Secondhand Setlists

ESG played what may be one of their final shows at the Regent Theater, and the fans came out to celebrate.

As founding member Renee Scroggins told me last week, ESG may, at last, be winding down after 40 years. While the band may be on the way out, its legacy remains stronger than ever. With just a bass, drum set, cowbells, a whistle, and Scroggins’ voice, they turned the crowd out. Special attention must be paid to drummer Anthony Alieso, who virtually never stopped playing by providing the transition between songs.

And ESG brought out both the old and the new. “Moody”, “Dance”, and “UFO” understandably appeared, but they did so alongside later cuts such as “My Street” and “Watching”. Even after four decades, ESG still busted out a few new tunes including “Strange Creatures Dance”. Regardless of what they played, the audience kept moving. I’ve seen shows in LA, NYC, Boston, Cleveland, and even London, and I saw more euphoric dancing here than I’ve seen in a long time.

Go figure, as it’s the music that makes you dance, and it’ll keep us dancing until the world ends.