The chance to see two of the top R&B groups of the ’90s — hitmakers SWV and Xscape — share the stage together proved to be a huge draw, pulling in a capacity crowd of some 13,000 fans to opening night of the Queens of R&B Tour on Thursday (June 27) to the Toyota Pavilion in Concord.
And the show turned out to be as great, and maybe even better, than fans could have hoped for, as the two trios mixed and matched songs — and, most wonderfully, shared vocals — during the course of a thoroughly entertaining co-headlining set that touched on (at least parts of) some 30 songs.
Fans who are planning to catch this tour — also featuring fellow ’90s R&B favorites Mya, 702 and Total — as it continues through other parts of the country, before winding to a close at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles on Aug. 18, should expect to witness nothing less than one of the best shows of the year.
That’s because, only one night into the run, this SWV-Xscape package is shaping up to be the roadshow to beat in 2024.
One could feel the energy of the occasion well before they got to the Pavilion, as cars inched along Kirker Pass Road as the passengers prepped for the show with shared laughter, smiles and singing. Even though the traffic was horrendous, causing the Pavilion to use its overflow parking and shuttle service, people still seemed to be in a great mood (even though, in many cases, it caused them to miss some/many of the acts who were lower on the bill).
Once inside, SWV and Xscape would make dealing with the traffic and parking issues feel very much worthwhile as they two acts combined for a performance that felt so different — and so much more vibrant — then what we often get with co-headlining treks.
Instead of the usual approach of the top two artists simply putting their own sets — and perhaps rotating who gets to close the show each night — these two iconic R&B trios completely sewed their sets together and constantly volleyed the spotlight between them.
Xscape would appear for a few minutes, running through such favorites as “Feels So Good,” “Can’t Hang” and “Keep On, Keepin’ On.” Then SWV — consisting of Tamara “Taj” George, Cheryl “Coko” Gamble and Leanne “Lelee” Lyons — would pop up and croon through the likes of “I’m So Into You” and “Right Here.”
Of course, this kind of a show doesn’t work — at all — if the groups don’t work well onstage together. Fortunately, SWV and Xscape’s music flows together like a masterful ’90s mixtape and, just as importantly, the two teams seem to like each other and enjoy combining forces.
It’s the latter that may surprise viewers of the 2023’s “SWV & Xscape: The Queens of R&B,” a reality TV mini-series on the Bravo channel that focused on the two acts as they prepped to hit the road …read more
Source:: The Mercury News – Entertainment
