Last night in Merrillville, IN I got to see New Edition and Brian McKnight when their tour stopped at Star Plaza.


I was blown away by how incredible New Edition is on stage. They are the ultimate showmen. I can't believe Diddy fucked up their return.

I left the concert wanting more and wishing they had a good new album out.


They were suave, smooth, and sang LIVE and well, even as they danced. Now Usher sounds horrible in concert, but NE -- all of them -- Ralph Tresvant, Ronnie Devoe, Ricky Bell, Mike Bivens, and Johnnie Gill -- were like Memorex. They had a live band ... no backing tracks whatsoever.


It was unbelievable good time. The audience was clearly into them.

The songs from N.E. Heartbreak went over really well (I mean their catalog is so fucking contagious), and surprisingly when they did their early pop hits Candy Girl and Mr. Telephone Man ... it wasn't even cheesy.

It was so fun... because they all had such chemistry and personality on stage. They might be the best male group to emerge since the Motown era. Contagious, I tell you!

It helped that it was a small theater -- 3,400 -- I felt like I was in the living room with them.

When they launched into BBD's Poison as the closer, the crowd went wild! I mean really "You'll fall in love and you'll be screamin' 'Demon!' Ooh." Those are some damn good lyrics

I think all their songs are so well-crafted that Diddy should be shot for manipulating the songs on ONE LoVe so that they had to sing about booties and such a mundane way. Please, NE is suaver than that ... when they sing about sex they are way more creative.

Anyway, many folks left after they finished... to me they were the headliner not B. McKnight.

If you get a chance to see them in Chicago tonight, you should go. You will not be disappointed.

Now, on to McKnight... I've never been a big fan. I thought he was a run of the mill R&B singer. I mean Back at One, which is one of the few songs I'm familiar with, is pretty boring standard fare.

Boy was I wrong. Dude is a mad songwriter. He had the audience swooning. I thought he only played piano. But he came out with a fucking electric guitar and tore shit up despite having mostly slow love songs.... to hear slow love songs with electric guitar was incredible.... I declare some of his vocal delivery and lyrical phrasing reminded me of Prince. His guitar playing was very Prince too.

He's clearly influenced -- I mean he even played Kiss and showed Prince on the video screen when he talked his idols (Stevie, Bee Gees, Marvin Gaye too)

He is so ecletic. I had no idea his music was so rich and moving.

I left the show a definite B. McKnight fan.


One of the best concerts I've attended in a long while.

Brian of course sang live too. And I mean he tore the house down. And like Prince, he said stuff like "I'm so glad the people here love real music"

One of his sons played guitar and another sang a song with him.... they were very talented.

Again... completely blown away... if tickets aren't sold out in Chicago... you must go.

i passed on this show in bmore cause it was a shitty weather day (outdoor pavillion)...glad you had a good time

They recently played the theatre in Madison Square Garden. Bobby Brown came out and sang with boys on 1 tune and kept saying to the crowd: "If I had a few more minutes, I would blow all your asses away", then left the stage. Then during Brian McKnight's set, Bobby came back out (unannouced) and picked up the mic and starting singing again. Brian let him go for a litle bit, then signaled for security. Security came out and had to escort him offstage.

I heard about that. That's a damned shame. NO respect.

I thought Bobby was off the drugs... I'm sure the gang won't invite him along again ... despite the love they showed for him on the Behind the Music special.

meltwithu said:

You missed a treat

I really LOVE Brian McKnight. I think he is WAY underrated. I saw him perform on his BET special concert(I think it was BET), and I was blown away by his musicianship: he is so diverse. Plus, Brian gave a wonderful performance on a Stevie Wonder tribute a while ago. Yeah, it seems that a number of people just don't like him, but I think Brian is great vocalist, all-around musician, and songwriter.

You're are so lucky to have seen him perform live.

Isel said:

Yes I was gurl! I didn't know he was THAT sexy. For a moment, the show was gettin kinda lewd ... especially when he sang In the Backseat Gettin' Down... when he sang the part about 'eating you' the crowd certainly got the double meaning....

He changed clothes behind a transparent door that allowed you to see his silhouette. Hot! Boy's got bodee!

Newly divorced, he is clearly cruising for some action. He went out into the audience and invited someone on stage to dance seductively with him. I'm pretty sure he went home with some groupies last night

But beyond the sexiness, he voice and musicianship were great ... although a Price is Right sketch he did was a bit cheesy....

MY FAVORITE GROUP OF ALL TIME FUCK!!!! I need to see them sometime in my life!!!!

SynthiaRose said:

oh hell....I just finished eating!

i didn't get tics because i don't like brian mcknight. i saw him years ago and was like WTF. granted he had just come out but anyhoo i heard from a few friends that the show was really good.
[Edited 6/26/05 13:37pm]