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Post by Ivory Fair on Aug 10, 2003 22:30:02 GMT -5
Just got off the phone with Jonel and Fair Lady Soul who attended the Tempts/Tops/O'Jays show at the Nissan Pavillion in VA tonight. I don't want to steal all their thunder but I will say that they were both very impressed with the show and loved GC's performance. I'm bummed because work would not permit me to go.  |
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Post by Ivory Fair on Aug 10, 2003 22:32:06 GMT -5
.......... forgot to add that Fair Lady Soul and Jonel sat four seats from one another, in the same row. Impressive since they didn't get their tickets together. I should say OUR tickets since there was an empty seat where my butt was supposed to be. Did I mention I'm bumme?  |
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Post by Jonel on Aug 11, 2003 12:51:06 GMT -5
:inlove: IVORY :inlove: We MISSED YOU!!!! What a great evening we had! John and I loved it. We got to our hotel around 3:30 and freshened up and headed out around 4:30 to find dinner. Not too far away was Damon's. John had grilled chicken and I had the prime rib. Mmmmmm! I have to tell everybody that this is how we celebrated our 24th wedding anniversary. Nothing better than a Whispers-Tempts-O'Jays-Tops party  right? After dinner, we took out to find the Nissan Pavilion. We parked in C4, which I remembered very well because I knew it was an explosive. (I think from watching "Rush Hour"--movies can be quite educational) Then we plodded on over past the ticket counter to the turnstyles. I brought my cell phone but forgot my charger, so I was limiting my time with a live phone. After we were inside the gate, John bought some popcorn and I got a couple of bottled waters ($8 for two bottled waters  ) Then we found our way to the Orchestra, Row L. I checked my cell phone and low and behold there was a message from Ivory Fair. The reception was not too good for cell phones, but I got the gist of her message and tried to call FLS...the connection was sporadic, but she assured me she was on the way amidst the traffic. About a quarter to Seven I spotted FLS and waved to her. We sat very close to one another....only about 4 or 5 seats apart! I bought my tickets via the internet on Ticketmaster, I'm not sure how she got hers...but I thought it was amazing that we were that close! I kept looking for other familiar faces. I saw Ron peek out from backstage and guessed that the Tempts must be on first...or at least close to the beginning of the concert, or else he wouldn't be there. Then, I thought I spotted Bolicious and Ronna about 2 rows in front of me, but I wasn't sure. Then, when they turned around and smiled and waved, I knew it was them. It was great to see everybody. The only thing missing was Ivory Fair. I knew that she was with us in spirit. I told FLS that Ivory needs to move to Northern Virginia and catalog historical collections or at least move the wedding career over a few hundred miles so that she could be closer to the Eastern US. FLS, of course, totally agreed.  Now to the concert. The Whispers. www.thewhispers.com/ I'm really glad these fellas have a website. Isn't the internet great? I loved them. And, I didn't know that much about them, although I recognized their hits right off. John looked at me and asked, "Are they twins?" I didn't know, but of course, we found out that Walter and Wallace Scott are, in fact, twins and that the group was/is based out of LA.  These are the outfits they wore. Very, very sexy deep sky blue. Spoiler: Of all of the uniforms worn at the concert, I would rate The Whispers as #1, then The O'Jays, the Four Tops at #3 and finally the Tempts at #4. I just did NOT like the Tempts black piano key uniforms with the zebra shirts. Oh, for the sherbet suits. SIGH Back to The Whispers. I really wish I knew more about who's who. Leavill Degree was my choice for smoothest....very smooth dance moves. Of course I recognized "Rock Steady", "It's a Love Thing", and "And The Beat Goes On". They were really great! |
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Post by Jonel on Aug 11, 2003 13:02:39 GMT -5
;D After The Whispers came The Temptations. And, y'all-----you have GOT to go see/hear GC Cameron. He is absolutely the BEST! What a SHOWMAN! He knew the words...more than knew them...he OWNED them! He worked the crowd, moving with the microphone from one side of the stage to the other. Everybody was spellbound. FLS and I discussed after how we felt that it was like the VERY FIRST TIME  we had ever been to a Temptations show. He had a little of Ali Woodson and a little of David Ruffin, a little of Paul Williams and he took the microphone and made us forget he was the new guy on the block. It was like he had always been a Temptation. Way to go GC!!!! The microphones had reflectors or lights running up the stands and when Terry got out on the stage, his mike needed to be adjusted and it would not hold. It took the sound guy TOO LONG to correct the problem. I think I've said too much about the outfits...but the songs were definitely ones that I had not heard them do before in concert. MEMORIES. GC did MEMORIES and they did a set of "I'l Be in Trouble", "It's Growing", "Please Return your Love to Me", "The Girl's Alright with Me", "Since I Lost My Baby" and "Don't Look Back". GC got every last word perfectly in "Ball of Confusion" and, believe me, that was impressive. They ended with "All I Need", "My Girl" and last but definitely not least...the highlight of the show: "I'm Losing You". The show was short and they definitely left us wanting more. In my opinion, GC took the stage and owned every inch of it. :dancing: |
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Post by Jonel on Aug 11, 2003 13:14:55 GMT -5
A little more about the Temptations band....they were awesome. Al did his "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" dance and the horns and guitars, keyboards and drums were better than ever. When it was over, all we could do was fall back in our seats and try to take a breath. What a fabulous show!
