Live Review: RnB Fridayz Live

HBF Park, Perth on November 5th 2022

Review by Sheldon Ang

Photos: Sheldon Ang Photography

The artist marches onto the barrier with a stylistic bravado and conviction, rising with an imperious vanity above the RnB army. He eyes on a drowning reveller among the fanatical hysteria of the East Coast and Southern beats. Like squirting fuel to an inferno, he grabs her phone and snaps a photo of himself, while blasting to the top of his lungs over the sea of people. Punters within several arms’ reach offer their devices, hoping to seize the memory of a lifetime. He obliges – to some.  After a moment of reflection, as if he has been counting down, the 200-pounder ques the leap of faith and dives onto the sea of arms. The stadium erupts, as he drifts along the canopy of fans, powered by the boisterous army of seventeen thousand…

Welcome to the hottest event of the year.

Perth had their first taste of stadium concert since the start of the pandemic. For the near capacity crowd, it was an evening of reminiscence, flexing on the groove train piloted by old school rhythm and blues. They were classics that reigned across the airways once upon a time, recruiting an army of swaggers and suaves. When the fusion of pop, funk, hip hop, rap and electronic are manifested by a soulful creator, the effect is apparent – as evident on the night.

The event was headlined by Macklemore, although given the spread of talent with a healthy accumulation of Grammy nominations, it could have also been TLC or Akon.  Irrespective of ones’ favorites, most have renewed their vows with the sassy, sexy and salacious sounds of classic RnB.

The evening kicked off with Lumidee, who rose to fame in 2003. The crowd got into the groove early in the set piece with hits like Never Leave You and later She’s Like the Wind.

The event shifted to next gear with Dru Hill oozing their soul, hip hop and gospel repertoire across the stadium. The men from Baltimore have graced the stage since 1992 with several top 40 hits, and driving the spirit of the evening with hits In My Bed, Never Make a Promise and How Deep is Your Love. Original member Sisqo was the catalyst with the stage antics of cartwheels and boom boom magic. The foursome were often joined by satellite rappers and soul surfers, supercharging the stage presence of old school RnB. Perhaps most would have loved for a surprise performance of the Thong Song (“yeaaaahhh”) but it wasn’t about personal egos amongst the brotherhood. “We have been together for 25 years. That doesn’t mean we are old, it means we are eligible for the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame!” says Sisqo. From the addictive vocal performance and the suave dance choreography, Dru Hill exemplify a class act.

Next was the pioneer of Bhangra-RnB Fusion Jay Sean, an English singer songwriter and record producer who made it big with Eyes on You and Stolen, his two seminal hits in 2004. The most successful RnB British male on the urban charts mellifluously translated his studio suave onto the stage, and perhaps energised by the horde of screaming females

Arguably, Shaggy was the first household name to grace the stage. The American Jamaican showed why he has been nominated with seven Grammy Awards, winning two for Best Reggae Album with Bombastic in 1996 and 44/876 with Sting.  While the big hits have become a saying with a lyrical undertone, “it wasn’t me”, his show transcend the ages. The singer’s on stage humour and moves were contagious, often gyrating his hips and translating HBF Park into a dance filled fest even through the less familiar tracks. Unsurprisingly, Bombastic, It Wasn’t Me and Angel were the sing alongs. Despite being 55, he oozed the energy of his 90’s self with that signature phlegmy toasting vocals. For 30 minutes, everyone became a Jamaican.

For many, the evening had arrived with “The Queen of RnB” Ashanti. The singer hit the peak with Foolish, becoming the second singer to reached two number hits on the Billboard 100 (second to The Beatles) with What’s Love. The multi-platinum artist captivated the crowd with the voice that propagate hurt, love and empowerment. The New Yorker swooning vocals oozed the influences from the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and Whitney Houston to the softening vocals in Mary J Blight and the energy of a Beyonce set, while taking lead in a vivacious dance choreography with four others in a spectacular fashion as the sun kissed the horizon.

Following Ashanti was Craig David – best known for 7 Days, Walking Away, and Fill Me In. David was super cool, weaving through the stage with smoldering charm. It was also a moment when fans could chill out after the high energy performance of the previous two. The fourteen-time nominee for Brit Awards and two-time Grammy nominee entraped the audience through the art of vocal persuasion, matching the title of his track 2000 debut album Born to Do it. He signature staccato rhythm, intertwining with the mellifluous story telling skills was on point like the studio version.  

Next was Akon, who could have drawn an arena crowd on his own. The former refugee’s stage presence was undeniably discernable. His witty and silky West African styled vocals was an infectious delight. The Senegalese American exuded a lot of soul in the live performance that’s normally hidden under the blanket of the studio enclosure. He is a smooth arrival, pouring his energy as he underlined himself as a purebred performer, even joining the crowd through a dive – where we hope he has a legit insurance. Smitten by the East Coast and Southern beats, the crowd roared with Smack That, Lonely, I Wanna Love You – although the dirty version was recited, and the chorus of I Just Had Sex – which unsurprisingly, became the most boisterous audience participation in the history of kareoke. He is THE act that many came to watch.

If the fans were not here for the headliner or Akon, it would be for TLC, the penultimate performer on the setlist.  The former trio is the epitome of female group old school RnB. The night transformed into a nostalgic and poignant fest through Waterfalls, No Scrubs, Creep and Unpretty; tracks that became the anthem to millions, translating into dedicated mobile phones moment (in lieu of lighters). No other group had the commercial and cultural success as TLC, after becoming the second highest selling female all girl group in the world behind Spice Girls. That was with Lisa Lopez, who tragically passed away in a car crash in 2002. And rightly so the group continued as a duet. It was interesting to see the arrangement of T-Boz and Chilli without Lopez. The rap bit in Waterfalls – for example, was recorded, beaming from the PA speakers. It was a surreal moment, if not poignant – as if it was performed from a different dimension. Still, even without the L in “Left Eye” Lopes, TLC are sassy, vocally sensual and empowered. They’re still the same Crazy, Sexy and Cool as they were in the 90s. “Let’s give it up for Lisa Lopez”.

Now comes the headliner – Macklemore. At 40 years young with hits in the last decade, the American rapper is the baby of the night – which was also a wise decision by the promoter to also reel in the younger crowd. The energy propagated by the artist from Seattle took the audience to an unbridled euphoria. Backed by hip gyrating brass musicians and an ensemble of malleable dancers, Macklemore pounced the stage with springs in his steps.

The night was divided between albums The Heist and Gemini. His latest track Chant released in July of this year features Tones and I (“Dance Monkey”), who joined him on stage for a few tracks. “Australia, you should be proud of her”. And just like Akon, Macklemore got close with the audience.  If the old school RnB fans were not familiar with Macklemore, they’d know his songs such as Can’t Hold Us, Thrift Shop and the comeback track, Glorious – but that’d be irrelevant; just like attending a David Copperfield show without knowing the magical plot, viewers were kept on their feet throughout the show. The entire set was a highlight, casting every cent and dollar of a Las Vegas-esque performance.

And with that, the RnB Fridayz of 2022 is the best live show since 2020.

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The writer would like to thank Frontier Touring for generously accommodating us at the pit. Check out their site and follow them for upcoming shows!

Rnb Fridayz Live will be in Brisbane and Sydney on the 11th and 12 of November respectively. Click here for info and tickets

About the Writer: Sheldon Ang is the founder, photographer and writer of SAM, having covered some of the hottest acts in Perth since launching in May of 2022.