In the midst of Grammy weekend, New Edition's Los Angeles tour stop at the Kia Forum on Saturday was a powerful statement about longevity and a reminder that the power of R&B should never be underestimated. Seeing all six members of the iconic vocal group on stage before a sold-out crowd more than four decades after their careers began reflects a group still fully present, with a visible love for the music they continue to perform.
Fellow R&B royalty Boyz II Men and Toni Braxton were perfect additions to the lineup of seasoned veterans whose music stands the test of time.
New Edition on the Kia Forum stage.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
The crowd at the Kia Forum reflected the wide scope of New Edition's impact, with lifelong fans who are now parents bringing their children to experience live music, and a younger generation who likely discovered the group long after their heyday through later productions like the 2017 BET miniseries “The New Edition Story.” The audience has expanded beyond the generation that first embraced them. That combination of familiarity and discovery created an atmosphere that felt like a celebration and a family reunion on Saturday night.
New Edition dominated the stage with undeniable energy, delivering polished and synchronized choreography, a testament to the foundation laid early on and the lasting imprint of the band's original manager and choreographer, Brooke Payne. To open the nearly three-hour concert, New Edition began with a new song, “Going Out Tonight,” accompanied on stage by Braxton and Boyz II Men, proving that there is still room for something new alongside the classics.
Instead of separating each act into their own set, the show ran like a rotating hit factory, with New Edition, Braxton and Boyz II Men weaving in and out of the setlist. New Edition anchored the night, returning to the stage repeatedly while making room for solo moments from Bobby Brown, Ralph Tresvant and Johnny Gill, as well as a Bell Biv DeVoe segment that reminded the crowd of the immense catalog these artists have. The cadence was the perfect balance to keep the energy high and of course what is R&B without some ballads and sad love songs? It was like being on a tour bus, with each stop featuring different eras, even with a brief intermission where B2K came on stage to perform “Bump Bump Bump.”
Fans move to the music as Boyz II Men perform Saturday at the Kia Forum in Inglewood.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
“Can You Stand the Rain,” “Candy Girl,” and “Mr. Telephone Man” highlighted New Edition's collective chemistry, and even amid the physicality of the choreography, the group performed multiple outfit changes, featuring matching looks.
Bobby Brown performs with New Edition at the Kia Forum.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
There was a sense of flow throughout the night that also left room for personality. One of the funniest moments of the night came when Bobby Brown joked, “Yeah, that's me, the crazy one,” before singing “Every Little Step.” Every moment felt well-placed, from a group deeply experienced in shaping a live show.
Tresvant's solo was smooth and sensual. Gill gave a powerful performance, showcasing her vocal ability. Bell Biv DeVoe brought a swagger that only they can, blending R&B and hip-hop in a way that still has fans screaming the lyrics to “Poison.”
Boyz II Men dance in unison on Saturday at the Kia Forum.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
A surprise to many, this is the first time New Edition and Boyz II Men have toured together, despite their long-standing connection through Michael Bivins, who first discovered Boyz II Men. Even though the show came decades later, it still seemed like the right time.
Boyz II Men's Shawn Stockman, Wanya Morris and Nathan Morris are still as vocally strong as they were 30 years ago, but with more experience, and you can hear the gratitude in their voices for having come this far in their careers. They paid tribute to the celebrities we lost last year with a slideshow, and the moving performance of “It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday” was a perfect segue into “One Sweet Day” (which they performed without Mariah Carey, who was just honored as Person of the Year at the annual MusiCares gala), as the entire stadium sang along. Their performance made it clear that they have protected the treasure that has brought them this far: their voices.
Toni Braxton sings Saturday at the Kia Forum.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Toni Braxton completed the lineup as the tour's only solo artist and the only female headliner. She dominated the stage with her vocal range, making her one of the most recognized and influential artists in R&B. She paired her ballads with upbeat records, prompting applause when Kayla Nicole joined her during “I wasn't man enough.” He also briefly spoke about his gratitude for being able to continue acting, acknowledging a path that hasn't always been easy. Once doctors told her that a lupus diagnosis could limit her ability to do so, Braxton stood on stage, still moving freely and playing every note.
In an industry that might seem to have left behind the R&B era when these artists ruled, the concert proved that the music is still deeply desired and fully capable of filling stadiums. Saturday's show not only paid homage to the music many grew up with, but also provided a clear view for emerging R&B artists and Grammy-winning hopefuls in the crowd (including some famous fans who also won some statuettes), showing how far the genre can take them when built on a solid foundation.
