Mario, Neyo & Mary J Blige swoon Colonial Life Arena

As a (freshly turned)30-year-old who grew up on the R&B bangers of of “So Sick” and “Let Me Love You,” this show hit a nostalgia nerve. I remember hearing these records as a kid and watching my mom & aunts dance in the living room, so to be in the same building as all three of these R&B heavyweights was surreal. The crowd was mostly older(heavy on the boomers, aunties, and OGs who were clearly reliving their prime), but for someone like me, it was still a full-on nostalgia bomb. Not everything hit vocally the way we remembered it (we’ll get to that), but the vibe was right, and the production was dope for this caliber of a tour.

Mario:

Kicking things off, Mario brought the kind of energy you’d expect from someone who’s kept a core fanbase steady for two decades. His vocals were clean, his stage presence felt effortless, and the crowd responded like they’d been waiting to scream “Let Me Love You” for the past 20 years (which, let’s be real, they had). He threw in just enough newer material to show he’s still making moves, but this was mostly a tribute to the era that raised us. The newer material didn't hit as hard but I don't believe anyone was expecting it to. Nostalgic and polished, exactly what you’d want from an opener with some older hits.

NE-YO

NE-YO was in full performance mode; dancing, spinning, and still somehow not missing a note. He’s the kind of artist who never seems out of practice, despite his lengthy career, and this set proved it. “So Sick” had the whole arena in their FEELS and “Miss Independent” brought the house up again. Of course he took up most of his setlist with the older, more "memorables." What stood out most was how at ease he was, it didn’t feel like a legacy artist dusting off hits, it felt like a dude who’s still very much got it. He owned the stage, and the audience ate it up. Again, mostly boomer women, but hey, he knows his demographic and TBH I feel like this was the perfect direct support tour for him to be on.

Mary J Blige

When Mary J. Blige hit the stage, the place erupted. There’s something untouchable about her presence as an artist. Like just being near her catalog makes you feel something deeper. That said… vocally, it wasn’t her strongest night. She gave heart and energy, but the range and sharpness weren’t always there(somewhat to be expected for how long of a career she has but still just the tiniest bit disappointing) . Still, the production was flawless(the lighting, stage design, and transitions gave the whole set a sense of grandeur). And let’s be honest, most of the crowd didn’t care. They came to praise “Aunt Mary,” and they did just that. She gave us enough to feel it and sometimes that’s all you need. The "Shackles" came off of all of the audience because they were dancing so hard CLA was nearly shaking.

For additional tour info head over here.

All words & photos @SAUCEWITHSPOONS