Still got it: New Edition brings the party to FedExForum with Charlie Wilson and Jodeci
The Culture Tour rolled into Memphis’ FedExForum on Sunday night, as a near-capacity crowd showed out for one of the more anticipated R&B packages in recent memory.
Headlined by New Edition, and featuring performances by Charlie Wilson and Jodeci, the tour — put on by the Black Promoters Collective — felt more like a nostalgic party for friends, couples and families alike.
New Edition has been coming to the Mid-South since the mid-'80s, and four decades on the group still managed to dazzle the FedExForum faithful during a 26-song spectacular that touched on the group's biggest hits, as well as the band members' solo and post-New Edition offerings.
New Edition fans flock to FedExForum for The Culture Tour
As the doors opened at 6 p.m., thousands of fans lined up, eager to get in and see the bands they grew up listening to. This was the first local concert featuring the full six-man New Edition lineup — Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, Bobby Brown, Ronnie DeVoe, Ralph Tresvant and Johnny Gill — in a quarter century.
Takita Jordan, 44, and her friend Pamela Smith, 40, said no matter the weather they were coming from Arkansas to see Jodeci and New Edition on the same ticket. They practiced some of their dance moves while waiting in line.
Jordan's earliest memories hearing New Edition are those of her uncle dancing to their music in the house.
"[He] and his friends, they used to sing and dance in the l room all the time to New Edition," Jordan said.
"They used to perform at school performances... to New Edition, so that's how I learned that's how I fell in love with them."
She also got to dance with him and his friends. Her preferred role in the group: Ronnie.
"You know, everybody wants to be Ronnie. But you know, I'm always going to be the Ralph," she laughed. Smith said she's more of a Bobby.
Jordan said she wish she had gotten better seats, but "but the tickets went so fast, I had to get what I can get. And I just said, 'As long as I was I'm in the building, I'm good."
Michelle Little, 54, was in line wearing a bedazzled "Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky & Mike" shirt. She was at FedExForum with her two daughters Erin, 24, and Errica Little, 26.
"I was such a New Edition fan in my day," Michelle said. "We're here to see New Edition, and we're just excited about them getting together to give us a concert today."
For Errica, her earliest memory of New Edition is when her mom dropped her off at a babysitter to go to a New Edition concert with her friends nearly 20 years ago.
Folks were dressed to the nines: Couples wore color-coordinated outfits. Fans were decked out in New Edition merchandise and even full three-piece suits.
Ron Tate, 51, who was in line with his wife, Chennel, 52, donned a royal blue button down satin shirt under a black paisley printed satin vest with white jeans and blue studded sneakers. The outfit was completed with encrusted sunglasses, a cream colored fedora and three gold chains. Chennel made sure to coordinate her outfit with his.
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Ron said grew up listening to New Edition and always looked up to Bivins as a style icon.
"Them my boys," Ron said about the group. "I want to dress like they dress."
New Edition, Jodeci and Charlie Wilson: The songs and Memphis shoutouts
The concert began promptly at 7 p.m. As fans began to fill in the arena, JoJo, Devante, K-Ci and Mr. Dalvin of Jodeci took the stage wearing matching black outfits with red accent.
The "bad boys of R&B" opened with "I'm Still Waiting" from their 1991 album "Forever My Lady" and performed other hits from the album including "Come and Talk to Me," "Forever My Lady" and "Stay."
Their 1995 song "Love U 4 Life" got everyone up on their feet and singing along.
DJ Kool, the rapper behind "Let Me Clear My Throat," spun a set in between and kept the energy flowing. After a few songs, Kool introduced, “my uncle, your uncle, everybody’s uncle" — Charlie Wilson.
Wilson was a highlight of the evening with an unmatched energy and stage presence. He came out immediately prancing and grooving to The Gap Band's "Party Train."
"If you see me stumbling around up here, it’s because I had two knee surgeries," Wilson said, flashing his notable grin. Although his doctor advised against performing, Wilson said, "I said, 'Man, I'm not missin' Memphis, Tennessee.'"
Wilson said he loves Memphis not only for the barbecue but also because of the Grizzlies, specifically mentioning "No. 50," referencing Zach Randolph's retired jersey number.
Despite his injury, Wilson kept on dancing, changing costumes and performing more hits from The Gap Band, like "Burn Rubber on Me," "Outstanding" and "Early in the Morning," songs from his solo career including crowd-crooning "There Goes My Baby" and now TikTok-remixed "You Are," as well as songs he's featured on including Pharrell's "Beautiful" and Zapp's "Computer Love."
Wilson also engaged the couples in the crowd to introduce themselves to their partner the same way he does on his popular song, "Charlie, Last Name Wilson."
Toward the end of his set, Wilson took Memphis to church with his song "I'm Blessed," during which he revealed some of the bumps in his journey but that he has been sober for 27 years.
Finally, Wilson ended his set on a high note with "Outstanding" and an a capella version of the bridge he sung in Ye's "Bound 2."
The DJ kept the energy up playing a set "dedicated to Young Dolph" that featured Southern hip hop classics like "Swag Surfin'," "Wipe Me Down," "Knuck if You Buck," "Stay Fly" and "Preach" by Young Dolph.
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As the lights dimmed, a graphic on the screen resembled a radio finding the proper station. Snippets of various New Edition references in popular rap songs could be heard, highlighting their transcendent impact on the culture. The scale tuned all the way back to 1983, the year New Edition's debut album "Candy Girl" was released.
Uniformed in aquamarine trench coats over black T-shirts and jeans, and, of course, matching wide brimmed fedoras, New Edition emerged on stage. The crowd rose to its feet and cheered for the sextet, as they opened with "Candy Girl."
They performed most of their catalog, including songs from the offshoot group Bell Biv DeVoe and solo projects.
Not shying away from discussing the group's turbulent past, Brown made light that he simply "wasn't there" for the recording of the song "Count Me Out," like the title of the song suggests.
New Edition performed some of the members' solo songs as a group, like Brown's "My Prerogative," "Roni" and a song said to be originally for the group, "Every Little Step I Take."
The crowd's energy hardly wavered between the group's slow jams and up-tempo songs. Bell Biv DeVoe rocked the house with its high-energy hits "Poison" and "Do Me!," getting everyone back up on their feet dancing.
Some members had a moment to perform their solo songs. Tresvant, still a piercing tenor, performed his song "Sensitivity." Bell performed the trio's "When Will I See You Smile Again?," and Brown sang "Rock Wit'cha."
Bell, at one point, told the crowd to, "Look at us now," performing together despite their "ups and downs."
The group was able to get through a large portion of its catalog, including songs like "Jealous Girl," "Cool It Now," "Is This the End?" and "You're Not My Type of Girl."
Gill made a notable vocal performance, getting the whole crowd to belt on his songs like "Fairweather Friend" and "My, My, My."
Most of the crowd mirrored the choreography for songs like "If it Isn't Love" like it was muscle memory, completely in sync with the group as it performed.
Finally, after four costume changes, the group members changed back into their original outfits to close with a soulful performance of "Can You Stand the Rain."