![\"New](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/DSC_6893.jpg\")
New Edition and Boyz II Men perform at Oakland Arena in Oakland on Jan. 28, 2026. Starr Lee\/STAFF.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\tNew Edition and Boyz II Men perform at Oakland Arena in Oakland on Jan. 28, 2026. Starr Lee\/STAFF.<\/p>\n
OAKLAND \u2014 Soul group New Edition kicked off a 30-date arena tour with Boyz II Men and Toni Braxton on Wednesday at Oakland Arena, bringing together three of the most popular acts of the \u201980s and \u201990s.<\/p>\n
The New Edition Way Tour presented a unique perspective with the R&B groups and Braxton taking multiple turns performing in a production that brought fans close to the action, and even collaborating together.<\/p>\n
A dimly lit stage gave way to a lighted platform raising six figures in long coats and matching fedoras. Ralph Tresvant, Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, Ronnie DeVoe, Bobby Brown and Johnny Gill quickly kicked into energetic opener, \u201cWe Going Out Tonight.\u201d On another stage, four dancers in gold sheen outfits did their thing as seven-time Grammy winner Braxton, in a matching outfit, rose up among them.<\/p>\n
Boyz II Men then appeared in powder blue suits and proceeded to walk to yet another stage. It was a rousing start as the three acts performed the R&B anthem together.<\/p>\n
Boyz II Men stayed on the main stage and performed their 1991 hit, \u201cMotownphilly.\u201d Baritone Nathan Morris and tenors Wany\u00e1 Morris and Shawn Stockman showed off their dancing ability with choreographed steps and spins as the song highlighted their vocals with classic, street-corner soul harmonies, while the song possessed a percussive rhythm of new jack swing. New Edition\u2019s Bivins, who cowrote the song, came out wearing a Stay Fly Tour Boston denim trench coat and rapped during the bridge.<\/p>\n
Next, it was Braxton\u2019s turn as she reappeared for\u00a0\u201cHe Wasn\u2019t Man Enough,\u201d which she delivered in her signature deep contralto with a sharp and confident delivery. As she sang the chorus, she was flanked by two male dancers in gold and black suits, while behind them, the female dancers moved hypnotically to the fast-paced beat. This Darkchild-produced song showed off her assertive and unbothered attitude.<\/p>\n
And that\u2019s how the show went, with each act rotating in and out, sometimes collaborating. New Edition (minus Brown) delivered new jack swing classic, \u201cIf It Isn\u2019t Love.\u201d Tresvant sang with his smooth, tenor vocals as he prowled the stage, commanding a presence while slowly leaning toward to the crowd. The vocal arrangement highlighted the song\u2019s harmonies for the group widely credited for the modern boy band movement. Of course, that song is also famous for its video, with\u00a0one-legged spins, back slides, kicks and steps\u2014and the group was still able to pull off those moves.<\/p>\n
Soon after, each act and some offshoots \u2014hello, Bobby Brown\u2019s solo career!\u2014took turns on a medley, including\u00a0New Edition\u2019s \u201cYou\u2019re Not My Kind of Girl,\u201d \u201cHit Me Off\u201d and \u201cN.E. Heartbreak,\u201d which included some pyrotechnics. Boyz II Men\u2019s contributions here consisted of \u201cPlease Don\u2019t Go,\u201d \u201cUhh Ahh\u201d and \u201c4 Seasons of Loneliness.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Toni](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/DSC_6929.jpg\")
Toni Braxton performs at Oakland Arena in Oakland on Jan. 28, 2026.<\/p>\n
Braxton showed off her sultry voice and vocal versatility on \u201cYou\u2019re Making Me High,\u201d \u201cHow Many Ways,\u201d \u201cLong As I Live,\u201d \u201cJust Be A Man About It\u201d and \u201cBreathe Again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gill then took center stage showed off his gritty, soulful vocals on \u201cFairweather Friend,\u201d \u201cThere You Go,\u201d \u201cMy Body\u201d (by LSG, his team-up with Gerald Levert and Keith Sweat),\u00a0\u201cMy My My\u201d and \u201cRub You The Right Way.\u201d Tresvant shined with his airy performance of \u201cDo What I Gotta Do\u201d and \u201cSensitivity.\u201d<\/p>\n
