Review: En Vogue brings sophisticated soul to Vancouver

The American R&B/pop trio En Vogue performed at Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016. (Anil Sharma Photographer).

Slow Jam Sundays have become a Vancouver institution.

Even so, it’s doubtful that the club night’s organizers dreamed that four years after launching their regular trips down ‘90s nostalgia memory lane they’d be booking acts like En Vogue.

The Destiny’s Child of their decade, bringing the multiple award-winning R&B titanettes to Vancouver proved beyond any doubt that Slow Jam Sundays have struck a smooth chord with Granville Street revellers unafraid of Monday morning hangovers.

Last night, at a positively throbbing Commodore Ballroom, En Vogue demonstrated that despite their time out of the media spotlight, these are artists not prepared to slow down.

You wouldn’t believe that original members Terry Ellis and Cindy Herron are both now in their fifties. Physically and musically muscular, the group emerged at the unholy hour of 12:40 a.m. with more energy than the majority of the (admittedly worse for wear) crowd.

Leaping straight into the hits, a harmonious “My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It)” and an unseasoned “Whatta Man” were immediate reminders of how much fun the R&B of the 1990s was, the rap skills of Ellis and Herron ably making up for the lack of Salt ‘N’ Pepa.

The night took an unexpected turn when En Vogue went outside their own 20 million-sold back catalogue for a journey into the distant past on the soul train during an extended medley of classics, climaxing with funky but still familiar renditions of “I Heard It Though The Grapevine,” “Respect” and “Lady Marmalade.”

The trio were on the verge of veering into cover band territory when newest Voguette Rhona Bennett led her colleagues in straight ahead Tina Turner tribute “Proud Mary,” before backtracking into safer slow jam territory, taking three stools for the Curtis Mayfield-penned pair “Giving Him Something He Can Feel” and “Hooked On Your Love.”

Despite being supported by a backing track that sounded like it was ripped off YouTube, the singing was razor sharp for the entire night. The trio’s creamy harmonies topped with regular bursts of vocal pyrotechnics from the continually impressive Herron.

As the clock ticked towards 2 a.m., facing a crowd hungry for both hits and their beds, En Vogue unleashed a grand finale of “Free Your Mind,” “Don’t Let Go (Love)” and “Hold On,” all prime examples of why Slow Jam Sundays work so well, and ably demonstrating why smart, sexy and sophisticated pop is always worthy of a stroll down memory lane.