The New Edition Way Tour Was A Valentines Love Letter To Baltimore
Photo Credit: CFG Bank Arena/Mike Adams
It was ANYTHING BUT N.E Heart Break at the CFG Bank Arena when the cultural icons New Edition brought their latest tour to Charm City for Valentine’s Day. If you were a person looking for the most opportune gift to give to your special someone, then tickets to this concert should have been a no brainer. Although they were a bit hard to snag since the 20,000-person capacity venue was sold out, if you were lucky enough to be in the building, then you were in for more than a treat.
The New Edition Way Tour line up included New Edition (yes, all six of them were in attendance), the “living legend” Ms. Toni Braxton, and Boyz II Men. This concert was a grown and sexy affair, as both women and men were dressed in their finest evening attire to listen to music that was not only a direct tie in to love, but also helped define their generation. As people filed in from purchasing merch, the tour DJ was warming the crowd up while the stage hands and production crew had to fix the stage, which pushed the start time back a bit. Manager extraordinaire Brooke Payne came out to apologize and let us all know what was going on before introducing NE.
A brief video montage played highlighting key moments in each acts career before smoke filled the stage, and Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky, Mike, and Ralph and Johnny too slowly emerged on a raised platform while an interpolation of The Jackson’s “Can You Feel It” played in the background. The show was officially off and running, featuring their newest single “We Going Out Tonight” as the opening song, but what was interestingly clever was that both Toni and BIIM were also included in this number, singing separate sections of the song. On the original press release for the tour, I remember it saying that this would be a tour like no other because it would include all the acts on stage at one time, and they held true to this promise.
Photo Credit: CFG Bank Arena/Mike Adams
From this point on, the concert felt like a constant game of tag between each artist. Boyz II Men broke out with Doom doom doom da da, doom doom doom da da which slid right into “Motownphilly“, even including the rap with Michael Bivins. While NE and BIIM disappeared from upstage, we heard “Baltimore, I’m home!” over the mic at the same time Toni Braxton appeared downstage in a shimmery dress that was a direct throwback to her outfit that was made famous in the “He Wasn’t Man Enough” music video. Seeing Toni perform with so much passion and effortless energy, it was almost as if you wouldn’t believe the fact that her doctors told her that she wouldn’t ever be able to tour again.
Ricky Bell officially welcomed us to The New Edition Way Tour as the drumroll dropped for “If It Isn’t Love,“ which is always a fan favorite of any of their concerts. It was clear that the members of NE had been heavy on their rehearsal game because they nailed the iconic choreography, mimicking the video to a tee, never missing a step. This particular section of the show was my favorite because it showcased the songs from their “Heart Break” album, which in my own opinion is their best album, so to be able to vibe out and sing along to “You’re Not My Kind of Girl” and “N.E. Heart Break” definitely had me in my zone.
Photo Credit: CFG Bank Arena/Mike Adams
After a quick wardrobe change, Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris, and Shawn Stockman serenaded the ladies with a medley of “Please Don’t Go,” “Uhh Ahh” and “4 Seasons of Loneliness.” Not to keep things too slow of a pace, the queen of the tour would bring a showgirl element to the stage while singing “You’re Makin’ Me High,” “Hit the Freeway,” “Breathe” and “How Many Ways.” Toni’s distinctive growl sounds just as good today on these songs as they did back in the 90’s when she initially debuted, and her low notes are what touches the soul.
The great thing about New Edition is that although they’re amazing as a full and complete unit, they are just as formidable as independent components, and with them having mutual respect for one another, their shows always allow for them to shine line on their solo efforts. Johnny Gill performed his singles “Fairweather Friend” “Rub You The Right Way” and “My My My.” The King of R&B Bobby Brown just barely scratched the surface of his discography with “Don’t Be Cruel,” “Roni” and “My Perogative.” Bell Biv DeVoe took it back to the House Party days with “Do Me!” and “When Will I See You Smile Again?” Let’s not forget the lead singer of the group Ralph Tresvant had some hits too, “Do What I Gotta Do” and “Sensitivity,” which still gets constant rotation around my house today!
For what was close to a three-hour show, it was non-stop black musical excellence. Personally, I’ve never been to a concert where acts are so intertwined into another acts set, creating new layers and breathing new life into songs by lending their harmonies to the background vocals or just their presence giving the energy to make the others on stage just go that much harder.
Other standout moments were when Toni gave a rousing rendition of “Un-Break My Heart” in a long white evening gown with angel wings, “On Bended Knee” being the “kiss and make up song” of the night for the struggling couples, “Can You Stand The Rain?” being the biggest karaoke moment that I’ve ever witnessed live at a concert and when all six members of NE came together to sing the OG 80’s hits that made the teeny bopper girls fall in love with them in the first place.
