Share the LOVE

Dayton Masonic Temple | Dayton OH

Neo-Soul in a new 'Light'

Attending my third candlelight concert was an experience I eagerly anticipated, and it did not disappoint! This time, the evening featured the enchanting music of Neo-Soul favorites, and it was a full house as I expected. Clearly, this concert series is gaining popularity, and for good reason!

The event was held in the historic Masonic Center in Dayton, a beautiful intimate setting, with candles flickering around the room, creating a cozy and magical ambiance. The string quartet took the stage, and from the first note of SZA’s “Good Days”…thru Boyz II Men’s “End of the Road”, they captivated the audience. Their performance was nothing short of amazing throughout the hour-long concert. 

One unique aspect of this particular concert was the quartet’s encouragement for the audience to hum or sing along if they felt moved to do so. Naturally, this invitation opened people up to participate, and, oh boy, did they! Some attendees’ vocal contributions were… well, let’s just say they were having fun! Despite a few off-key moments from my fellow concert-goers, the atmosphere remained enjoyable, even if my ears hurt just a tad… 😂

As is customary with these candlelight concerts, we were allowed to record or take photos during the final piece. Normally, I take advantage of this opportunity to capture some memories, but this time I chose not to. My ‘neighbor’ was enthusiastically singing and humming along (with varying success in hitting the right notes), and I felt that recording would detract from the serene candlelight experience. Our seats were quite close, and I wanted to fully immerse myself in the music and the moment.

Despite this minor distraction, the overall concert was everything I had hoped for and more. The quartet’s talent shone through, and the music of Neo-Soul resonated deeply, filling the room with warmth and soul. They received standing ovations, they did THAT! 

The setlist included classics like Prince’s “Purple Rain,” Lauryn Hill’s “Ex-Factor,” Alicia Keys’ “You Don’t Know My Name,” Sade’s “Smooth Operator,” and D’Angelo’s “Untitled (How Does It Feel).”  We also enjoyed Childish Gambino’s “Redbone,” Frank Ocean’s “Thinkin Bout You,” Boyz II Men’s “The End of the Road,” Miguel’s “Adorn,” SZA’s “Good Days,” H.E.R.’s “The Best Part,” Erykah Badu’s “Tyrone,” and Solange’s “Don’t Touch My Hair.”

I left the concert already looking forward to catching this particular performance again in the future. Next time, perhaps I’ll be able to capture some footage and share the magic of these candlelight concerts with others. For now, I’ll cherish the memories of this night and the beautiful music that filled the air.

Sending
User Review
4 (3 votes)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *