Nile Rodgers & Chic @ The Picture House, 25 July

'See the guy in the hat? That's Pop Music.'

And so it proved to be, as Chic, and Nile Rodgers in particular, take to the stage at the Picture House for one of the most casually epic parties Edinburgh has seen in a while. Epic how? Well, because apart from the fact that the band - a full nine members - make a big ol' sound to a healthy crowd, they play some truly epochal pop music. Casual how? Attitude: no fancy light show, just natty white outfits and an evident joy in playing.

'Here's a song I wrote in 1979,' offers Rodgers before the matchless Good Times, bassline, chorus 'n' all. That song came with the Big Bang! Lest we forget, Rodgers also co-wrote and produced various true-classic cuts for other acts: Upside Down (Diana Ross), He's the Greatest Dancer (Sister Sledge), and even Let's Dance (Bowie) all get an airing tonight, and sound terrific (despite a slightly too-quiet soundsystem in the venue).

Between tracks Rodgers gives us little slices of anecdote and history, and to some his credit-taking could seem a bit blatant. But it'd be a misunderstanding to take this as arrogance. For one thing, talent this outstanding has every right to claim its place - particularly when it is capable of reproducing its best moments so freshly as during tonight's performance. But equally, in this age of the reunion tour, it was crucial for the enjoyment of the show. Even the most perfectly-executed tracks can suffer from overplaying, and these numbers in particular have suffered that fate at the hands of unimaginative DJs.* Rodgers' pride helps make everything that much more personal and real. When the quality of work is this good, self-hype perhaps surprisingly reveals the raw beauty of the work.