live music

The #For MyFansTour celebrates Life, Love, Music, and More- with @maryjblige @neyocompound @lenovocenter #raleighnc @LiveNationNCSC 📸 @333LovelyLeslie | SobeSavvy.com 

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Are you wondering What’s The 411 on Mary J. Blige: The For My Fans Tour featuring NE-YO and Mario …then you have come to the right place!

The For My Fans Tour, which made its second stop in Raleigh, NC on Friday, January 31,2025 at the Lenovo Center, is a celebration of the love she has for her life & fans but also an appreciation for good music. The DJ announced that it was sold out and did a good job playing old school jams to get us ready for a great night!

Speaking of music, she has a new album (her 15th) called “Gratitude “ and was also recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, so the atmosphere was filled with excitement and celebration. 

Having both Ne-Yo and Mario on the tour to serenade the ladies and entertain the gents was a nice touch!  I especially loved Ne-Yo‘s vocals and dazzling choreography paired so perfectly with his hits like “Miss Independent” , “Sexy Love”,   “So Sick”. and “Champagne Life”. His set showcased his ballads, his features and what he called his turn up section. NE-YO is an amazing songwriter, producer, dancer, singer and a consumate professional. It was my first time seeing him live but it won’t be the last.

Baltimore, Maryland is my hometown, so I was routing for and happy to learn Mario would be on this tour. However, he only came out to the stage to sing one of my favorite songs “Let Me Love You” during Mary’s set at the end. This may have been due to the show starting two hours late. His vocals still wowed us all and it was worth the wait! 

The moment we all were waiting for arrived! Mary J Blige came in hot and blazed the stage. Her entrance was grand and her set was designed for The Queen of Hip Hop Soul! She took us on a musical journey with hit after hit of old and new songs like “Take Me As I Am”, “Be Happy” , “The One”, “My Life  and “Just Fine” to name a few. I especially loved her sharing the story of her father fighting in Vietnam and how music helped him. Earth, Wind and Fire’s “Keep Your Head” was the song that he played all the time and Mary J. Blige delivered a wonderful rendition of that classic! 

The iconic Mary J Blige, was the background soundtrack to the life of every Gen X and older Millenials. However her fans were a mix of all age groups, genders and races. She did about 30 songs that we were all happy to sing along with and just vibe. From her aerial ride that took her over her adoring fans, along with her signature dance and of course fashion, the Queen of Hip Hop Soul gave us moments to remember and celebrate! Her concert ended up being like a karaoke party with thousands of friends reciting her song lyrics. It definitely was a “Family Affair”. 

So now that you know that The #For MyFansTour celebrates Life, Love, Music, and More- get your tickets at MaryJBlige.com!

👀Watch my YOUTUBE , to see some more vibes and memorable moments from the For My Fans Tour in Raleigh, NC 👏🏽👏🏽

Concert REVIEW | Kehlani Mesmerizes Fans on the Crash World Tour in Raleigh, NC with special guests FLO & Anycia #CrashTour #LiveNation

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On ‘Nights Like This’, you can expect an eargasmic experience from KEHLANI at the CRASH WORLD TOUR with special guests FLO & ANYCIA!

The #CrashTour came to Raleigh, NC on OCTOBER 1, 2024 | TUESDAY 7:30 PM at RED HAT AMPHITHEATER. We were all ready for the kind of good ‘Distraction’ our soul needs by way of good music and good vibes. The concert opening acts, girl group FLO and rapper, Anyica both gave fantastic performances. 

Then Kehlani came to the stage and started singing “Next 2 You” and from that moment you knew it was going to be a magical night! The crowd was mesmerized by the presence of Kehlani. One fan shared with me that many of the songs helped her get through some tough moments in her life. The setlist consisted of old hits, new faves and at the Raleigh show there was even a proposal to “Marry You”. 

