Concert Review: En Vogue @ Kupferberg Center of the Arts
Hi CCTV Crew!
If you grew up in the 90s or had a millennial sister who would make you sing backup vocals throughout your adolescence, you know the group En Vogue. You would also know that if they're in your city performing, you should go see the Funky Divas in the flesh because you might learn a thing or two about sangin'!
Formed in Oakland, California, in 1989, En Vogue gained significant recognition and success with their debut album, "Born to Sing," released in 1990. Hits like "Hold On" and "Lies" from that album helped establish their presence in the music scene. They further achieved widespread fame with their second album, "Funky Divas," released in 1992, which featured chart-topping hits like "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)" and "Free Your Mind." En Vogue's popularity and influence reached their peak during this early 1990s period and their legacy as a vocal powerhouse group lives on thirty years later.
With the album "Electric Café" (2018), being the last by the group, En Vogue (Terry Ellis, Cindy Herron-Braggs, and Rhona Bennett) fresh off their performance at Lovers & Friends brought their iconic harmonies to the Colden Auditorium in the Kuperfergberg Center for the Arts.
Photo credit: KCA official webiste
Before I give my review, I want to give a shoutout to the Kupferberg Center for the Arts for offering fans the opportunity to see En Vogue. Kupferberg Center for the Arts (KCA) is the largest multi-disciplinary arts complex in Queens, conveniently located on the campus of Queens College in Flushing, NY. They've hosted performances by local and regional artists, including David Bowie, Patti LaBelle, and even Waka Flocka Flame! I've unknowingly driven past the venue for years and I found out about KCA through their En Vogue ticket giveaway! I didn't win, but I was still excited to go see the trio one that I knew they were on my side of the world.
Now onto the review...
Dressed in ensembles reminiscent of the Powerpuff Girls, these powerhouse vocalists exuded confidence and charisma. The stage design, featuring three tables adorned with vases of flowers and three stools for the group, created an intimate and cozy ambiance within the expansive auditorium. As relaxing as the atmosphere felt, the dynamic and vibrant stage lights illuminated the entire venue, signaling the start of a truly larger-than-life performance.
In the first act of the concert, the talented trio delighted the audience by performing songs from their first two albums with flawless vocals and tight harmonies. What impressed me, even more, was their choreography. It was a refreshing sight to witness the group effortlessly blending their live singing with synchronized dance moves—a true testament to their mastery of the stage.
The trio's seamless coordination and polished performance left me in awe. Even when Terry had to exit the stage to tend to an in-ear issue, Cindy and Rhonda commiserated with the audience, acknowledging those who stood up and sang along to every word and adlib, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for everyone.
As a special treat, during the second act of the show, En Vogue performed a number of covers. During this section, the ladies performed "The Glamorous Life" by Sheila E and "Good As Hell" by Lizzo. The only song they didn't sing themselves was "Let's Go Crazy" by Prince (during this time, Terry stepped off stage which makes me wonder if she was supposed to take lead on the song). By this time, everyone was out of their seats and jamming.
As the show came to a close, the ladies sang some ballads as well as tracks from "Electric Cafe," and even while on the stools En Vogue was captivating. They closed out the show with "Don't Let Go" and "Hold On", but I have to admit, I wish that they would have closed with "Free Your Mind." Overall, I was blown away by En Vogue. They are true performers and after having seen Janet Jackson the night prior, I was inspired to hone my craft as a vocalist and entertainer as well.
