LYNN — Bobby Brown, at the start of his show Friday night at Lynn Auditorium, said: “I love and respect everyone who came to see me tonight. It means a lot to me,” and pledged to give an “honest” performance.
The King of R&B certainly did that. He was engaged and gave his all for the entire set, even if every little step he took at the end seemed laborious.
And, oh yeah, the set lasted only 62 minutes. Nine songs in 62 minutes.
But it was a heckuva fun 62 minutes.
His diminished dance skills and the shortness of the set — and his shortness of breath — notwithstanding, the smallish crowd of 700 or so were on their feet from the start and sang along to every song. He doesn’t move and groove like he used to.
Brown, 50, has performed very few shows this year. It was a real treat to see him in our backyard. He sure seemed to be out of gas at the end, though. His sweat towel got quite the workout. Maybe it wasn’t wise to wear black leather under those hot lights. He seemed ready to call it quits after song No. 8, but the cynic in me guesses his manager told him, “One more song. You have to play 60 minutes to get paid.”
Brown performed most of the songs his fans wanted to hear. Backed by a guitarist, drummer, bassist/keyboardist, two singers and two female dancers, he opened with two biggies, “My Prerogative” and “Take Control.” Both featured pounding drums and bone-crunching guitar, and his fans were in heaven. “Don’t Be Cruel,” with blazing guitar and hard-rocking beat, was terrific.
The slow jams “Rock Wit’cha” and “Roni” were dedicated to the ladies in attendance. A “Go Bobby” chant filled the venue during an incendiary “Every Little Step,” which evolved into a loud sing-along.
Brown grew up in the Roxbury projects, and, in the early ’80s, their promoter Maurice Starr, who also put together New Kids on the Block, brought the group to talent shows and schools throughout the state. Brown said Friday night that New Edition won a talent show in Lynn and that started the ball rolling; stardom arrived in 1982 with the catchy Jackson 5-like “Candy Girl” (I bought the 45 at Rockit Records in Saugus).
Much has been written in the tabloid press about Brown’s demons, his marriage to Whitney Houston and the death of their daughter. None of that mattered Friday night. This performance wasn’t exactly the Redemption of Bobby Brown, but it truly was good enough and wonderful to see him back on stage doing what he loves.
