By the time I received the press release announcing New Edition’s new residency, a la AEG Presents Las Vegas, at Wynn Las Vegas, the entire first leg of the residency had already sold out.  Then, when reports started coming back from people I knew who’d gone, they were, without exception, raves.  So, I knew I had to get a seat for the second leg (which I did), and the band did not disappoint.  Nor did the audience, for that matter, which was in full-on party mode.  Now, the band has announced the third leg of its New Edition: Las Vegas residency—with shows on Wednesday, October 30; Friday, November 01; and Saturday, November 02—and I cannot stress enough that if you are a member of Gen X, the levels of serotonin that will flood your brain when you hear this music will have you dancing in front of your seat, and grinning like a new jack fool; which no doubt explains the show’s popularity with the likes of Mike Tyson, actors Jason Sudekis (Ted Lasso) and Mekhi Phifer (8 Mile), singer Macy Gray and rapper Big Boi, as well as Marlon Jackson and Jackie Jackson (The Jacksons).

Just a quick NE primer for those not familiar…  Originally formed in 1981, the band consisted of Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Bobby Brown, followed in very short order by Ralph Tresvant, and finally Ronnie DeVoe.  But it wasn’t until 1984 when they dropped their original management and were signed to MCA Records, that they truly gelled into the New Edition that would top the charts and establish the template for the most successful boy bands of the era.  Later, in 1986, the band’s management had Brown voted out of the band, which led to his successful solo career.  Then, in 1987, Johnny Gill was voted into the band, making him the only non-Bostonian member of the band.  Finally, inspired by Brown’s success as a solo artist, Tresvant would pursue solo careers of his own, and Gill would resume his, while the remaining three members, Bell, Bivins, and DeVoe, formed the group Bell Biv DeVoe. 

So, I was quite sure I knew what I was in for—i.e., the hits—but it was really so much more.  Sure, there were the OG New Edition classics (“Candy Girl,” “Cool It Now,” and “Mr. Telephone Man”) and later NE jams (the ballad “Can You Stand the Rain” and my favorite, “If It Isn’t Love”); as well as the solo hits by Brown (“Don’t Be Cruel,” “Roni,” My Prerogative,” and “Every Little Step”), Gill (“Rub You the Right Way,” “This One’s for Me and You,” and “My, My, My”), Tresvant (“Sensitivity” and “When I Need Somebody”), and Bell Biv DeVoe (“Do Me!” and “Poison”).  The band also shined spectacularly performing tributes to bands that influenced them, like The Jackson 5 (“Medley: ABC / I Want You Back / The Love You Save”); The Spinners (“I’ll Be Around” and “Could It Be I’m Falling In Love”); and Earth, Wind & Fire (“September”). 

The six gentlemen of New Edition had the audience in the palms of their respective hands from the moment they took the stage until the confetti fell during “September.”  For me, the highlights included Johnny Gill channeling both Luther Vandross and James Brown (and doing it well!) while performing “My, My, My,” and the latter version of the band (i.e., sans Brown) performing “If It Isn’t Love,” (which was one of the first 45” singles I purchased after I’d begun DJing, back when I was 15).

In fact, the only thing that had me tilting my head even for a moment was Brown’s decision to wear “Bobby Brown” merch during one of the last sets—to wit, a black and white bomber jacket with his name written on the front and bedazzled on the sleeves—as if anyone in the audience was wondering “Which one is Bobby?”  (P.S.  Nobody was.)  But I digress...  Simply put, the moves were tight, the looks were fierce, and the sounds were rich and multilayered.  In short, it’s exactly what you'd want from a heritage act delivering a Las Vegas residency show in the intimate Encore Theater.

The setlist from the July 11, 2024 performance of the NEW EDITION: LAS VEGAS residency in the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas was as follows:

1. Medley: ABC / I Want You Back / The Love You Save [The Jacksons cover]
2. Medley: Candy Girl / Popcorn Love / Cool It Now / Count Me Out
3. Mr. Telephone Man
4. Is This the End
5. Jealous Girl
6. You’re Not My Kind of Girl
7. Don’t Be Cruel [Bobby Brown song]
8. Rub You the Right Way [Johnny Gill song]
9. I’ll Be Around [The Spinners cover]
10. Could It Be I’m Falling In Love [The Spinners cover]
11. This One’s for Me and You [Johnny Gill song]
12. Sensitivity [Ralph Tresvant song]
13. When I Need Somebody [Ralph Tresvant song]
14. Roni [Bobby Brown song]
15. My, My, My [Johnny Gill song]
16. I’m Still in Love In Love With You
17. Can You Stand the Rain
18. Do Me! [Bel Biv DeVoe song]
19. Poison [Bell Biv DeVoe song]
20. My Prerogative [Bobby Brown song]
21. Every Little Step [Bobby Brown song]
22. If It Isn’t Love
23. September [Earth, Wind & Fire cover]

New Edition: Las Vegas
Encore Theater | Wynn Las Vegas
October 30, November 01, November 02
Click HERE for tickets and info

Get into it!
#NewEdition