🎶 Here’s a Spotify playlist of Kehlani’s setlist from Crash World Tour 2024: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/44CJwAYG80YQfxV8794bot?si=MlUrc1XKTLa5qrEUIUpxlg&pi=u-xjJQ5kN4QLGN

‘Can I’ just tell you that the whole show was beyond amazing! The Band, The Dancers and of course Kehlani is an incredibly beautiful & talented performer who really knows how to connect to the audience. We all truly wanted to stay ‘After Hours’, because even with the light rain no one wanted to leave. Such high energy! 

If you enjoy live music with lyrics that make you feel and sends chills thru your whole being, then you must get your ticket >> https://www.kehlani.com/  Produced by Live Nation, the 31-city tour (which goes until November 2nd, 2024) was highly anticipated following the release of Kehlani’s new album, CRASH. The songs on the album have a beautiful sound and stories that we all can relate to. 

Check out some of my favorite moments from the concert and if you were there I’d love to hear what you thought of the show (or your fave Kehlani song) in the comments below! ⬇️

TikTok Recap : https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8RsjcS8/

X/Twitter Recap: https://x.com/sobesavvy/status/1841488675126874351?s=46

👀Watch YouTube Vlog ⤵️

Recap | Kehlani Crash World Tour

REVIEW | Sing, Dance and Praise at One Hallelujah Tour 2024 | Raleigh NC

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Raleigh, NC came ready to sing, dance and praise at the One Hallelujah Tour, a worship event celebrating some of gospel music’s greatest voices and a chance for everyone to come and witness One Sound | One Worship | One Hallelujah!

This highly anticipated concert features the amazing gospel music of Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Jonathan McReynolds, Erica Campbell, Israel Houghton, and Jekalyn Carr! Here’s how the wonderful idea came together:

Produced by Live Nation, the 25-city tour kicked off on March 6 at MGM Music Hall at Fenway in Boston making stops across the U.S. in New York, Atlanta, Nashville, New Orleans, Houston, and more before wrapping up in San Francisco at YouTube Theater on April 21. I attended the concert on Wed Mar 13 — Raleigh, NC — Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts …and was blown away by the musical arrangements, the singing or as we say “sanging” , the community, the fellowship and overall powerful performances given by each artist.

Get Ready for One Hallelujah Tour 2024

TOUR DATES + TIX INFO

You don’t wanna miss when the ONE HALLELUJAH TOUR 2024 comes to a city near you, so here are the DATES:

Wed Mar 06 — Boston, MA — MGM Music Hall at Fenway
Thu Mar 07 — Philadelphia, PA — The Met
Fri Mar 08 — Brooklyn, NY — Kings Theatre
Sat Mar 09 — Washington, D.C. — The Theater at MGM National Harbor
Tue Mar 12 — Charlotte, NC — Ovens Auditorium
Wed Mar 13 — Raleigh, NC — Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts
Fri Mar 15 — Miami, FL — James L. Knight Center
Sun Mar 17 — Jacksonville, FL — Moran Theater
Thu Mar 21 — Indianapolis, IN — Murat Theatre at Old National Center
Fri Mar 22 — St. Louis, MO — Stifel Theatre
Sat Mar 23 — Memphis, TN — Orpheum Theatre
Sun Mar 24 — Cincinnati, OH — The Andrew J Brady Music Center
Thu Mar 28 — Evans, GA — Columbia County Performing Arts Center
Fri Mar 29 — Atlanta, GA — Coca-Cola Roxy
Sat Mar 30 — Birmingham, AL — BJCC Concert Hall
Thu Apr 04 — Chicago, IL — Chicago Auditorium Theatre
Fri Apr 05 — Detroit, MI — Fisher Theatre
Sat Apr 06 — Columbus, OH — Mershon Auditorium
Sun Apr 07 — Nashville, TN — Opry House
Tue Apr 09 — New Orleans, LA — Saenger Theatre
Wed Apr 10 — Houston, TX — Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land
Thu Apr 11 — Dallas, TX — The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
Fri Apr 19 — Phoenix, AZ — Arizona Financial Theatre
Sat Apr 20 — Los Angeles, CA — YouTube Theater
Sun Apr 21 — San Francisco, CA — The Masonic

