“line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;”>“You better do
that, Stokley…we already know you ain’t nothing to play
with.”
“line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;”>A random audience
member couldn’t help but respond after Mint Condition frontman
Stokley Williams headed back towards the microphone after making
his rounds to three different instruments during their 2009 visit
to The Pageant.
“line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;”>The venue was
packed with fans who knew each of the band members by name as the
multifaceted musicians shifted around stage playing musical chairs
from one instrument to the next.
“line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;”>
“mso-spacerun: yes;”>
Allen, keyboardist and saxophonist. “I love the energy there.
Hopefully we can get back really soon.”
“line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;”>At the time
Allen, Stokely Williams and Ricky Kinchen were speaking with
The American to
promote their newest studio album
“mso-bidi-font-style: normal;”>Seven
spring. St. Louis was on their wish list of cities for the
Seven
tour.
“line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;”>Thanks to the
Budweiser Superfest, this wish will come true next Thursday at the
Verizon Wireless Amphitheater featured in Jill Scott’s Summer Block
Party with Scott, Anthony Hamilton and DJ Jazzy Jeff.
“line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;”>“We’ve been a big
part of people lives,” said Ricky Kinchen, bassist for Mint
Condition. “It’s still going things are still happening, and we are
still grateful.”
“line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;”>It’s been 20
years since the Minneapolis soul band made their national debut
with their top-five R&B/top 10 pop hit “Breakin’ My Heart
(Pretty Brown Eyes).” Mint Condition was shoved in with R&B
bands that simultaneously burst on the scene, including Tony! Toni!
Tone! and Lo Key.
“line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;”>Although Tony!
Toni! Tone! would enjoy the majority of the commercial and critical
success, the award for staying power belongs to Mint
Condition.
“line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;”>“It’s been a
journey,” Kinchen said. “All you can do is appreciate all of the
things around you and
don’t look back. There are a lot of people that started out with us
that aren’t here right now.”
“line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;”>“And some of them
have sold 30 million records,” Williams chimed in.
“line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;”>The Original
members of Tony!Toni! Tone! disbanded several years back. They’ve
continued with new members with little success while founding
member Raphael Saddiq established himself as a formidable solo soul
artist. Lo Key faded into obscurity not long after their 1994
sophomore release.
“line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;”>Mint Condition is
the last band standing, but it hasn’t been an easy road. Their
current label Shanachie Records is their fourth stop.
“line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;”>“Everybody has
ups and downs in the industry,” Williams said. “You forget the
experience, and you keep the lesson.”
“line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;”>Mint Condition is
still going strong – with all of its original members. Although
they tend to maintain an altitude that’s just under the radar for
R&B music, they manage a monster chart-topper every other year
or so and have managed to keep fans engaged for more than two
decades.
“line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;”>“We keep our ears
and eyes to the streets, try to keep current,” Allen
said.
“line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;”>“Some of us write
from true stories, while some are more narrative and may be part
fiction,” Kinchen said. “But it’s all real because it’s coming from
the heart.”
“line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;”>Mint Condition
always manages to strike a chord with vivid and relatable lyrics,
including “What Kind of Man Would I Be,” “You Send Me Swingin’,”
“Nothing Left to Say,” and their latest single “Not My Daddy”
featuring Kelly Price.
“line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;”>They are grateful
that they caught the eye of hit-making production team Jimmy Jam
and Terry Lewis in their hometown of Minneapolis so many years
ago.
“line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;”>“Sharing and
making feel people feel some kind of way with our music has been
life-changing to say the least,” Kinchen said. “Thanks to the fans
for keeping us here and keeping us inspired.”
“line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;”>
“mso-bidi-font-style: normal;”>Mint Condition will perform as part of the Budweiser Superfest Presents: Jill Scott’s Summer Block Party at 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 4 at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater along with Scott, Anthony Hamilton and DJ Jazzy Jeff with host Doug E. Fresh. For tickets or more information, visit
“http://www.livenation.com/”>www.livenation.com
