REVIEW: BOYZ II MEN AT BRISTOL O2 ACADEMY (29/01/12)
The O2 Academy is packed to the brim tonight, thanks to RnB veterans Boyz II Men. A career spanning over twenty years, the soulful trio were ready to bring their hits to Bristol. The crowd could span over twenty years itself as older, loyal fans are mixed with young hipsters and die hard RnB lovers. Although the show isn’t a sell-out, once again the academy’s lay out proves difficult to cater for the crowd. The floor, stairs and upper circle are all overflowing with eager fans, which makes for an uncertain atmosphere with lots of tutting, sighing and complaining about a lack of view.
Nevertheless, DJ’s are welcoming in the audience with mixes of classic RnB tunes. Support act A.M.X. is given an introduction worthy of a much more established artist – full of swagger and confidence, the singer wastes no time in hyping the crowd up. A.M.X. is then followed by a dance quartet called ‘The Floor Technicians,’ who slide onstage in dapper suits and impress with their contemporary tap skills.
After what seems like an eternity a video blasts on the screens, showcasing the Boyz II Men career with a clever time line and snippets of their best loved tunes. The trio then stroll on stage to screams the One Direction lads would be jealous of. Clad out in dapper waist coats, shiny shoes and even shinier watches, the group belt out their first number. Shawn Stockman then introduces himself and the other members, stating that they will give 100% to deliver a great show. Immediately it becomes clear that this American man-band aren’t going to do anything by halves and the gig continues to be very much a show of sorts.
Of course, ‘I’ll Make Love to You’ is a highlight – causing the audience to erupt into shrieks of delight and an ear piercing sing-a-long. The trio even give out roses to the audience during their serenade, which, yes was very cheesy but all part of the show. Newest member Wanya Morris is the most impressive of the bunch, hitting every note with the upmost precision and dancing like it’s 1991 without ever becoming out of breath.
‘End of the Road’ is another classic, as the whole venue sways from side to side, singing their hearts out. The group also play some new material from latest album ‘Twenty’ with 2 minute bursts of each song (Shawn: We don’t wanna lose y’all.) The group then finish off with ‘Motown Philly,’ with Shawn, Wanya and Nathan dancing just like they did back in the day. It’s clear to see that with over twenty years’ experience, Boyz II Men really know how to put on a show. Flawless vocals, impeccable showmanship and a sense of humour proved that they really did give 100% tonight. Boy bands of today – shame on you!
Words and photo: Sammy Maine
