Local venue makes groove history with two R&B super shows in one week!
Funkadelic’s Mothership Lands
by: E. Shaw-Gill
The Mothership landed in Elmwood Park on Saturday, July 2 for the 2nd Annual TAP Hope Fest to a crowd of approximately 1700.
The opening band, ”Look Homeward” from North Carolina, featured a former Roanoker, Alex Bingham, on upright bass. The band, which won last year’s FloydFest “On the Rise” a contest where the fans got to vote for the winner.
During the brief intermission the sky opened and the rain came down but that didn’t stop the show! Neither the crowd nor the performers were bothered by it and then the sun came out.
Plunky & Oneness, a Richmond-based group also warmed up the audience with funk and hip-hop, with Plunky leading the way on sax. “Get Funky with Plunky” is what he had the crowd chanting a message, “Move forward with a new Vision.”
Recognized by Richmond Magazine as Musician of the Year for 1999, Plunky is a sought after artist. He’s performed in Roanoke on several occasions, The Henry Street Festival, Lowell’s, numerous other events including at high schools. He has written film scripts, journals of his travels, poems and over 400 songs.
Plunky & Oneness, has opened shows for Patti Labelle, Ray Charles, Earth Wind & Fire, Yellow Jackets, and Frankie Beverly & Maze, LL Cool J, Chuck Brown, and more. Saturday night they opened for George Clinton and the Parliament Funkadelics. On
Then, what the crowd had been waiting for! George Clinton, Star-Child and Sir Nose, known as Parliament Funkadelic minus Bernie Worrell, the keyboardist, songwriter and synthesizer pioneer who served as co-founder of Parliament-Funkadelic and a key Talking Heads collaborator who passed away on Friday, June 24, after a battle with cancer.
The group came out on stage looking rather normal unlike the rainbow long dreads, diaper wearing, big hat and long nose characters that we were use to seeing. They sang a medley of their hit songs such as “Freak of the week,” “Maggott Brain,” “FlashLight,” “Atomic Dog” and many more.
The show was electicifying and explosive, perfectly fitting for a 4th of July weekend.
Blackstreet headlines 3-act Summer Series
by Jazmine Otey
Performing live at Elmwood Park the Grammy award winning R&B group Blackstreet partnered with guest artists After 7 and Toni!Tony!Tone to more than willingly give their fans the chance to delve fully into the nostalgia of the 90’s.
The phenomenal, R&B groups took stage at Budweiser’s Summer Series Tuesday, June 28 and never failed to keep the audience up out of their seats and thoroughly immersed in old school vibes.
First to take stage were After 7 members Kevon Edmonds, Keith Mitchell and Jason Edmonds who started the hot summer night off with their top ten single “Heat of the Moment” (1989). Keeping true to their well-known classy and elegant persona, they performed in full suits despite the summer heat and rolled out those very suave and debonair moves they are best recognized for.
The group interacted well with the audience, even going so far as to stepping off stage–becoming one with the audience. Taking the moment even higher, Keith Mitchell delighted a fan by sitting with her (with arm around her shoulder) and beguilingly singing to the awestruck aficionado.
After 7 performed a myriad of their well-known hits such as “Gonna Love You Right” (1996), “Nights Like This” (1991), “One Night” (1989), “Baby I’m For Real” (1992) and countless more. However, needless to say, the eventful blast to the past didn’t end with After 7.
Toni!Tony!Tone! came on strong ensuring the soulful vibe was maintained throughout the crowd. Illuminating their original videos on a projection screen behind them, the neo-soul group made certain that their fans felt as if they were reliving their years in the 90’s as they took them back with a plethora of their most popular hits, including their U.S R&B #1 hit, “Little Walter”(1988).
Regardless of their overall changes throughout the years, the group continues to perform just as passionately and effortlessly as when they first started. Playing through the intricate melodies and chord progressions of their popular hits “It Never Rains in California” (1990), “Anniversary” (1993), “Feels Good” (1990) and many more, it was almost a task to not become entranced with the beautifully woven music. Skilled drummer, Timothy Christian, better known as Tone even tossed his drum stick into the crowd after giving his all on a drum solo that wowed the audience.
Nonetheless, one fan addressed as “Daisy” was welcomed to the stage and received the pleasure of having her very own intimate dance with yours truly, Dwayne Wiggins, better known as Toni. He referred to her as a “beautiful flower,” imbuing the ladies in the crowd with a desire for more.
The 3-hour performance proceeded with Blackstreet who starting the performance with an impressive, thrill building introduction. The opener got everyone up and out of their seats as pictures of the performers, Teddy Riley, Dave Hollister, Mark Middleton and Eric Williams were illuminated on the screen.
A countdown and many colorful lights signaled the grand entrance of the group that performed many of their best known hits, including those that made their first album “Blackstreet” (1994) a platinum record. With hit songs such as “Before I let you Go” (1994), “Joy” (1994) and #1 hit on the November 1996 billboard “No Diggity,” the group really continued to pull the audience on a dreamlike journey of the 90’s.
At one point, Teddy Riley performed solo for nearly twenty minutes during a remarkable tribute to Michael Jackson, Toni Braxton, Heavy D and other memorable mentions. Performing songs such as “Remember the Time” by Michael Jackson (1991), “She Ain’t You” by Chris Brown (2011) and “Rump Shaker” (1992), a song Teddy Riley helped produce. Riley’s treatment perfectly added flavor and disparity to the incredible old school review.
Conclusively, Grammy award winning, R&B group, Blackstreet and guest stars After 7 and Toni!Tony!Tone! gave their fans a night they would never forget! Graciously they never failed to praise their audience, as each group gave out roses to the “beautiful ladies.”
Through the outstanding performances of all three groups, the audience was given a delightful opportunity to relive some of the most popular super hits of the 90’s at a show that was thoroughly enjoyed by the many who attended this soul-satisfying event.
