February 12, 2022 – Baxter Arena – Omaha, NE

After almost 2 years of waiting due to Covid-19, Omaha R&B fans were finally treated to the Valentine’s R&B Bash on February 12, 2022 at the Baxter Arena in Omaha, Nebraska.

Thousands of fans packed the Baxter Arena, and the show didn’t disappoint.

After jamming out to some classic R&B tracks before the show, the audience was introduced to the show’s emcee, Joshua El Stupo, a local Omaha comedian.  This guy is legit.  He was the perfect choice to host this show, and I was literally in tears from laughing so hard at one point.  El Stupo was hilarious, had great energy, and kept the audience on their toes in between musical acts.

The first musical act to take the stage was Omaha local, Taggiz.  Before the event, I hadn’t heard any of his music before, but if you’re a fan of R&B, this guy’s for you.  He has an amazing voice, and great stage presence.  He was a perfect choice to set the tone for the rest of the night, and from the audience’s reaction to him, they agreed.

After a short break, more hilarity from Joshua El Stupo, and some classic R&B throwback jams from the DJ, the first headliner of the night, Jon B. took the stage.

Jon B. has been entertaining crowds since 1995, when his debut album, “Bonafide”, went platinum.  He looked and sounded great, and treated fans in attendance to an almost hour-long set, including some of his greatest hits including, “Pretty Girl”, “They Don’t Know”, and “Don’t Talk”.  I was waiting for my favorite song of his, “Someone to Love”, and he didn’t disappoint.  Talk about a flashback!  I remember back in 1995 during my high school days, playing that song over and over again.  It was really cool to see him perform live after all these years.

Next to the stage was Ginuwine!

Talk about stage presence!  This guy is a pure entertainer.  He played all of his hits including, “Pony”, “Hell Yeah”, “In Those Jeans”, and “Differences.”  The crowd was on their feet, singing along, and waving their hands in the air as Ginuwine danced on the speakers, handed out roses, and even ventured into the crowd.  He’s been nominated for Grammy Awards, BET Awards, American Music Awards, and Soul Train Music Awards, and it’s easy to see why.  Since his solo career began in the mid 90’s, he’s had multi-platinum and platinum albums and singles, and has sold over 10 million albums in the United States alone.  In my opinion, Ginuwine’s performance stole the show!
As the crowd settled back into their seats and enjoyed some more comedy from Joshua El Stupo, the DJ played numerous throwback R&B jams to keep the mood alive.

Next to the stage was the multi Soul Train Music Award-winning group, Dru Hill.  Led to the stage by frontman, Sisqo, the crowd went wild as the group played all of their hits.  Each member looked the part, with gold chains, leather jackets, and sunglasses.  The crowd sang along to their favorite Dru Hill songs, including, “How Deep Is Your Love”, “No Doubt”, and “In My Bed.”  Sisqo even treated us to an unforgettable version of the “Thong Song”, which of course, had the crowd dancing in the isles.  These guys were great!

After another set of throwback songs from the DJ and hilarious antics from El Stupo, the final act of the night, Jagged Edge, took the stage.  Each member wore brightly colored varsity jackets and baseball hats, and they looked and sounded great.  Having won two Soul Train Music Awards and being nominated for numerous American Music Awards in the early 2000’s, Jagged Edge was one of my favorite R&B groups back in the day.  Seeing them live definitely brought back some great memories, and their hit song, “Let’s Get Married”, still packs dancefloors across the world.  Concertgoers were treated to all of the group’s hits including, “Promise”, “Where the Party At”, “Walked Outta Heaven”, and “Let’s Get Married.” 

Combined with the hilarious antics of Joshua El Stupo, a DJ pulling out all the stops with some classic throwback jams, and a lineup of R&B superstars, the Valentine’s R&B Bash provided a night of unforgettable entertainment.  I can only hope this becomes a yearly tradition!

For full galleries and more photos from this show, please visit The Review Junkie Facebook page.