Babyface

Show was too short🤣 With such a collection of hits, I'd expect a 4-hour show😆 When all was sang and done (with a guest appearanceby Johnny Gil😱)... EXCEPTIONAL👍 What a great, intimate venue! A real upgrade from the "Bingo hall"... Yeah, haven't visited since all the renovations were done....

Babyface is a true performer who thrives off of audience energy. He’s a storytelling, legend, and musical genius who gives his all at every show.

Phenomenal show with phenomenal artists. Babyface is a legend in music. So many hits he had in his set list that he created for himself or other artists. Jon B was fantastic and a humble guy. Al B Sure looking amazing and gave us a whole vibe. Didn't know October London before the show but he gave a memorable vocal performance. I will be listening to his music. All of these men are aging backwards and gracefully. Loved the show from start to finish.

I’ve seen BabyFace over a dozen times & he never gives the same show. His vocals & band were top notch. He’s worth the money & SWV was amazing as well. I wish they had more stage time

As ALWAYS he was amazing! The energy was crazy. We sang the entire show. The only sad part was that it was too short. We begged for an anchor but I can never get enough of his singing performance band and background singers. Absolutely LOVED IT.

I really enjoyed the show. Babyface was excellent. Anita!! I love Anita and she was fantastic. I’ve seen her plenty of time over the years and one thing is constant. It’s always something with the band. This sound isn’t right. That sound isn’t right. Get that stuff together before showtime. WTH!! It’s been going on since the 80’s. All in all I would be right back there again.

Anita Baker: 2/14/23 “The DAve Show took off to the road heading to Hotlanta for some Valentine’s Day shenanigans including Anita Baker LIVE in concert at State Farm Arena. It was the first of a 2023 Pop/R&B break from my typical classic rock and country concert escapades (the others shows being Janet Jackson and Madonna). I was super-excited as I had settled in on the possibility of never seeing the Quiet Storm 80’s, soul—jazz—R&B, 3 octave voice artist in concert after missing her farewell tour in 2018. The 65 year old Detroit native and former waitress and receptionist skyrocketed in the mid-80’s with her eight million selling ‘Rapture’ album. Her 21 year studio career (’83-’04) with a mere 6 studio albums charted 25 singles on the US R&B position. Tuesday evening was the 2nd date of her 15 city US ‘The Songstress Tour’ (her first true nationwide tour in nearly thirty years) which commenced on the 11th in Florida. It was a no surprise sell out from the very beginning. My seats were upper bowl mid-arena —what I could get via a StubHub gift credit. Her band consisted of five persons in the background (L to R: keys-guitar-drums-bass-more keys) separated by a person height divider limiting a full view of the action. In the forefront L to R: grand piano-saxophone-Anita’s microphone-back up singers (two female, one male). A stage length video screen backdrop showcased all the front stage going’s on for us in the thinner air regions of the arena. The on-stage band divider often mimicked the video screen’s border images. Prior to Baker’s appearance on stage there were curtains surrounding and concealing the stage set up that were inward and outwardly illuminated in blue and red. At 9:15 the front curtains drew up and the side curtains drew horizontally backward and Anita took the stage for a 1 hr 40 min / 12 song set (with 4 from the Rapture album). There were no medleys or run on songs, Baker simply communicated verbally with the audience between each selection extending the time length of the dozen song set. I guess that’s what a Songstress does?! With the band playing, the soulful singer made her way onto the stage traveling from side to side waving, spinning, conducting, and playing air instruments all the while muscling through a noticeable limp. The scaled down and skillfully arranged stage gave the solo artist about 80% of it’s available space to utilize. Early on she jumped into ’Sweet Love’ (the second song) after a brief introduction, ‘I love you… Thank y’all, we appreciate you so much, and I want you to understand this is your night and I apologize for being so late, I truly do.’ Before she could utter another word the audience was singing every word of the first verse a cappella. Anita interrupted with a kind of restart revealing a slightly different arrangement, her vocals purposefully sung a step slightly off beat. There was another similar false start sing-along to ‘Sweet Love’ and ‘Been So Long’. She clearly loved being in Atlanta, a night scene of the city appeared on the big screen complete with the ferris wheel outside (so it had to have been recent footage). ‘Atlanta, Atlanta, every musician in the world that I know loves Atlanta!’ As she began singing ‘Same Ole Love’ R&B singer Usher came on dressed in a bright red blazer in what appeared to be cameo surprise bending down on one knee and handing her a huge bouquet of roses! After a kiss she immediately put him on the spot telling him, ‘Usher, I love you’ and handed him the microphone. He willingly complied by singing, ‘Same Ole Love especially on Valentine’s Day’! Next up Jermaine Dupri came out and gave Anita a hug, it was truly a star studded event! Turns out that in addition, Tamia, Killer Mike, 2 ChainZ, Grant Hill, Chris Webber and John Gray were all seen back stage. A beautiful rendition of ’No One In The World’ came next, Baker modulating up perfectly mid-song. Other songs of note included ‘Operator’ and ‘Angel’, Anita pointing around ‘You’re my angel, you’re my angel….’ ‘Everyone up here all night long from start to finish, everyone that has a microphone was actually singing into that microphone tonight. Everyone here this evening that has an instrument in their hands, they’re actually playing that instrument’ Truly it was a kind of assurance concert attenders can appreciate now-a-days. Rounding down the evening was the classic ‘Rapture’. ‘I want to acknowledge three generations of fans’, ‘As long as you keep coming, we’ll keep coming to see you!’ The encore was ‘Giving You The Best That I Got’, with a change of wardrobe Anita came out dressed all in red. Sparklers and a shower of confetti ended the regular set and the encore respectively. Not without note to mention this evening was Anita’s support artist for the special event, the legendary Babyface. Kenneth Brian Edmonds, 63, singer/songwriter/producer who was tagged ‘Babyface’ by Bootsy Collins has 9 solo albums with 32 charted singles and a 36 yr solo career, surprisingly more than Anita herself. Babyface proved to be the perfect opener coming on 30 minutes late likely due to a sparsely full arena. Taking the stage precisely at 7:31 he performed a 55 minute / 6 song set, one of which was actually a jam packed 26 song medley of songs. ’I thought this would be a fun time to go through a medley of songs that I wrote or I produced.’ At the opening line of each song a Billboard styled rendering showing weeks on the chart, year, title, and artist was broadcast on the video screen. There were multiple by Bobby Brown and even a couple that I knew: ‘Rock Steady’ by The Whispers, and ‘Slow Jam’ by Midnight Star. His five person band also featured two additional back-up vocalists while thousands throughout the audience sang along to nearly every word! In addition to Usher and Jermaine, Babyface also joined Baker briefly on stage during her set. A word about the sound. In all my years of concert attending going back to the 70’s, the evening’s sound quality where I was sitting was the worst I EVER experienced! I feel that much of it had to do with where I was sitting but I can’t pinpoint if it was actually due to the arena itself or the mix, or a combination of the two. After viewing a few video posts on social media from different angles that sounded great I can only assume it was majorily just my section. I’ve been to State Farm on a number of occasions, all in the upper bowl with no sound issues. Not to be a downer but it did put a damper on the entire evening, luckily the show itself made up for it somewhat. Despite that being said, I’m so glad I made the trek Southwest to see the 80’s superstar!” Review and photo by DAve (Concert #745)

