Fireworks Finale, after the break!
Boyz II Men & Paula Abdul @ The Hollywood Bowl (09/14/24)
Special Guest: Jo Koy
It had always been a dream of mine to see Boyz II Men live one day. They were among my top 5 childhood favorite artists behind Michael Jackson, 2 Pac, and probably Montell Jordan (who I saw recently). Used to sneak into my sister's room & steal her copy of 'II' all the time back then. Nathan, Michael, Shawn, and Wanya's heartbreaking ballads strangely spoke to my romantic soul throughout the '90s. Even spilled a bit into the 2000s as I adored their 'Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya' & 'Full Circle' LPs. But I digress...
After missing their longtime Las Vegas Residency earlier in 2024, my sister surprised me with tickets to see their Hollywood Bowl showcase a few months ago as they were closing the venue's summertime series with a big fireworks blowout. Couldn't have been more excited! They were literally one of the last bands on my hypothetical Concert Bucket List. Never wrote anything down really. So I have been spending the past few weeks trying to finalize a new log, but will talk about that in a Journal soon probably. (spoilers)
So we packed up some late-night picnic snacks & returned to The Hollywood Bowl once more.
No, we don't own season tickets or anything. Just where our concert adventures keep pulling us back to. Whoever has been booking the Bowl continues to do an amazing job! Their non-sponsored events coming up are equally as fantastic. Those aren't a part of the Bowl's formal schedule. Still recommend you support the venue.
Paula Abdul opened the show with a solid dance-off to her greatest hits. I was never a fan but Big Sis dug her cinematic showcase immensely. The choreographed highly produced dance numbers were really the gem of her performance. She should be proud that she could keep all that energy up for a full 45-minute set. Gotta give Paula Abdul mad props for going all out. Glad she didn't hold back.
Boyz II Men then took the stage after a short introduction from comedian Jo Koy. Not sure why that was necessary, but okay. Will never judge a special cameo. Makes for a great photo op & story in the long run. Gives me an excuse to skip a comedy show probably. Feel far more comfortable at a concert.
Now the biggest question you readers are probably wanting to ask me... did Nathan, Shawn, & Wanya live up to this longtime fan's expectations?
Absolutely! Not sure what others expected but this listener knew that Boyz II Men never really had any popular BOPS besides "Motownphilly" & maybe "Thank You"? They were all about heartbreak & sorrow. That's why I rocked with them throughout my life.
So Big Sis felt a tad disappointed that Boyz II Men performed covers in-between their iconic heartfelt R&B anthems... which created a better pace for the concert. Especially for the non-fans. A tactic they probably utilized in Las Vegas over the years. I don't know... never saw them there but it would drive me to depression if I had to sing "Water Runs Dry", "End of the Road", "One Sweet Day", & "4 Seasons of Loneliness" two to three times a day without a break. Sometimes you need to throw in some Bruno Mars, Prince, New Edition, & Journey to spice up the emotions.
I wouldn't have cared if Nathan, Shawn, or Wanya wanted to sing the phonebook for the entire show... they are three masterful performers with distinct voices that pulls me back to my childhood every time I hear them. As long as I got my favorite song, "End of the Road" (from the Boomerang Soundtrack... which I hunted down as a kid & own to this day). Am I sad that they didn't show any love to their 2000s projects? Surely. But I got all the hallmarks and some bonus covers. Ain't gonna pout about my own expectations cause I had none.
The fireworks were a nice touch alongside "Motownphilly". Their introduction to all of us '90s kids... now turned into an explosive punctuation for us adult fans. More proof that it's never too late to support your favorite artists. I much rather see Boyz II Men here at this iconic Hollywood venue than in Vegas honestly. Especially when this was the first time Nathan, Shawn, and Wanya had headlined the Bowl in their lifetime & they did it three times over to a sold-out audience.
It's what they (and Paula) deserve.
Photo Selects
(Full Album... available on Flickr!)
(Photography Notes: I took WAY TOO MANY PHOTOS. Guess it was my way of compensating for being far back? No clue! Should've had more self-control & enjoyed the show. Big props to my wonderful sister who continues to support these adventures. She remains quite amazing!)
