Some fans may have found it hard to fathom an incarnation of New Edition without lead singers Ralph Tresvant and Johnny Gill. But the truth is Ronnie DeVoe, Bobby Brown, Ricky Bell and Michael Bivins forged identities from themselves outside of the boy band that made them famous – Brown as a solo artist and the breakaway trio Bell Biv DeVoe. The die-hard St. Louis fans who put their justified feelings about the fragmented reunion aside Sunday night got a chance to see that the group’s respective post- New Edition resumes have enough weight to carry a show on their own.
Those expecting to see the abbreviated group’s take on New Edition classics got something else altogether. New Edition reunion single “Hit Me Off,” “Mr. Telephone Man” and a few lines made by Bell during an extended solo for “Smile Again” were about it for references to the music of New Edition.
Members Tresvant and Gill were shouted out by the other group members more than once over the course of the night. “We are New Edition brothers for life,” Bell said as he pointed out that the group had reached the milestone of four decades in music.
Instead of a New Edition 40-year anniversary tour, fans got RBRM – which was not a consolation prize by any means. Backed by a live band a large crew of dancers, the group’s reinvention, which blended the biggest hits from Brown and BBD, was a win. Bell told the crowd that he was excited to be able to perform Brown’s hits along with him and vice versa. The result was something all four could be proud of.
The tour had some buzz thanks to being less than two weeks out from the airing of “The Bobby Brown Story” on BET. Often characterized as the “bad boy of R&B,” and taking heat from antics on and off stage, he was lauded as a survivor when he stood before St. Louis fans based on what they saw over the course of the two-part miniseries (that Brown produced). He proved it true as he powered through his portions of the performance – which kicked off with Brown’s hit “My Prerogative.”
Aside from the BBD smash “Poison,” it was Brown’s catalog that fared best with fans, particularly “Don’t Be Cruel,” “Roni,” “Every Little Step.” Brown had the bigger hits of the two acts, but he also has the biggest presence among the group. Bell has the vocal chops to be an official lead singer, but for whatever reason he lacks the confidence, so Brown’s energy is a much needed asset that has always been missing from the BBD experience despite the presence of a strong singer in the trio.
BBD hits “Do Me,” “B.B.D. (I Thought It Was Me)?” and “Something In Your Eyes” were also among those performed. Fans who may have been suspicious couldn’t help but be satisfied with RBRM.
The same can’t be said for the entire roster of opening performances. After a strong opening spin session from 95.5 FM’s DJ Kut, Durham, North Carolina native Trez Falsetto was a bust with a crop of covers better suited for a community center talent competition than a major act arena show. Ginuwine’s “Pony” and R. Kelly’s “You Remind Me of My Jeep” were among them. His single “Drove” is a decent song to groove along with, but he had already lost the crowd.
R&B veteran Case didn’t fare any better with an abbreviated set that didn’t seem short enough. “Happily Ever After,” “Missing You” and “Faded Pictures” were marginally received at best. Fans got into his breakthrough hit “Touch Me, Tease Me,” but were otherwise unbothered.
After underwhelming efforts from Falsetto and Case, hip-hop legend DJ Kid Capri restored the energy of the crowd just in time for RBRM to hit the stage with a masterful mix of black music classics that blended generations and genres from classic soul, R&B and rap.
