Concert Report: World’s Largest Disco (Buffalo)

By now you know that if we’re traveling we like to share entertainment choices in the various cities or ships we’re on. And this past Saturday night we were in Buffalo, New York for their annual event The World’s Largest Disco.
Music delivered by DJ’s from WTSS, Star 102.5, Buffalo.
Arriving around 9:30PM, the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center was already filling-up!
Nearly everyone was wearing their 70’s groovy threads of bell bottoms, go go boots and platforms!
While some of these things have become iconic 70’s Disco attire, people really did use to wear this stuff to the clubs back then.
Music being played was displayed in one corner of the room. “Love Train” (1972) actually predated the Disco era by a few years but it always gets played at 70’s parties!
KC & The Sunshine Band had so many Disco hits during that decade including “(Shake, Shake, Shake) Your Booty” (1976).
And of course the forever young Swedish group Abba defined that era as well. “Dancing Queen” (1976)
Everyone was singing the words out loud to “Disco Inferno” (1976).
“Boogie Oogie Oogie” (1978) is not heard as often at 70’s Nights as some of the others but it was a big hit too!
“Ring My Bell” (1979) was a big hit towards the end of the Disco era.
Besides 70’s Disco attire, there were lots of costumes too although not as many as during our prior visits to World’s Largest Disco.
Overall a very young crowd out to enjoy this amazing night.
But it was all ages too. Because everybody loves Disco!
“Boogie Fever” (1975)
Get Down On It (1981)
Of course the room had a shiny disco ball…..many of them actually!
Some chose to wear their shiny disco ball.
At 10PM there was a drag show with 1982 hit “It’s Raining Men”.
The wall of the convention center is ringed with images of numerous 70’s television hits.
Some were seriously getting into the music.
At 11PM, a guest celebrity appearance from Deney Terrio (USA) of hit television show “Dance Fever“. He would introduce…..
…..this year’s celebrity singer, Evelyn “Champagne” King (USA) who would perform “Shame” (1977). She still got it, folks!
Capacity is 7,000 tickets each year and they sell-out within the first day of posting them. People come from all over to attend this crazy party.
Some more of the songs we heard included “Double Dutch Bus” (1980).
“September” (1978)
Vicki Sue Robinsn’s sole hit “Turn The Beat Around” (1976).
“Do You Wanna Funk? (1982) was arguably more early-80’s Funk than Disco but it fit in anyway.
Such a classic, often played at football games, “Good Times” (1979).
“Give It To Me Baby” (1981)
Fur or glitter, choose your flavor!
Celebrity guests from 70’s TV shows included (far right) Kristy McNichol (USA) from “Family” and Marilou Henner (USA) from “Taxi”. I didn’t know the others this year.
The annual “Grease” (1978) dance routine took place next. That famed film about the 1950’s starred John Travolta (USA) with the late Olivia Newton John (AUS).
Photographer taking a photo of another photographer.: Notable Buffalo Photographer Michael Kazinski.
It got sooo crowded not only up front near the stage but throughout the venue.
The predominant music genre at the time was Rock so the emergence of Disco’s popularity absolutely incensed Rock fans. Their hate went over the top when Rock singer Rod Stewart (GB) produced a Disco hit of his own, “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy” (1978).
“Get Down Tonight” (1975)
“Hot Stuff” (1979). While this was a Disco hit, Donna Summer (USA) two years earlier in 1977 had released “I Feel Love” which employed a Moog synthesizer for the first time and is considered one of the most influential records ever. It foreshadowed electronic dance music that would come into popularity nearly a decade later.
“Let It Whip” (1982)
“Instant Replay” (1978). What happened to Disco? It’s considered to have ended with an explosion when Rock fans blew up a huge pile of Disco records in the outfield of Comiskey Park in Chicago in 1979 during an event called Disco Demolition Night. LINK
Midnight arrived all too soon and it was time for their annual tradition of “YMCA” (1978).
The room went bedlam!
Believe me, you’ve not partied until you’ve done the “YMCA” with 6,999 of your newest friends!
World’s Largest Disco always takes place on the Saturday night of Thanksgiving weekend so check out their website here if you’d like more information. We can absolutely assure you that a good time was had by all.