The O'Jays. Now, I had seen the O'Jays only once before and I loved them in concert then. This time was even better. Of all four groups, The O'Jays owned the crowd like no other. Everyone was out of theirs seats, hollering and screaming, clapping. Eddie made people go crazy with excitement. They did only their classic hits, nothing from "For The Love", which was disappointing but it was hard to be disappointed in reality because The O'Jays just made the whole concert worthwhile. Between Walter and Eddie and Eric, the dancing and the hits. They did "Love Train" and also "For the Love of Money", "Backstabbers", "Stairway to Heaven", "I Love Music" and others. They wore Ice Blue...almost white uniforms. Each one was tailored differently and studded with simulated diamonds. I only wish the O'Jays had ended the concert because by the time they finished, many people got up to leave. I was thinking....."Don't LEAVE, yet!! THEO IS COMING!" Yes...Theo, Ronnie, Obie and Duke hit the stage. They started the show with "Shake Me, Wake Me" and continued to do all the Tops classics, "When She Was My Girl", "Reach Out", "Standing in the Shadows", "Bernadette", Theo did "Always and Forever", "Ain't No Woman Like the One I Got" and "Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch". Ronnie did not get the opportunity to lead and I really regret that. I love to hear Ronnie do "Ask the Lonely". They wore black trousers and Magenta sequined jackets with black shirts. Theo was so fine and the dancing and singing was too short and the evening was over. FLS and I agreed that it was definitely worth attending and we missed IVORY and hope we can get together next summer and quit this foolishness of working for a living.... ;D
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YATEZ
New Member
Posts: 18
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Post by YATEZ on Aug 11, 2003 14:14:11 GMT -5
I WAS AT THE CONCERT, IT WAS GREAT
GC IS A GREAT ADDITION, VERY STRONG VOICE
LITTLE DISAPPOINTED THAT NOTHING RECENT WAS PERFORMED, BUT A GREAT SHOW OTHERWISE
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Post by tdallasw on Aug 11, 2003 15:48:47 GMT -5
Jonel - you really made me want to go to see the Tempts REAL soon. Fantastic review!! I hated that I didn't get to the show when it was in Raleigh last month. |
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Post by Ivory Fair on Aug 11, 2003 22:51:23 GMT -5
Jonel, FLS bought our tickets on the phone you know, from the venue. I hope y'all enjoyed your seats, they were expensive enough.
Jonel, which "Memories" song are we talking about? FLS keeps calling it "Ali's Memories?" Now is this a song from the '80s or is it the one Dennis sang "Watching falling stars, on the grass by our old car....." Seems like there is another song called "Memories" from the 80's but since I got this new computer, I don't have all of my MP3's loaded onto it yet and I don't know for sure. It just seems odd that they'd sing an obscure 80's song in a concert.
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Post by Ivory Fair on Aug 11, 2003 23:17:57 GMT -5
Also, I want to add that FLS said they cut out a lot of the "BS" and I think Jonel touched on that meaning there wasn't a lot of stopping between songs, no little skits or anything like that like there has been in the past.
That says a lot for the group and GC in particular, in other words, they aren't having to take a lot of rest breaks.
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Post by Jonel on Aug 12, 2003 9:53:46 GMT -5
It was "Memories" from "A Song for You"...the one where Dennis sings, "Watching falling stars, on the grass by our old car.....". I love that song.
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Post by Ivory Fair on Aug 12, 2003 10:36:33 GMT -5
Ok, that's what I thought. FLS it just a little confused.
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Post by Aba21 on Aug 12, 2003 10:44:24 GMT -5
Also, I want to add that FLS said they cut out a lot of the "BS" and I think Jonel touched on that meaning there wasn't a lot of stopping between songs, no little skits or anything like that like there has been in the past. That says a lot for the group and GC in particular, in other words, they aren't having to take a lot of rest breaks. What it says is that *THERE IS* competition between the groups and they have to bring their A game everynight or the Ojays will wipe the stage with them. They know that and I have heard them say it. They come to work when they do these comb shows ;D That's why the playing and Bs is put to the side. I know this is a Temps board but the Whispers have been doing it for a long time. The also put on a good show. It doesn't surprise me at all at how good they are! |
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Post by janebse on Aug 12, 2003 11:37:22 GMT -5
The Tops have been the group that has been receiving "ifish" reviews.
There is another interesting point. One of the reviewers who writes official reviews for the media reported that the Tops sounded great, just like their record. And Mike said, "It is a record."
My point is that someone connected with the music industry mentioned that singers, groups, etc. often enhance their stage performances with "unseen" background singers, musical instruments, and technology. Some groups use these techniques when recording and are just not as good on stage and so need them on stage. Other groups use them (and many singers/groups actually did in the recently taped "Rhythm, Love, and Soul" program for PBS) just to make their on stage performance sound even better.
Sometimes when audiences find this out, they demand their money back. I don't think any did on the above show even though these techniques were used.
If this writer had not used the word "record" in referring to the Tops, I would not have thought about it. But it was used and Mike suggested it was indeed a record.
I do not have any information that any of the groups in the Great Groups Tour are doing this, BUT it is something to think about. I don't think the Tempts are doing it because they are accustomed to performing day after day, and they sing great on stage and on record. No problem there. And I've seen this year's show four times so far and can testify they didn't then. And the reports that GC sometimes gets a word mixed up would also verify that.
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