🎟️ Buy Tickets via Ticketmaster: https://www.ticketmaster.com/one-hallelujah-tickets/artist/3089932

THE ARTISTS

Hailed as the Top Gospel Artist of the Decade by Billboard, Tasha Cobbs Leonard has built her career on larger-than-life performances and powerhouse vocals that will get everyone dancing on their feet. On her new album, HYMNS, Leonard goes bigger and bolder than ever before, reimagining classic hymns of love and grace with a series of sweeping, ambitious arrangements that draw on everything from worship and gospel to country, pop, and R&B.

Jonathan McReynolds has maintained an incredible voice and a beautifully honest approach to songwriting. He made his way from dorm room performances to Christian music’s biggest stages.

Erica Campbell is an American Gospel singer, songwriter, talk show host, and First Lady. Specializing in the urban contemporary gospel , Christian R&B, and contemporary R&B genres, she started her music career in 1998 with her younger sister, Tina Campbell, as part of the group Mary Mary.

Israel Houghton is a GRAMMY award-winning American Christian music recording artist, songwriter, producer, composer, worship leader, and multi-instrumentalist who formed Israel & New Breed, a music group and ministry organization that has produced gold-selling albums. ***I first saw him live with Kirk Franklin on The Reunion Tour (In case you missed it, check out my review of that concert >>>>>here.)

THE MUSIC

It’s really hard to pick one favorite gospel song or moment from the One Hallelujah Tour because everyone did such an amazing job! However, I’m sure you’ll leave the concert happy to have heard your favorite songs and excited to discover some new ones. Get ready for the overflow of music that’s not only good for the soul but from the soul and from the source. This music will grow your faith and are truly love songs for the Lord.

Listen >One Hallelujah Tour Spotify Setlist

RECAP

👀WATCH YouTube Video here:

One Hallelujah Tour | RECAP by SobeSavvy.com @SobeSavvy

REVIEW | @Godsmack #VibezTour Rocks Durham, NC @DPAC @LiveNationNCSC

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If you enjoy live music that rocks and rolls, thrills and sends chills to your soul, then you must experience Godsmack • Vibez Tour, an intimate evening of acoustic/electric performances + untold stories from Godsmack with special guest Bastian da Cruz!

On Friday, March 08, 2024, fans came to see the band perform at Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC), located in Durham, NC for a memorable, magical and miraculous night of music. For almost 30 years, Godsmack has an amazing way of connecting with fans on what they are going through in life and how we all can have our spirits lifted up with their songs. This is a very unique concert experience unlike I’ve experienced from the moment you step in the venue, the “Vibez” were set:

How Godsmack sets the mood on Vibez Tour

In continued support of their latest studio album Lighting Up The Sky, multi-platinum Grammy-nominated hard rock band GODSMACK is transforming their thunderous pyro-filled amphitheater rock show into a more intimate experience. The band is set to deliver a series of intimate evenings featuring acoustic/electric performances and untold stories in theatres across North America.

With over 20 years of chart-topping success, GODSMACK have cemented themselves as 21st-century hard rock titans. To date, they’ve accomplished a staggering 11 #1 singles at mainstream rock radio and have achieved 20 Top 10 hits at the format (the most of any act since February 1999). Additionally, they’ve enjoyed four Grammy nominations and were named Billboard Music Award’s Rock Artist of the Year in 2001. Selling over 20 million records worldwide, the band has released eight studio albums; Godsmack (1998), Awake (2000), Faceless(2003), IV (2006), The Oracle (2010), 1000hp(2014), When Legends Rise (2018), and Lighting Up the Sky (2023).

GODSMACK is Sully Erna (vocals, guitar), Tony Rombola (guitar), Robbie Merrill (bass), and Shannon Larkin (drums). Sully Erna’s voice is as fantastic as ever and leaves an impact on the souls of the audience. Equally, Shannon, Tony and Robbie pour their hearts into their performances creating powerful music!

