Let me first say that I am a big fan of these groups, and the "Funk Festival" format has worked for me in the past, but only when the groups are currently hot. The reason I say this is because groups like the Ohio Players and Cameo have so much material, they end up rushing through their act trying to fit in the most songs. This was the most apparent with the Ohio Players, who just started abbreviating songs while obviously trying to get out of the way.
As to the quality of the entire show, it went like this: LTD was the most entertaining, followed closely by the SOS band. I didn't expect it to be that way coming in, but LTD 's lead singer is an ENTERTAINER, no question. His voice is very similar to Jeffrey Osbornes, and he puts on a highly entertaining show. The band is tight, and the act has great flow. SOS Band also is tight, and the lead singer is also a fabulous entertainer. They surprisingly (for me) rocked the house. Great act! My "most disappointing" award goes to The Ohio Players. I saw this group in concert here in LA back in the mid 70's, and I wish I had not tarnished my memory of that incredible night with this "nice try". The unique vocals were missing, the horns were nowhere near as tight as the group I remember, and the organ was just ok. I realize Junie is no longer with us, but Satch, Pee Wee, and Sugarfoot made this group what is was, and this particular make up is just ok. Same songs, DEFINITELY less musicianship. "Pain" was slow and sloppy, no "Pleasure" no "Ecstasy" and very pedestrian renditions of "Heaven Must Be Like This" and "Sweet Sticky Thing". The other disappointment was Cameo. Tight band - and that's what saved them. But boy did Larry Blackmon look weird in the same strap he used to wear back in the day. It resembled a diaper! But that wasn't the reason they were disappointing, it was the abbreviated selection of material, and it seemed like a few of the really dynamic musicians that made up this group were missing. No comment on Klymaxx except to say, no band which was the unique thing about them! This was not the dynamic girls band that rocked the house back in the day. This was Bernadette Cooper and a couple of dancers with a turntable. Bernadette is a dynamic entertainer, but if you're advertising yourself as Klymaxx, at least bring some female musicians in.