Photography by: Kimberly Kanuck – Review By: Janel Spiegel
This concert was incredible. It made me feel like I was back in time sitting on my porch with friends and listening to music and just having a blast. The show featured Vanilla Ice, Salt N Pepa with Spinderella, Rob Base, Coolio, All 4 One and Young MC!
It was standing-room only and it was packed from the front to the back. It started with a DJ who just so happens to be the amazing Spinderella’s brother. He played a few classics and some newer songs for the crowd who was so hyped. I don’t think I have ever seen a crowd this excited, enthusiastic and just happy. People were letting loose and if one person in the whole building had any worries or anything negative going on, you would never know it! They also invited fans up who purchased V.I.P. bracelets for Vanilla Ice and those who purchased Salt N Pepa t-shirts. You got invited to dance on-stage with these legendary acts.
The hype man who also held a contest inviting several excited fans on-stage to win chances to dance on-stage with Salt N Pepa and Vanilla Ice. The game was you had to guess the TV theme song and of course despite sayings “No cheating!” We were all screaming out the answers! (I totally could have won! “The Munsters,” “The Jeffersons” theme songs! Come onnn!)
The DJ played a little more and then an absolute epic introduction for the legend that is Young MC. The man has been in the game since the 80’s. Some of his songs include “Know How”, “Principal’s Office” and of course after testing the fans about how old school some us really way back. He performed “Bust a Move” and the audience went insane. It was like something you see in a movie. You are rocking out at the cool concert and the coolest dude in the room walks in and just starts! That is what it felt like. He had the crowd so hyped! The host came back out again and introduced All -4 –One who if you grew up in the 90’s you know that “I Swear” was one of the most popular songs. YES they did sing it! They sang that song with all the heart and soul! Tony Borowiak, Delious Kennedy who has one of the most amazing voices, Jamie Jones and Alfred Nevarez make up All-4-One. They also paid tribute to Boyz II Men singing “Motown Philly” and that was just amazing! Not one person in the entire building was not singing along!
All-4-One also announced they were having a meet and greet after they were finished performing! I was tempted but hopefully next time. They said they were grateful and thankful and hoped to go on-tour soon by themselves. That would be great!
Then a little bit more from our enthusiastic fun host and boom, COOLIO was out on-stage and he looks great! Coolio did a few songs and got really involved with the fans and the crowd! He also paid a beautiful tribute to Prince and several other artists we have lost. He did “Fantastic Voyage” and “1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin New)” and the people were just happy and thrilled. The Sands really out-did themselves with this show. The song I think everyone was waiting for and really I think COOLIO felt that he didn’t even have to sing it because the entire audience was singing one of the one most prolific and important songs of our generation. “Gangsta’s Paradise.” He had a background singer with him and an amazingly talented saxophone player. You instantly know the song. As soon as it starts you know the song. COOLIO was one of the writer’s on “Gangsta’s Paradise.” He was involved with the audience and even jumped down into the crowd to talk to all of us. He thanked Bethlehem, Allentown and the fans. He was energetic and happy.
After Coolio rocked and practically shut it down. You really didn’t need any more after him but no “I Love the 90’s” and The Sands was not joking around. The man, the myth, the LEGEND. Mr. ROB BASE took the stage. It is Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock, sadly DJ E-Z Rock passed away. Rob Base has been on the scene since the early 80’s. The man is a legend, a pioneer. Rob Base wrote “It Takes Two” with William Hamilton and DJ E-Z Rock. As soon as you hear these words, “Right about now. You are about to be possessed by the sounds of MC Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock,” you know! You instantly know the song. There is no other song that can move a crowd the way that song can!
Rob Base also paid some tribute to DJ Kool who is just the greatest! He had every single person singing and “throw your hands in the air and wave em like you just don’t care.” Every single person was hyped and thrilled, happy and just dancing and having a blast!
I felt my childhood come back. I felt the fun on the block and sitting on the porch with friends, listening to music on a boom box (that was a giant radio for the kids today) this man is a legend and to hear him perform this song meant a lot to a lot of us tonight.
Then! It did not end there. The QUEENS: Cheryl “Salt” James, “Sandra Pepa” Denton and Deidra “Spinderella” Roper came out after a few more mixes by the DJ and fun with the host and they just BLEW THE ROOF off of The Bethlehem Sands Event Center. Salt N Pepa were indeed HERE!
Grammy winners and doing this for thirty-one years as they both pointed out and thanked the fans, Bethlehem, Allentown all the dancers and the people who came up on-stage and danced with them. If you were not having fun at this show you must be The Grinch. This show was incredible.
Salt N Pepa performed some of the classics including “Push It” and then they did “Whatta Man” and they stopped a few times for Spinderella to play some songs and everything from Old School Michael Jackson to Cyndi Lauper in which Salt N Pepa dedicated “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” to all the ladies. They also had a massive confetti machine that shot confetti all over everyone. It was amazing! The most iconic moment ever was seeing them out the “Push It” jackets on. They also did “None of Your Business” in which Pepa told to the crowd to just change the words and they jokingly apologized to all of us for listening to some of the songs as kids. They have to realize that music was some of the greatest music we ever heard so to play it and listen to the songs was incredible. The best part for Salt N Pepa was they truly looked like they were having fun. The audience was so into the performance and people were just so excited.
It was so magical to see the happiness especially with all the negative going on in the world. And last but not least, Vanilla Ice took the stage after Pepa tried to pro-long and stay and talk to us. They kept telling her it was time to go. It would have been just as amazing if she would have just stayed on-stage and kept doing her thing. The host came out again to hype the audience and test the authenticity of us “old school” fans. The generations were there though. From the 60’s to now. A giant reaper was brought onto the stage and more incredible music being played by the DJ and then they introduced Vanilla Ice and he did an incredible job. He had people come up and dance on-stage. He offered an after party. It was lots of fun stuff.
Overall this show was incredible and if you want to see an amazing concert go The Sands Bethlehem Event Center. It was just amazing as always. Thank you.
ROBE BASE TWITTER @Robbasemusic
VANILLA ICE http://www.vanillaice.com/
@vanillaice
https://www.facebook.com/ILoveThe90sTour/
ALL 4 ONE ASKED EVERYONE TO SHARE PHOTOS AND VIDEOS THEY TOOK AT THE SHOW ON SOCIAL MEDIA https://twitter.com/All4OneMusic
SALT N PEPA https://twitter.com/thesaltnpepa
YOUNG MC https://twitter.com/officialyoungmc
ALL 4 ONE http://all-4-one.com/
COOLIO https://twitter.com/Coolio