Here’s the setlist (and playlist of their hits!

1. Time

2. Love-Hate-Sex-Pain

3. Voodoo

4. Turning to Stone

5. Spiral

6. One Rainy Day

7. No Quarter

8. Nothing Else Matters

9. Serenity

10. Touché

11. Truth

12. Growing Old

13. Lighting Up the Sky

14. Under Your Scars

15. Bulletproof

16. Long Train Runnin’

SobeSavvy.com Recap Highlights #VibezTour

Columbia, SC you’re up next on March 10th! Get ready for an exciting night of live music from Godsmack. Get Tickets from LiveNation >>For more Tour Info, visit Godsmack.com >> Donate to scarsfoundation.org to support those who suffer from depression, PTSD , mental illness,etc

Check out some of my favorite moments from the concert and of you were there I’d love to hear what you thought of the show (or your fave Godsmack song) in the comments below! ⬇️

Event Recap | The Art of Cool Festival 2018 – 5th Yr Anniversary @aocfest #AOCFEST | by SobeSavvy.com

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The Art of Cool Festival 2018 has come to a close, but we here at SobeSavvy.com was fortunate to attend and share with you some of the magical moments from #AOCFEST. There has been so much growth since we attended the Art of Cool Fest in 2015, and I am so glad to be apart of highlighting this amazing festival. This past weekend, we celebrated the 5th Anniversary of this great music festival that brings jazz-inspired music, artists and all the Cooligans together in Downtown Durham, NC. Trust me, you don’t want to miss next year!

This year the AOCFEST experience was expanded to include Jazz, R&B, Hip Hop and Soul performances by renowned artists from around the world! 20+ artists, 6 venues, 1 price to enjoy: Live Music Concerts, shop from local vendors at the Urban Street Market, dance, mingle and network at the various Day Parties, savor Durham cuisine from the featured Food Trucks and quench your thirst at the Beergarden. The AOCFEST 2018 truly had something for everyone. It’s an amazing sensory experience you must see, taste, hear, and feel!

DAY 1- SEPT 28

The fun began on Friday with the arrival of music lovers to Downtown Durham. Festival goers could shop for some official merch at Wristband City, grab a cocktail, and listen to live music at various pop ups and attend free Innovate Your Cool seminars / workshops focused on Innovation, Music and Culture. I caught at DJ set on the rooftop at Unscripted Hotel where The Lux Blog held a meet-up mixer to welcome everyone including bloggers/social media influencers to the Art of Cool festival. It was a vibe!

Downtown Durham is a walkable city and the perfect place to host the AOCFEST because all the venues are conveniently within walking distance to each other. Just a couple of blocks over from Unscripted, I was able to catch MeShell N’degeocello at the Carolina Theater. She is a talented singer and musician who reminded us in the audience that although the lighting was not ideal, MUSIC. IS. SOMETHING. YOU. FEEL. She took us down memory lane by singing her funky smooth renditions of Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam “I Wonder If I Take You Home”, Al B. Sure “Night & Day” and TLC ‘s “Waterfalls” along with her classic song “Grace” from her album Bitter.

Maxwell headlined at Durham Bulls Athletic Park, which is new on this list as an official AOCFEST stage. Everyone who was either seated in the stadium watching his concert from the jumbo screen or on the field could see his moves and feel his groove! There were so many favorite songs by the incomparable male singer that turned into a sing-a-long, such as “Pretty Wings”, “Bad Habits” and “Fortunate”.

Watch Video Highlights of Photo Recap from Day 1 As Seen on the Scene by SobeSavvy.com! ⤵️

Day 2 – SEPT 29

Downtown Durham was the place to be for the second and last day of music and festivities. Even if you were not going to the concerts, there were so many ways to support the community and enjoy the amazingly cool city of Durham. A 90’s style vintage pop up party hosted by The Key to Style was my first stop before heading to the heart of the Bull City. CCB Plaza, near the iconic bull statue, is where emerging artists performed cyphers and Hip Hop radio station K97.5 held a block party showcasing local talent.

