Jagged Edge Concert Review By Sophia Jackson Stratford Rex, London - 15 April 2006 As a special Easter bonanza, R&B lovers were treated to a night of musical entertainment from US veterans Jagged Edge. With support from the UK’s home-grown talent Fundamental ’03, I was geared up for a memorable night from oldies and newcomers.   The late night event held at London’s Stratford Rex was hosted by Choice FM’s Kat who provided comedy and some interesting dance moves as the crowd endured a three hour wait for our US guests. Time flew, as before the ladies’ favourites Fundamental 03 performed, there were three other acts including UK newcomer, KB.   The entrance from talented singing and dancing trio Fundamental caused the majority female audience to scramble into their bags to capture the hot talent on stage with their camera/video phones. The threesome performed tracks from their forthcoming debut album, including the latest release, ‘Playground’. Fundamental got much love from the crowd and provided the perfect entrée before the main course – Jagged Edge.   Following on from last year’s sell out Valentine’s tour, the crowd welcomed the R&B group with open arms. Unfortunately, they in turn greeted us with a lack-lustre air kiss on both cheeks and a mediocre performance. The male vocal act came bouncing onto the stage to the Biggie ‘Duets’ track, ‘Nasty Girl’, and naturally the crowd obliged by standing up and jigging along to the party track.   Established in 1998, the successful multi-platinum album sellers served us lukewarm performances of ‘Let’s Get Married’, followed by ‘I Gotta Be’ and ‘He Can’t Love U’. The ATLiens somehow managed to fill the East London venue with love as the crowd swayed from side to side to the emotion inducing ‘Walked Outta Heaven’. However, the boy band were on stage for a mere 45 minutes. Either the audience were content with their lame offerings of a few crumpled posters and T-shirts, or maybe the fact that it was 2.15 in the morning left he crowd feeling too worn out to shout “Refund”. It was a smart move for the Edges to end with party anthem and US Billboard number one, ‘Where the Party At?’, as ending the seven-track set with such a catchy song meant the audience probably felt they were getting value for money. My questions is: if the kings of hip hop/R&B are coming out with their fifth album this summer, then where all the other songs at?!   My main gripe is that they started the concert with so much potential and then they seemed to get bored of their own performance after one song. I’m left with no other choice than to suggest if they want to return to UK shores then they should treat their UK fans with a lot more respect. I doubt they could get away with a show of such poor standard if they were performing on home turf. It might be harsh, but I sense another US band treating the UK as a cash-cow, because their performance on Saturday with their out of touch dress sense left more than a lot to be desired. If you are going to make your audience wait three hours for you, the least you can do is be worth waiting for.     Return To Concert Review Archive
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