Boyz II Men & Brian McKnight
Tulalip Amphitheatre, WA
08.06.15
Unleashing the potency of nostalgia, they know what you want and they’re not afraid to sing it. And you shouldn’t be either. Both Boyz II Men and Brian McKnight have racked up a quarter-century of R&B hits (albeit with a few misses along the way) that have garnered them countless fans the world over. And a healthy segment of those fans were in attendance for their sold out show at Tulalip Resort Casino’s outdoor amphitheater, all singing along with every word.
Brian McKnight opened the show with a stunning set list of hit tracks, immediately pulling all of the heartstrings. You could tell the crowd was ecstatic and McKnight himself seemed like he was having a ball doing what he loves to do. He danced, he joked, he broke out a sexy matte black guitar for a few tunes. He pulled one lucky lady up on stage for a “pretend I’m your boyfriend” serenade and a giant bouquet of red roses. He played his gorgeous cover of Van Morrison’s “Crazy Love” that had all the ladies eating out of the palm of his hand and during “Back At One” the standing audience had their arms in the air, counting along. For a guy with oodles of Grammy nominations and still no win, McKnight is certainly not one to be overlooked. His live game is strong and he puts on a solid show worthy of almost any I’ve seen.
Following that up certainly didn’t seem a challenge for the hoodie-clad Boyz II Men who were everything you ever dreamed they could be, even down one member from the adorably talented foursome of your childhood. Really, they played all the right songs, made all the right moves. They did a few coordinated dances, including one hand-on-shoulder caterpillar across the stage, that made them all the more endearing.
During “On Bended Knee” Shawn Stockman gave us a serious vocal breakdown, pleading with the audience from the front of the stage. Urged on by the crowd, Stockman actually broke out into laughter but pulled it together to finish up the romantic appeal. This led straight into a three-stool seated a capella rendition of “It’s so Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday that was a standout of the show, showing off again just how talented of vocalists the three remaining members truly are. Their revered harmonies are still totally on point, allowing each man to shine yet sounding completely in sync with one another to create some of the most beautiful R&B tracks of the last century.
Though one shouldn’t be too surprised by BIIM’s inclusion of cover songs – they’ve released multiple albums of them – their medley of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” Jimi Hendrix’s “American Woman,” and The Beatles’ “Come together” was just brilliant with Stockman on Guitar, Nathan Morris on bass, and Wanya Morris wailing away. Frankly, I’m not sure that I would have fully appreciated seeing these artists perform live as my 13-year-old self. But now – knowing full well their instrumental and vocal prowess along with their ability to work a crowd and play to their strong sides, the Boyz make guilty pleasures no longer carry shame. Get yourself a ticket to this show for some good clean fun that’ll have you singing all the way home. Or heck – buy a ticket to Vegas, where they’ve signed on to continue their residency through at least the end of the year.
Find tickets for Boyz II Men here and Brian McKnight here.
Boyz II Men Set List
Beautiful Women/Heartbreak
On Bended Knee
It’s so Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday
Please Don’t Go
Uhh Ahh
4 Seasons of Loneliness
Smells Like Teen Spirit, American Woman, Come Together (covers medley)
Amazed
Doin’ Just Fine
Open Arms
Water Runs Dry
I’ll Make Love to You
A Song for Mama
End of the Road
Motownphilly
Review and photos by Stephanie Dore
Boyz II Men
Brian McKnight