It was a great show; loved that he played the guitar, sang on top of all his hits the song Keep‘ on falling. And I was very much touched and loved when Josh put Babyface the Lei on his neck when Babyface gave an encore 💖🙏🏻🌈✨✨✨

I was at the concert at the Dell on 8/25/2022, Babyface's performance was outstanding ;his band was very talented and most entertaining, I totally enjoyed After 7 also. The three opening acts did take up a measure of time. The orchestra was good especially the Violinist Wow! The other two acts needed work, The crowd was phenomenal nothing like summer night in Philly at the Dell ; thank you to the sponsors see you next summer!

I’m very disappointed because Babyface was only on the stage for a little over an hour. The person who opened the stage could have used 30 minutes. We needed more time for Babyface he has written so many songs to be on the stage for that short time.

The show was so great. Babyface gave everything from the bottom of his heart. Performed songs he sang or wrote, he is amazing! Loved to be there. And he is hot, good looking inside and outside. 🥰💕🔥🔥🔥

I officially can die now!!! 3ft from Babyface! Had 5th row seats and he is truly THE GOAT!! I will see him anytime, anywhere at ANY PRICE...WORTH IT!!❤️❤️❤️ #chicago

I flew from Rochester NEW YORK and I was not disappointed . THE SHOW WAS AWESOME. FROM BEGINNING TO END. THE MUSICIANS THE BACK UP SINGERS THE DANCERS! Will Isupport Cheryl Babyface and Kem forever. Kudos to the performers and the tour.❤️❤️❤️.

At the golden age of 64 years young, Babyface voice is still as crisp and smooth. Him and his team put on a wonderful show, My Wife, Mother In Law, and I enjoyed his performance. A blessed and gifted songwriter.

IT WAS MY WIFE AND I FIRST TIME SEEING BABYFACE IN CONCERT AND HIM GOING THREW THE WHOLE STADIUM WAS AMAZING AS WELL AS HIS PERFORMANCE WITH HIS AWESOME BAND. WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HIM AGAIN!!!👍👍👍👍👍💜💜💜💜💜

Babyface have one of the best shows I've ever seen. The energy level was high, the songs were amazing, and he took his shirt off for us. The Kennedy Center has never been rocked like that!

Babyface was PHENOMENAL!!!! New Edition was great! They were in sync with their dancing and on point and were so well dressed! Their voices were great! I would definitely see Babyface and New Edition in concert again!!!!

Had a ball! Loved the medley of all of the songs he wrote. It was like listening to the soundtrack of my youth.

The show was off the chain! I wish Eric Benet had a live band but he was still good. Ledisi was very good, weaving a storyline through all the songs she performed. Because Babyface wrote so many songs for others, it was almost like seeing multiple concerts at one time and he performed those songs. The interaction with his band was pretty cool. A spectacular show!!!!!

Great content, great energy, he is one hit writing mofo. Only criticism is he should have sprang for back up singers instead of prerecorded track.