There was a brief reunion of Bell Biv DeVoe for\u00a0\u201cDo Me Baby\u201d and ballad \u201cWhen Will I See Your Smile Again.\u201d It seemed like the New Edition members were on stage separately nearly as much as the Boston-formed group shared the stage together.<\/p>\n
Brown\u2019s solo catalog was a clear crowd favorite, getting many out of their seats, singing and dancing along to \u201cRoni,\u201d \u201cRock Wit\u2019cha,\u201d \u201cDon\u2019t Be Cruel,\u201d \u201cEvery Little Step\u201d and \u201cMy Prerogative.\u201d<\/p>\n
Boyz II Men then delivered the trifecta of\u00a0\u201cRiver Runs Dry,\u201d \u201cOn Bended Knee\u201d and \u201cEnd of the Road,\u201d followed by a touching \u201cOne Sweet Day\u201d with the crowd singing Mariah Carey\u2019s parts.<\/p>\n
The main portion of the concert wound down with Braxton\u2019s emotional stripped-down rendition of\u00a0\u201cUn-Break My Heart\u201d as she was raised up on a platform while donning a white dress and angel wings. At the second chorus, the band kicked in, raising the intensity into a pounding heartbeat rhythm. Her angel wings flapped as she pumped her chest in unison with the beat.<\/p>\n
Then, in a nod to New Edition\u2019s Temptations-era influences, that group returned in silver blazers and\u00a0sequined pants to perform some of its early \u201980s bubblegum pop songs, \u201cMr. Telephone Man,\u201d \u201cCandy Girl\u201d and \u201cCool It Now.\u201d<\/p>\n
The concert ended with Bell Biv DeVoe hit \u201cPoison.\u201d Bell began singing the pre-chorus a cappella. From there, the familiar heavy syncopated snare hits, and 808 beats kicked in, and the crowd dug into it as the group began the song in earnest. All of New Edition and Boyz II Men capped the evening on stage together. The show ended with a shower of fireworks as the platform lowered into the stage.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\tNew Edition performs at Oakland Arena in Oakland on Jan. 28, 2026.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\tBoyz II Men perform at Oakland Arena in Oakland on Jan. 28, 2026.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\tToni Braxton performs at Oakland Arena in Oakland on Jan. 28, 2026.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\tToni Braxton performs at Oakland Arena in Oakland on Jan. 28, 2026.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\tNew Edition performs at Oakland Arena in Oakland on Jan. 28, 2026.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\tNew Edition performs at Oakland Arena in Oakland on Jan. 28, 2026.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\tNew Edition performs at Oakland Arena in Oakland on Jan. 28, 2026.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\tNew Edition performs at Oakland Arena in Oakland on Jan. 28, 2026.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\tNew Edition and Boyz II Men perform at Oakland Arena in Oakland on Jan. 28, 2026.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\tBoyz II Men perform at Oakland Arena in Oakland on Jan. 28, 2026.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\tBoyz II Men perform at Oakland Arena in Oakland on Jan. 28, 2026.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\tBoyz II Men perform at Oakland Arena in Oakland on Jan. 28, 2026.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\tBoyz II Men perform at Oakland Arena in Oakland on Jan. 28, 2026.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\tBoyz II Men perform at Oakland Arena in Oakland on Jan. 28, 2026.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\tToni Braxton performs at Oakland Arena in Oakland on Jan. 28, 2026.<\/p>\n About The Author<\/p>\n Glenn Gumin<\/a><\/p>\n Glenn Gumin spends his days on a college campus as a higher education administrator involved in academic affairs and student & financial services. After many years of piano lessons, he\u2019s now attempting to learn to play the guitar and ukulele to prepare for island life in retirement. He\u2019s a live music enthusiast who loves to reminisce about shows he attended as a Bay Area teenager and a Midwest college student. He\u2019s also a big supporter of college radio.<\/p>\n![\"New](\"https:\/\/riffmedia.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/29023110\/DSC_6751.jpg\")
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