Bell Biv DeVoe recreates ’90s R&B magic in San Francisco
Bell Biv DeVoe will perform at the Chase Center in San Francisco on October 2, 2021. Sean Liming / STAFF.
SAN FRANCISCO – It’s been almost 31 years since New Edition members Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins and Ronnie Devoe named themselves Bell Biv DeVoe and released their debut album. But while 1990 seems like a long time, many of the group’s fans, now in their 40s and 50s, were ready to dance and sing along to the trio’s classics at the Chase Center on Saturday.
SWV will perform at the Chase Center in San Francisco on October 2, 2021.
Bell Biv DeVoe started with the characteristic melodies “Do Me”, “BBD (I Thought It Was Me)?” And tracks like “Find a Way” and “Run”. The audience response to the New Edition songs “Hot2Nite”, “Candy Girl” and “Cool It Now” was very lively. Bell, Bivins and DeVoe, even in their 50s, danced through the entire performance. Hit single “Do Me!” had moved the entire building as a unit, while DeVoes and Bivins’ black horses remained energetic and fun decades later.
For the last song of the evening, Bell Biv DeVoe delivered their biggest hit “Poison” and sent the fans with a high note.
The show doesn’t just want BBD, however. The line-up was filled with six other acts who rekindled the nostalgia of the 90s at Chase. Since the entire show ran for about three and a half hours, that meant each of the other acts had up to 25 minutes to do their thing.
Vocal trio SWVHer “Sisters With Voices” Cheryl “Coko” Gamble, Tamara “Taj” Johnson and Leanne “Lelee” Lyons delivered an electrifying performance. SWV plunged into hits like “Anything”, “Can We”, “Rain” and “Right Here”. Gamble, Johnson and Lyons then serenaded with “You’re Always On My Mind” and “Use Your Heart”.
Brian McKnight will perform at the Chase Center in San Francisco on October 2, 2021.
SWV joked and ruffled the crowd before closing with one of their favorite hits, the silky smooth “Weak”.
Brian McKnight began his 25-minute set with this all-cover cover of Marvin Gay’s “Sexual Healing”. While he sounded great, there were clearly some audio issues on his and some previous performances that were an issue.
McKnight was not influenced by this and peered through an amazing version of “Anything”. Problems were solved when he performed covers of Michael Jackson’s “I Want to Rock With You”, Prince’s “Baby, Baby, Baby” and Whitney Houston’s “I Believe In You and Me”.
Ginuwine will perform at the Chase Center in San Francisco on October 2, 2021.
Ginuwein made the most of his 15 minutes on stage. With a big red feather boa around his collar, he sang “Same Ole G”, “In These Jeans” and before closing he went to the back of the arena while he sang “Pony”. Atlanta R&B group 112 started with “Dance With Me” before moving on to perfectly choreographed melodies like “Cupid” and “Only You” and “Peaches and Cream”.
Silk, which started in 1989, got through “Let Me Love You” and “Meeting in My Bedroom” before ending with a fun four-part harmonization on “Freak You”. Las Vegas trio 702 opened the night with a slow jam “Get It Together” and included “Where My Girls At” in its three-song set.
Bell Biv DeVoe will perform at the Chase Center in San Francisco on October 2, 2021.
Bell Biv DeVoe will perform at the Chase Center in San Francisco on October 2, 2021.
Bell Biv DeVoe will perform at the Chase Center in San Francisco on October 2, 2021.
Bell Biv DeVoe will perform at the Chase Center in San Francisco on October 2, 2021.
Bell Biv DeVoe will perform at the Chase Center in San Francisco on October 2, 2021.
Bell Biv DeVoe will perform at the Chase Center in San Francisco on October 2, 2021.
SWV will perform at the Chase Center in San Francisco on October 2, 2021.
SWV will perform at the Chase Center in San Francisco on October 2, 2021.
SWV will perform at the Chase Center in San Francisco on October 2, 2021.
Brian McKnight will perform at the Chase Center in San Francisco on October 2, 2021.
Brian McKnight will perform at the Chase Center in San Francisco on October 2, 2021.
Brian McKnight will perform at the Chase Center in San Francisco on October 2, 2021.
Ginuwine will perform at the Chase Center in San Francisco on October 2, 2021.
Ginuwine will perform at the Chase Center in San Francisco on October 2, 2021.
Ginuwine will perform at the Chase Center in San Francisco on October 2, 2021.
112 will perform at the Chase Center in San Francisco on October 2, 2021.
112 will perform at the Chase Center in San Francisco on October 2, 2021.
112 will perform at the Chase Center in San Francisco on October 2, 2021.
112 will perform at the Chase Center in San Francisco on October 2, 2021.
Silk will perform at the Chase Center in San Francisco on October 2, 2021.
Silk will perform at the Chase Center in San Francisco on October 2, 2021.
Silk will perform at the Chase Center in San Francisco on October 2, 2021.
Silk will perform at the Chase Center in San Francisco on October 2, 2021.
702 will perform at the Chase Center in San Francisco on October 2, 2021.
702 will perform at the Chase Center in San Francisco on October 2, 2021.
702 will perform at the Chase Center in San Francisco on October 2, 2021.
702 will perform at the Chase Center in San Francisco on October 2, 2021.
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