Singer, songwriter, and actress Mary J. Blige displayed her vulnerability and sang from deep within her soul for the St. Louis stop of her “For My Fans” tour Wednesday night at Enterprise Center. Throughout the concert Blige gave glimpses of her life through a collage of media coverage – where she spoke about the path to self-acceptance while on her 30-plus year journey as the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul.
“Doing the work on yourself is not easy but it’s mandatory,” she stated in one of the montages. “You don’t have to be perfect to feel worthy.” Many affirmations like these filled montages that served as transitions for her set. She encouraged the audience. And managed to do so while maintaining her grown-and-sexy attitude.
Her featured performers set the tone for a night that was grown-and-sexy from start to finish.
The stage was framed by two large hands, appearing ravaged, and holding a heavy crown. She began with songs for her day one fans. As she sang “Love No Limit”, “Mary Jane (All Night Long)” and “You Remind Me,” images of the Brooklyn Bridge projected behind her.
R&B veteran Mario opened the show. Accompanied with a live band and two backup dancers, he took the stage in a monochromatic eggshell pants, top, and jacket dusted in jewels that caught the light just right as he moved across the stage.
He began to sing “Just a Friend” as the image of two chrome sculptures in an erotic embrace twirled on the screen behind him. He then moved into “How Do I Breathe” and the sculptures evaporated into bright turquoise rippling silk sheets.
Denim seemed to be the unspoken theme of the night. Many distressed and acid washed sets and jean jumpsuits could be seen rocking back and forth during his performance of “Music for Love.” The dancers then moved closer to Mario for his new single “Keep Going.” The sensual track released two months ago had choreography to match the content of the song. The audience gawked at the salacious moves as Mario led the dancers in a scene that was fit for the bedroom.
Three-time Grammy Award winner Neyo captivated the audience with a high energy set that was impeccably choreographed from start to finish. He danced in a black floor-length trench coat and pants to match. The look was topped off with a black cowboy hat and a stark white peasant-style button up shirt left slightly open. His grown-and-sexy energy was in full effect with the look that was more seductive than audiences usually see from Ne-Yo.
His dancers, “The Miss Rights” took the stage while he sang “She Got Her Own” and “Miss Independent.” They also wore floor length trench coats. Underneath them were lace leotards with black, thigh high patent leather high heel boots and gloves to match that extended past their elbows.
Neyo played with a live band as well – which seamlessly transitioned from one song to the next. With this new look and the dancers behind him, his performance of “Because of You” and “Nobody,” created an even more sultry atmosphere. As the music segued into “One in a Million,” his dancers joined him with moves that resembled Michael Jackson. They were dressed in black pants and silver shoes to complete the look.
“Do You” was performed under a lone spotlight that merged into an array of blue as “Mad” began to play. The screen then showed heavy rain with a feed of Ne-Yo that made it appear as if he was singing in the rain. The special effects added to the intensity – and seemed to encourage the audience to sing along louder. “Oh, baby, I know sometimes it’s gonna rain,” fans sang at the top of their lungs, turning Enterprise Center into a chorus of Ne-Yo background singers. “But baby, can we make up now ’cause I can’t sleep through the pain.”
The woman of the hour emerged from a layer of smoke singing “Take Me As I Am” on the second stage positioned in the VIP section – which was decked out with plush couches and complimentary wine. The silhouette revealed a floor length seafoam fur coat with a matching encrusted bodysuit and, of course, her signature boots to match. The look was topped off with a wide-brim flat top hat in the same light seafoam color.
Blige marveled the crowd as she sang “A Dream” while floating across the audience from one stage to the next. She was met on the mainstage by her backup singers “The Mary Janes.” There was also a group of high energy dancers and a live band. The stage was framed by two large hands, appearing ravaged, and holding a heavy crown. She began with songs for her day one fans. As she sang “Love No Limit”, “Mary Jane (All Night Long)” and “You Remind Me,” images of the Brooklyn Bridge projected behind her.
She cut to more recent songs like “Still Believe In Love” and “You Ain’t The Only One,” but quickly took the show back down memory lane again with “My Love.” Fans sang along and two-stepped in the aisles to her classic refrain.
She used past media coverage as an opportunity to discuss some of her deepest insecurities – like not feeling pretty or smart enough – as they were displayed above the tattered hands and crown.
The crown backdrop faded into a recording studio that grew larger and filled with her awards and platinum records as she powered through her discography. The audience danced – some even came out of their shoes to continue the party. With the high energy and sensuality filling the room, the packed arena of mostly women left feeling sexier and more confident than ever.
AMAZING, concert. There humbleness and gratitude for there dancers, musicians and audience made the show all the more better.
I WANT SOME MORE