Photo Credit: Dervon Dixon (@drivenbycontent)
ACT I
My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It)
You Don’t Have to Worry
Lies
Give it Up, Turn It Loose
This Is Your Life
Love Don’t Love You
Flashlight (Parliament cover)
Whatta Man - sang rap parts instead of letting a track play
Free Your Mind
Act II - COVERS
Just a Touch of Love (Slave cover)
Candy (Cameo cover)
Workin’ Day and Night (Jackson cover)
The Glamorous life (Sheila E cover)
Let’s go Crazy (Prince song played)
I’m Good
“Good as Hell” (Lizzo Cover)
Reach 4 Me
Can We Talk (Tevin Campbell cover)
Yesterday (The Beatles cover)
ACT III
Giving Him Something He Can Feel
Whatever
Don’t Go
Leave the Door Open (Silk Sonic cover)
Blue Skies
Rocket
Don’t Let Go
Hold On
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On April 19th, Webster Hall was filled with “FLO Lifers” eagerly awaiting the UK girl group FLO who are currently embarking on their “FLO Live” tour. Formed 2019, FLO consists of Jorja Douglas, Renee Downer, & Stella Quaresma. The group’s style distinctly derives from R&B and Hip-Hop from the 1990’s and early 2000s. For a more in-depth analysis FLO’s sound and trajectory watch here (https://youtu.be/i18hpBoW4EU)/ <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i18hpBoW4EU" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Before FLO took the stage, Samaria, an Oakland R&B singer, opened the show. Samaria started with a simple backdrop featuring her name, keys, and drums. The audience seemed familiar with her music and if they were not, they were supportive and living in the moment. Samaria interacted with the audience well and related to them on the basis of terrible ex's and a journey through a toxic relationship. Samaria’s songs had interesting cadences, but what was missing for us was backing vocals on the track to delineate verses from choruses. After doing some research we found that the “Out of the Way” singer has a sound also inspired by 00s R&B, with a some tracks tracks full of fun guitar licks and drum patterns reminiscent of Timbaland, but none of those instruments were present in her performance. Her backline consisted of a keyboardist and a drummer. Although Samaria sounded good, at times the keyboard’s volume was overpowering. She worked the stage, nonetheless and good job. 7.5 out of 10 ! ()SCORE
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https://www.instagram.com/samaria/?hl=en
Next up was the much-anticipated FLO, and the girls opened with "Not My Job." They were all dressed in black with cute cutouts, and their outfits were shimmery (I love sparkle!) which was a welcome change from their wardrobe at the MOBO awards. Their faces were beat (we love a “natural glam”),
their vocals were tight, and their choreography was utilized well to highlight grooves. The chemistry between the girls was undeniable, and their vocal blend was seamless— absolutely chill-inducing. Jorja's thick vocal tone took the songs to a soulful place, and Stella's airy delivery allowed her to float at the top of the group's harmonies. Renee's smooth, warm alto voice added a coolness to their sound and gained a lot more stability in live singing. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention FLO’s band! The band consisted of some past schoolmates, which added another layer of charm to the whole set!
The absolute highlight of the show was "Losing You” In this live arrangement, the girls emoted and connected with the audience on a deeper level. Chris loved harmonized adlibs, brand new bridge and extra outdo including a guitar solo. As a special treat, FLO performed a cover of Jamelia's version of "Superstar" by Christine Militon. Even though a majority of the NYC crowd had no clue who Jamelia was and didn't know the song, the girls did teach the chorus before singing the song, so some fans were able to follow along. Chris and I certainly knew the song and even received compliments on synchronized impromptu choreography.
Speaking of choreo…
The girls' choreography was something we were curious to see, and they did not disappoint. They danced well, and they were given grooves as opposed to sharp movements that really complemented each member's personal style. In terms of technique, they aren’t K-pop idols so we weren’t expecting crazy formations and “point dances,” but you can tell they put in the work to provide another layer of entrainment to the experience. There was even some chair-ography for their performance of "Change," a new track about a lover's inability to "do the work" necessary to improve the condition of the relationship.
The girls did perform their latest single, "Fly Girl" ft Missy Elliot, and although Missy Elliot was present in the audience, she did not join the performance.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/flolikethis?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@flolikethis</a> big up to Flo out here in the states on the road working hard! Keep doing yall thizzzzle!!!🔥 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Flygirl?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Flygirl</a>💇🏾♀️💃🏾💅🏾 <a href="https://t.co/Qtgr2f2KBl">pic.twitter.com/Qtgr2f2KBl</a></p>— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) <a href="https://twitter.com/MissyElliott/status/1649101483621728272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Fans (the FLO Lifers) were absolutely living their best lives! They knew all the words to FLO’s songs—the BGV's and the ad-libs. It was a room full of genuine love and screams! FLO closed the night with their debut single, "Cardboard Box," and this performance featured a heavenly bridge section.
Overall, the show was good, and for this to be the group's first headlining tour, we were impressed with the girls’ improvement from performances like the MOBO Awards, where nerves played a noticeable factor. FLO is worth the hype for sure, and we cannot wait to see the new era of girl groups being led by FLO. For their NYC debut, we rate them a 9 out of 10! FLO Lifers left Webster Hall with unforgettable memories and high expectations for FLO's future performances.