After 30 years in the business, one would think the men of New Edition would be a little rusty on their slick choreography of yore. But their recent stop at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center proved quite the opposite. Ronnie DeVoe, Michael Bivins, Ricky Bell, Ralph Tresvant, Johnny Gill, and Bobby Brown brought a celebration of brotherhood to the stage.

Past line-up changes, in-fighting, personal ups and downs were all an after thought as all six men blasted through a set of their biggest hits “Candy Girl,” “Popcorn Love,” and of course “Is This The End.”

Held just a day after the funeral of Brown’s ex-wife Whitney Houston, rumors were swirling around if he would show-up. And when the concert opened with just the five members singing, “If It Isn’t Love,” the rumors seemed true. However, at the end of the song, Bobby Brown came out on stage with a smile on his face and the crowd went wild. “It’s been the worst two weeks of my life and what did I do, I went to my family,” said the controversial singer who addressed the crowd.

While their collective hits have become classics, their solo hits have been just as successful. Bobby was…Bobby, performing and grinding his way through “Tender Roni” and “My Perogative.” Johnny made the ladies swoon with “My,My, My,” while Ricky, Ronnie and Michael (better known as Bell Biv Devoe) made the crowd move with their hard-hitting 90s hits “Do Me Baby,” and “Poison.”

The Verdict: The boys from Boston are back at it again!

—Nikki Kimbrough

Photos: Billy Davis

For New Edition tour information and dates: CLICK HERE

TAGS: Bell Biv Devoe, Billy Davis, Bobby Brown, Johnny Gill, Michael Bivins, New Edition, New Jersey, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Nikki Kimbrough, NJPAC, Ralph Tresvant, Ricky Bell, Ronnie DeVoe, TOURS, Whitney Houston