The second half started with “Get Involved,” a track still in the sonic vein of the Tonys’ past songs. Although the tour title is “Raphael Saadiq Revisits Tony! Toni! Tone!,” it was a welcome surprise that he performed so many of the songs he recorded post-breakup. Wiggins remained backstage while Riley held down Saadiq for a string of his solo hits. Although the crowd was robbed of a Tonys classic, the mood rebounded when Wiggins sang another gem, “Slow Wine,” and ended his segment with “Til Last Summer.”įrom there, the trio restored the explosive temperature with back-to-back performances of “Thinking of You” and “(Lay Your Head on My) Pillow.” The musicianship during these particular tracks shined quite brightly.Īfter a 10-minute intermission, the band returned two of the three Tonys. Unfortunately, the techs didn’t fix the microphone issue until the song was nearly finished.įortunately, the audience sang Wiggins’ part back to him until the technicians rectified the audio issue, and Wiggins handled the snafu with uncanny patience and professionalism. The first, “Whatever You Want,” is among the most beloved of the Tonys catalog. Saadiq left the stage to give Wiggins the spotlight, singing a string of songs that feature him as the sole lead vocalist. He briefly walked to the side of the stage to address it to the audio technicians, but the issue persisted.Įven after switching microphones a few songs later, the problem came to a head during one of the most pivotal moments in the show. During “Baby Doll,” it became clear that Wiggins’ microphone didn’t work, as his verse couldn’t be heard in the crowd. Sadly, early microphone issues threatened to taint what was going to be a triumphant evening. Raphael Saddiq performs in New York during the current “Raphael Saadiq Revisits Tony! Toni! Toné! Just Me and You Tour.” (Photo: David “Odiwams” Wright) At the same time, Whalum played the sax solo nearly note-for-note from the album version. Their rendition of “Lovin’ You,” a standout from their “House of Music” LP, proved particularly emotional for those in attendance, as Saadiq sang with earnestness and conviction. Songs like “Ex-Girlfriend,” “Baby Doll” and “I Can’t Keep It To Myself” excited the fans. Wiggins’ rhythm guitar was as potent and distinct as ever, while Riley’s keyboard and synths laid the band’s firm foundation.įunk ruled the night as the Tonys rewarded their devoted fans with a setlist bursting with treasured LP cuts. Once they initiated the song, they delivered on the funk. The first song to get that little something extra was the group’s first hit, “Little Walter.” They began it with a slow rendition of the African-American spiritual “Wade in the Water,” the melodic interpolation of the “Little Walter” chorus. He sang every song in its original key as heard on the albums, with, for the most part, the same amount of power the crowd is accustomed to hearing. With so many bands, contemporary or seasoned, needing to drop a song’s key to accommodate a vocalist, Saadiq didn’t have that issue. The Tonys played each song in its entirety, even extending a few for good measure.Īnother unlikely occurrence is the sustained strength of Saadiq’s voice. Unlike many legacy acts from the 1980s and before, they didn’t opt to sing their string of songs in so-called medley form, racing through songs by singing just the first verse and the chorus, then moving on to the next song - wash, rinse and repeat. At last, Tony! Toni! Toné! was back!įor over two hours, the trio pulled no punches. It was challenging to hear Saadiq singing the first bridge due to the overwhelming choir in the audience. They wasted little time giving the people what they’d been waiting on for nearly three decades.įollowing the intro, the all-too-familiar string motif at the top of “It Never Rains (In Southern California)” caused an insane commotion in Radio City Music Hall. Saadiq, Wiggins and Riley walked on stage one after the other to thunderous applause from the New York crowd. The band kicked things off with “The Tonyies (In the Wrong Key).” With the song’s refrain of “T-O-N-Y-T-O-N-I-T-O-N-SLASH-E,” it couldn’t be a more perfect introduction if it tried. The show started with a video montage of prominent figures with roots in Oakland, from Sly Stone and Larry Graham to Oscar Grant and Bruce Lee. The group’s devotion to their Bay Area roots seeped throughout all four of their albums, and that same love and admiration carried into 2023. Tony! Toni! Toné! perform during their reunion roadshow, “Raphael Saadiq Revisits Tony! Toni! Toné! Just Me and You Tour.” (Photo: David “Odiwams” Wright)
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