From there, I took a short walk to Pinhook, an iconic live music venue in Durham perfectly sized for intimate performances. Durham’s own Zoo Cru were up first. This quartet of musicians jammed out to their own unique sounds that is really beyond description. Not electronica and not R&B but a subtle blend of both. I love to support local, so I enjoyed my first listen from this popular band.

Next up at Pinhook was renowned trumpeter Keyon Harrold. He has done music and horns for A listers such as Beyonce and JayZ over the years. In addition, Mr. Harrold did the music for the hollywood movie “Miles”, so his resume is unmatched. Wynton Marsalis has called him “The Future of the Trumpet”. He did not dissapoint. His breath control and range were simply amazing. He was paired with a female vocalist which added a different angle to his horn. Unique and dynamic music is just one of the many things you will always experience at AOCFEST.

What’s a festival without the opportunity to shop from a variety of vendors? The Urban Market, set up on Blackwell Street, was the answer for those of us who like to shop local. Vendors were on hand selling quality products such as clothing, artwork, accessories and natural body care products, like my favorite Nailah Shea. Enthusiastic and stylish crowds took advantage of the warm, sunny afternoon in the Bull City. It was fun for the whole family!

My AOCFEST experience ended with seeing the one and only Erykah Badu, who is the first female to headline the Art of Cool Festival. Nas had just rocked the mic and said goodnight as i was entering the stadium. Before Ms.Badu came to the stage at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, the crowd heard from the new President and VP of The Art of Cool Festival, Sulaiman and Lesleigh Mausi, Founders of The DOME Group, LLC. They thanked the sponsors and all the fans for a fabulous Art of Cool Festival weekend.

Ms. Badu came to the stage with her big hat, her big hair to match her big voice and asked..”Brothers, how y’all feel? Sistahs, y’all alrite” ? She really needed no introduction because her energy fills up any atmosphere. Erykah Badu almost single handidly created the genre called “Neo Soul”. Her music, style and delivery of colorful lyrics has made her one of the most unique talents of our time! Fans filled up Durham Bulls Athletic Park and joined together to celebrate her greatness which like her song, goes “On and On”.

Watch Video Highlights of Photo Recap from Day 2 As Seen on the Scene by SobeSavvy.com! ⤵️

Electric ending to another exciting and informative Art Of Cool Festival. The AOCFEST is one of the best music festivals that gets better every year. Be sure to check out aocfestival.com • #AOCFEST and make plans to visit Durham, NC to experience the Art of Cool Festival next year! Congratulations again to Art of Cool Festival for 5 years strong!

@Jeezy ‘s Trap or Die 3 Tour was 🔥Recap @RitzRaleigh #TD3 #SnowSeason #TD3Tour #Raleigh ⛄

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Ever been to a show that was cold and lit “at the same damn time”?! Well that’s how it was here in Raleigh, NC  at the Trap or Die 3 Tour when Jeezy AKA The Snowman came to perform at The Ritz ! The sold out concert was filled with fans who came to see a living legend in the rap game. Young Jeezy is one of the pioneers who created and popularized the Hip Hop subgenre called “trap music”. He hails from Atlanta and took time to rep for the “404” during his extended set. The crowd came to bounce, scream and have a good time. The venue was packed wall to wall.
Opening up for Jeezy was Raleigh’s own Ace Henderson, followed by Lil Durk who did a great job in getting the crowd hype for the Snowman. If you hurry, you can check out more of the concert on RitzRaleigh’s Snapchat.

If you are thinking about seeing Jeezy in concert, let me assure you it was a pretty good show. In fact, it was Trap or Die! Everyone had a good time rapping along to his extensive song list.Hits like: That Trap or Die 3! Going Crazy, Bout That, Old joints! That 103. Young Jeezy bought all of Raleigh & Durham’s Atlanta hip-hop  fans out ! Standing room only! As my friend Sam the Man would say “It was flavor for real”! 

