Photo: WENN
Boyz II Men are two years shy of a quarter of a century in the music biz. It places the band, now a three-piece following band member Michael McCary’s retirement in 2003, among the veterans of their genre. But their stock is high, such is our obsession with the '90s – if we’re not taking an online quiz to find out what character from Rugrats we are, we’re dusting off old CDs (or logging into Spotify) to reminisce.
They realise the power of nostalgia; they’ve got this far by knowing their audience and giving them exactly what they want – and tonight at Indigo at the O2, they do just that. The show bursts to life with the opener, 'Beautiful Woman' from their 2000 Nathan Shawn Michael Wanya. The crowd is then treated to ‘On Bended Knee’, during which Wanya shows his voice still rivals anyone in the business.
Steamy versions of ‘Uhh Ahh’ and ‘I'll Make Love To You’, during which the boys hand out roses to members of the audience, make you wonder just how many people are on this planet because of Boyz II Men. Wanya says as much later in the show: "we are there and you was nasty!"
'It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday' is a showstopper. Delivered completely a cappella, it's easy to see why almost every vocal group of the last two decades list Boyz II Men as an inspiration. The refreshing thing about this show is how much fun the group is having. Shawn constantly has a smile on his face, there's larking around (including onstage selfies with a fan’s smartphone) and plenty of dance routines. Even after this long, Boyz II Men aren't just going through the motions.
They keep things fresh. Guitars in hand, the guys appear to be launching into Marvin Gaye’s ‘Let’s Get It On’, but when Shawn starts singing Ed Sheeran’s ‘Thinking Out Loud’ you suddenly realise there's a similarity between the tracks. Nathan jokingly points out that it can be a costly coincidence, a nod to the recent ‘Blurred Lines’ songwriting controversy. A review wouldn't be complete without a mention of the four-track Beatles medley that followed a surreal version of Nirvana’s ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ – Ben II Men aren't afraid to test perceptions.
You'd think that with ‘End Of The Road’, Boyz II Men have the ultimate show closer - but not when you've got ‘Motownphilly in your back catalogue. The group’s debut takes us right back to their new jack swing roots and is a fitting end to an evening that's been all about having fun. As the curtain comes down, we’re reminded exactly why Boyz II Men are still so popular after nearly 25 years.
From soul-soaked covers to timeless dancefloor fillers, the trio ensures everyone leaves with a huge grin on their face. With shows like this, it’s certainly not the end of the road for the boyz yet.
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