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KC and the Sunshine Band LIVE! at STNJ

By Spotlight Central, Photos by Love Imagery

originally published: 10/21/2025

Disco fans chat as they wait to enter New Brunswick's State Theatre New Jersey auditorium this Saturday, October 11, 2025 evening for a Doin' It World Tour 2025 performance by KC and The Sunshine Band. Considered one of the defining groups of the 1970s, KC and the Sunshine Band have sold over 100 million records while earning nine Grammy nominations, three Grammy awards, and an American Music Award.

Says Sandra, a long-time fan from Marlboro, “I’ve been following KC since 1975. I saw him in Miami back in the ‘70s and, thanks to his music, I became a disco fan. I love all of his hits and I can’t want to get up and dance and shake my booty!” Steve from Marlboro agrees, explaining, “We grew up with disco in Brooklyn — my first year out of high school was when the movie, Saturday Night Fever, came out. Later, in 2023, we saw KC at the group’s 50th anniversary concert and we’re back tonight with our boogie shoes on for more great music!”

Michael from Clinton Township recalls, “I first started listening to KC growing up in the late ‘70s in Hollywood, Florida. KC was from Miami and the disco scene was really huge down there with The Bee Gees and all. He’s always played such great music that’s fun to dance to, and I’m excited since this is my first time seeing him in person.” Ruth from Clinton Township concurs, adding, “I listened to KC back in middle school and high school and when we heard he was performing here tonight, we put our dancing shoes on and came out to dance the night away!”

Renee from Knoxville, TN, acknowledges, “I started listening to KC when I was a kid, but I just started going to his concerts about two years ago and this is my 26th KC concert in a little over two years. KC is so upbeat and genuinely cares about his fans. His concerts always put everyone in a good mood, so it’s my therapy coming to his shows!”

Inside the historic STNJ auditorium, the lights dim and the members of The Sunshine Band — guitarist Chris Lane, bassist Steve Lashley, keyboardist Michael Joy, trumpeters John Reid and Cisco Dimas, saxophonist Felipe LaMoglia, trombonist Miles Fielder, drummer David Simmons, percussionist Fermin Goytisolo, back-up singers Maria De Crescenzo and Anika Ellis, dancers Tarian Green and Nadia Albuit, and musical director/keyboardist NYNE — take the stage and open tonight’s show with a dynamic medley which includes an ethereal version of Whitney Houston’s “I Want to Dance with Somebody” and a rhythmic rendition of The Pointer Sisters’ “I’m So Excited.”




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Music lovers cheer as Harry Wayne Casey — aka KC — enters singing his 1976 #1 hit, “(Shake Shake Shake) Shake Your Booty.” Disco fans dance and sing along on the happy “Shake shake shake/Shake shake shake/Shake your booty” chorus which is punctuated by tight horn licks while the dancers shake their booties to the infectious beat.

KC says, “Good evening!! How you feeling tonight? Let’s go back to 1978!” as he and the band step into their 1978 Top 40 hit, “Boogie Shoes,” where the dancers move to the groove while KC and his backup singers happily sing, “I want to put on/My my my my my/Boogie shoes.”

The crowd hoots and hollers and KC talks about being 74 years old, joking, “What the hell happened? I’m not sure if that’s the way I like it!” before confessing, “I hope I please everyone tonight — thank you for choosing to share tonight with me.”

Accompanied by musical director, NYNE, on keyboards, KC slips into a medley of slow songs which starts with a tender ballad interpretation of The Supremes’ 1965 hit, “I Hear a Symphony.” Moving on to the 1980 duet he recorded with Teri DeSario, band members join him on stage as the sound of a muted trumpet ornaments KC’s lead vocal on the ballad, “Yes, I’m Ready.”

After dancer Nadia Albuit demonstrates her ballet moves, KC performs his heartfelt 1979 soft rock ballad, “Please Don’t Go,” where he passionately sings to her, “I’m gonna miss your love/The minute you walk out that door.”

Quickly shifting gears, KC announces, “I know what you came for — let’s go back to 1977!” as he and the group slide into the group’s 1977 chart-topper, “I’m Your Boogie Man,” and the crowd joins in singing the tune’s appealing “I’m your boogie man/I’m your boogie man/Turn me on” chorus.

The Sunshine Band musicians keep the disco beat going strong as they segue into KC’s 1977 Top 5 hit, “Keep It Comin’ Love,” which features jazzy solos by trumpeter John Reid, trombonist Miles Fielder, saxophonist Felipe LaMoglia, and trumpeter Cisco Dimas, along with an electric guitar solo by Chris Lane, before Tarian Green dances to the disco tune’s catchy “Keep it comin’ love/Keep it comin’ love/Don’t stop it now/Don’t stop it now” refrain.