Don’t miss the chance to experience your favorite Jeezy “Trap” tracks performed at a venue near you!

TRAP OR DIE 3 TOUR DATES

Mar. 1 – Chicago, IL – Aragon Ballroom
Mar. 3 – Grand Rapids, MI – 20 Monroe Live
Mar. 4 – Indianapolis, IN – Egyptian Room
Mar. 7 – Boston, MA – House of Blues
Mar. 8 – Wallingford, CT – The Dome
Mar. 9 – Philadelphia, PA – The Filmore Philadelphia
Mar. 11 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza
Mar. 12 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza
Mar. 16 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz🔥🔥
Mar. 17 – Myrtle Beach, SC – House of Blues
Mar. 18 – Greensboro, NC – Cone Denim Ent Center
Mar. 22 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
Mar. 26 – Houston, TX – House of Blues
Mar. 27 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues
Mar. 28 – San Antonio, TX – Aztec Theater
Apr. 4 – Riverside, CA – RMA
Apr. 5 – Los Angeles, CA – Belasco Theater
Apr. 6 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues

Old School Hip Hop & RnB lives! Thanks to “Back 2 the 80s’ Tour ~#Raleigh Recap @decRaleigh

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Yo Baby, Yo Baby, Yo!!!! Old School ruled and packed the house last night, Saturday February 4, 2017 at the Raleigh Memorial Auditorium for the Back 2 the 80’s Tour ! 

Fans came out ‘funky fresh dressed to impress ready to party’ to see this show featuring Doug E Fresh, Slick Rick, Big Daddy Kane, Whodini, Al B Sure, Cherrelle, Hi Five and Chubb Rock! 

The music was great, the vibe was nothing but a Generation X party y’all and I would definitely recommend seeing this show if you love old school REAL Hip Hop and RnB.

Cherrelle opened the show. She became legendary with a myriad of solo hots and also with Alexander O’Neal. Father time has done nothing to slow her beauty or vocal chords.

Followed by Chub RockChubb had great interaction w/the audience as he hosted an old school hit after hit review !

Hi-Five sang a melody of their greatest hits including “The Kissing Game”, They also paid homage to New Edition, with “Can You Stand The Rain” .

Here is a short clip of Al.B.Sure working his way thru a crowd of lady fans singing RnB classic “Secret Garden”. It was an uplifting experience for one lucky fan!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BQHQr4_D4MY/


Whodini: The trio of Jalil Hutchins, John “Ecstasy” Fletcher, and Drew “Grandmaster Dee” Carter filled the early ’80s with memorable jams such as “Magic Wand” and “The Freaks Come Out at Night,” which they performed while escaping from straitjackets underwater.  They were in all their glory onstage with their infamous wide brimmed hats and all.

Big Daddy Kane: The Grammy-winning rapper and former member of the Juice Crew’s mix of rapid-fire rhymes and swagger inspired generations of MCs, including former hype man Jay-Z.Big Daddy has not lost once ounce of his iconic swag. He is still the ultimate “smooth operator”. He took the crowd through a playlist of his biggest hits culminating with his number one smash “Ain’t no Half Steppin”

Slick Rick: Allmusic dubbed the Grammy-nominated rapper “hip-hop’s greatest storyteller” for reasons that become obvious when listening to hits such as “La Di Da Di” and “Children’s Story”. This UK import has a unique way of weaving a tale while keeping a rhythm all of his own. It took me back to middle school and just had me smiling from ear to ear.

Doug E. Fresh was as always was the MC extraordinaire. He kept the crowd grooving with his unique blend of rap, beat box.He is literally a walking encyclopedia of hip hop. One of the originators of the genre. His icon status was on full display as the crowd went wild during his set !!

Look out for the Back 2 the 80s Tour coming to a city near you ! Check your local listings and Ticketmaster to buy tickets here !