded," "Pump It" and "Don't Phunk With My Heart."
According to Eriko Nto, a senior art major at UB, "(the show) was great, but 'Pump It' was my favorite. It was so much fun."
The Peas kept the stage alive with a DJ and several guests throughout the concert. It was a whir of stimulation from every direction, with the help of huge monitors installed on either side of the stage. It was an extravaganza beginning the moment the Peas came out, from Apl.de.ap doing back flips across stage, to the beat session in which members of the band flung tables, chairs, and drum sticks through the air.
Each member of the Peas came out for an individual rap session showcasing their talents. Apl sang the Filipino national anthem, while Fergie sang her hit "London Bridge" from her solo album, The Dutchess. She also threw in the Guns n' Roses' "Sweet Child of Mine."
It was surprising that Will.i.am from the Peas did not participate in the Pussycat Dolls' "Beep." However, he was redeemed when he kept a tight beat behind the drum set that included his own version of Kelis' "Milkshake" and Pharrell's "Drop It Like It's Hot."
"Buffalo was better than New York City," said Tabboo.
The Peas merged funk, rock, hip-hop, rap and jazz in a seamless exhibition of skill, fortitude and raw power.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
