Victoria Theatre | Dayton OH
A True Celebration!
Listen… when I tell you I didn’t plan on getting my whole life at this show… but here we are. 😄 Uptown: A Celebration of Motown & Soul understood the assignment from the very first beat.
The Lineup – Smooth, Sharp, and In Sync
Now let me tell you about this trio…
From what I gathered (because you know I had to do a little digging), the lineup can rotate over time. But on this night? It was Derrick Leonard, Jonathan Walker, and Joel Walker, with Jonathan and Joel being brothers, and Derrick proudly holding it down as the “brother from another mother.” The chemistry? Seamless. Clean choreography. Vocals that didn’t come to play. And I love a group that doesn’t just sing the songs… they honor them.
The Music: Motown Was in the Building
If you’re even remotely a fan of Motown, this show is like a musical time machine with a little modern twist.
They ran through a lineup that had the whole audience locked in, here’s just a few:
- “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” — and yes, they gave full The Temptations energy
- “Superstition” – that Stevie Wonder groove hit just right
- “September” – and listen… we all knew what time it was when that came on
- And of course, selections from The Jackson 5 that took it all the way back
This wasn’t just a setlist… it was a celebration.
My Highlight – “I’ll Be There” 🖤
Now let me go ahead and talk about my moment… When they started singing “I’ll Be There”…
And then… they had a photo of the Jackson 5 on the screen behind them…I especially focused in on Michael and Tito 😢
Yeah. That did it.
As a Jackson fan, that moment wasn’t just a performance; it was a feeling. One of those sit-back, take-it-in, let-it-hit-your-soul kind of moments. You could feel the shift in the room too. Everybody got a little quieter… just soaking it in. That right there? That’s what music is supposed to do.
The FUN Moment – Sir… Your Wife Is Living Her Best Life 😂
Now THIS part… took me out. They brought a lady up on stage to serenade her to Prince’s “Kiss” — and listen… she was READY. 💃🏽 Her husband was sitting right there, but she said, “Not tonight.” 🤣 She flirted, she danced, she leaned ALL the way into the moment like she had been preparing for it her whole life. And honestly? I respected it. Because if you get pulled on stage, you better commit.
And she did. We were all entertained… including her husband (I think 😄).
The Grand Finale – We Left Dancing
And just when you think they’ve done enough… They close out with “Uptown Funk” by Bruno Mars.
When I say we were dancing in our seats, and the aisles… I am not exaggerating.
That’s the kind of ending I like, don’t just send me home… send me home smiling.
Final Thoughts – Classic Meets Feel-Good Energy
This wasn’t just a concert. It was a full experience.
It had:
- nostalgia
- energy
- crowd interaction
- and just enough modern flavor to keep it fresh
And most importantly… it had heart.