Following the upbeat disco song, “I Like to Do It,” where KC and back-up vocalists Maria De Crescenzo and Anika Ellis cry, “I baby I/I like to do it/With you,” KC introduces his band and crew members. He also talks about writing songs starting at the age of 13, including one he wrote which inspired ABBA’s “Dancing Queen,” John Lennon’s “Whatever Gets You Through The Night,” and Dr. Hook’s “When You’re in Love with a Beautiful Woman” — his 1974 #1 hit for George McCrea, “Rock Your Baby.”

Fans are on their feet for KC’s 1983 Top 20 hit, “Give It Up,” singing and dancing along on the song’s “Na-na, na-na, na-na, na-na, na na now/Baby give it up” refrain before KC and Co. segue into The Commodores’ “Brick House” and Michael Jackson’s “Shake Your Body.”

On this upbeat medley, the audience energetically sways back and forth with the music as KC struts about the stage with Tarian Green and Nadia Albuit.

KC and the band leave the stage to drummer David Simmons who solos under flashing lights. Twirling his sticks to cheers, Simmons’ motions increase in speed and intensity as he deftly plays around his set to avid cheers and applause.

When the band members return, guitarist Chris Lane is featured on Jimi Hendrix’s “Foxy Lady” and bassist Steve Lashley is spotlighted downstage on Wild Cherry’s “Play That Funky Music” accompanied by Michael Joy on keys and Fermin Goytisolo on percussion along with the top-notch Sunshine Band horn section.

KC returns and asks, “‘Joisy,’ is that the way you like it?” as he and the ensemble rocket into his 1976 #1 hit, “That’s The Way (I Like It),” where the party atmosphere intensifies as concertgoers sing, sway, and dance to the music.

Audience members happily respond when KC tells them to, “Say ‘Par-ty!’” and they enthusiastically sing along on the song’s ubiquitous, “That’s the way/Uh-huh uh-huh/I like it” refrain.

Following a dramatic fanfare, KC and Co. sing, “Do a little dance/Make a little love,” on the group’s final number — KC’s 1975 #1 smash, “Get Down Tonight” — where concertgoers energetically join them in singing the song’s rhythmic “Get down, get down, get down, get down/Get down tonight, baby” refrain as colorful streamers fall from the ceiling.

KC asks, “Did you have a good time?” and music fans respond in the affirmative before he launches into his latest disco song, “So Glad We Got Together.”

Audience members raise their arms in the air as the group segues into an uptempo reprise of “Please Don’t Go” where KC points to fans in the crowd insisting, “I love you — and you — and you,” prior to crying out, “I love you so!” and he and his bandmates exit the stage.

As concertgoers make their way out of the STNJ auditorium, several share their thoughts on tonight’s performance by KC and the Sunshine Band. Declares Mike from Macungie, PA, “I just loved it — I had a great time! The show was fun, the energy level was high, and KC played all the songs I liked growing up in the ‘70s. Plus, this is really nice theater — it’s the first time I’ve been here — and it made for a really great night out.”

Odell, a musician from New Brunswick reveals, “I’ve seen KC many many times — I’ve done shows with him before — and he was phenomenal tonight!” His friend, Peter, a musician from Somerset, explains, “I enjoyed the show; it was very energetic! KC got the crowd in a good mood and kept it going, got some slow songs in there, and revved it back up again!” Their colleague, Chuck, another musician from Trenton, exclaims, “I loved KC tonight! I first saw him 35 years ago and he’s still doin’ it!”

Carl from Hillsborough maintains, “Tonight’s show was really great! There was a lot of energy, especially through the crowd — we all felt it and we responded; we were really into it. I would recommend anyone go see KC in person — his performance is so enjoyable — and this was my first time here at the State Theatre, a gorgeous venue which will have me coming back again and again.”

Bruce from Parsippany jokes, “I feel like I lost five pounds due to all the energy on stage tonight! What an incredible performance! KC is such a likable entertainer; he just fills the evening with joy. His presence is so overwhelming, and even though many of his tunes are 50 years old, they still stand the test of time.”

Lastly, Gail from North Brunswick insists, “It was an excellent show tonight! KC and the Sunshine Band brought back so many good memories for me — I was dancing and singing the whole time,” prior to concluding, “It was just out of this world!”

To learn more about KC and the Sunshine Band, please go to heykcsb.com. For info on great upcoming events at STNJ — including Mandy Patinkin in Concert: Jukebox on November 7, Sarah Brightman: A Winter Symphony on November 30, and Englebert Humperdinck on December 9 — please click on stnj.org.

Photos by Love Imagery

Spotlight Central NJ entertainment news,
concert recaps, and interviews

Love Imagery Fine art stage photography
@allyouneedisloveimagery


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