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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>It was full-on calamity tryin’ to get into Soldier’s Memorial Friday for Celebrate St. Louis Summer Concert presentation of a surprisingly resurrected Bell Biv Devoe. Just when I thought the final nail was hammered into the elongated coffin that housed the mile high box cut singers, I was gagged with the announcement that seem to come out of Headscratchville. I was unaware that the group still performed – let alone would be selected as one of the featured acts for this year’s festivities. Now don’t get me wrong, I shuffled with the best of them to the one and a half hits spurned out from the trio. In fact I still have my well-preserved paint splattered denim overalls and backwards hat set to prove it. But even considerin’ their long hiatus, the boys still know how to put on a show. When I first arrived, the DJ set was in full swing as
“mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;”>Reggie resident hype man. He put his all-white linen pants suit to good use as he hopped and skipped on stage to get the crowd enthused. It was when the Casper and Cha Cha’s tired slide got underway that I noticed somethin’ most unusual. I never knew that one could partake in such with a baby on their hip. But clearly one homegirl didn’t mind as the poor thing was flailin’ around like a puppet. I was quietly waitin’ for the baby to suddenly skyrocket in the middle of a “turn it out…” Meanwhile, after steppin’ on several sets of feet and knockin’ over a couple of coolers, I finally plopped down in time to see them emerge with “Too Dope”. Fashioned in white vests and jeans, the guys looked relatively agile and refreshed for 40-somethings. Their staple choreography shined through “I Thought It Was Me” and “Hot 2nite.” It really turned into a true house party once the guys gave a few
“mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;”>Kid N Play the while keepin’ the crowd on their feet and braless ladies coming out of their camis. The interpreter lady that was posted on lower stage right was kept busy as a
“mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;”>New Edition followed with shortened versions of “Mr. Telephone Man,” “Cool It Now,” and “Candy Girl” with help from a lucky lady from the audience who seemed to prefer doing a 8-count versus actually singin’. Ricky Bell then took center stage to take on ballads “I Do Need You,” “Something in Your Eyes,” and “When Will I See You Smile Again?” and also managed to squeeze in his diminished part of New Editions “Can You Stand the Rain.” Their biggest hit, “Poison” came expectedly to close out their set which was decorated with handpicked audience members to see who could kick-ball chain the best. As several sets of ladies did their best footwork to BBD’s likin’, the boys will go down for putting a show that the old and new school could appreciate. Shout outs go to
“mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;”>Nato Caliph show with help from
“mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;”>Vandalyzm Black Spade.