Long before K-pop became a cultural phenomenon and *NSYNC tore up hearts, there was New Edition. Originally a group of kids from the projects in Boston, the group formed in 1978 and pieced together smooth vocals, slick moves and big personalities that laid the foundation for the modern boy band and forever changed the course of R&B.
Nearly 50 years later, as they brought the career-spanning New Edition Way Tour to United Center Wednesday alongside proteges and pals Boyz II Men and Toni Braxton, the OGs showed why they still wear the crown. The massive three-hour production, titled for the band’s recent milestone of having a street renamed in their honor in their old stomping grounds, focused on a legacy that has carried through 2026 as they remain anchors in the genre.
To reinforce that point, New Edition’s new offering took the focus early on as the night opened with the fresh song, “We Going Out Tonight,” which was purposely dropped just before the tour kicked off a week ago in Oakland, California.
But it was hard to deny that their gilded ‘80s bangers like “Mr. Telephone Man” and “Candy Girl” (accompanied by an off-stage live band) were the highlights of the night as all six members — Bobby Brown, Ralph Tresvant, Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, Ronnie DeVoe and Johnny Gill — were a united show of force who were proud of their body of work.
Fresh off a 2025 Vegas residency, the group imbued that bright lights energy into their performance, wearing matching sequined suit jackets and amplifying each number with their honeyed vocals and synchronized choreography that challenged the notion that any time passed at all.
The crowd was a similar snapshot — the Day Ones showed up in custom-made “Candy Girl” denim jackets and sequined jumpsuits to match the pomp onstage while dutifully singing along to their schoolyard favorites. The packed stadium was largely made up of Gen X-plus (when the opening DJ sussed out the age ranges, “Anyone over 40?” got the loudest response), with the show satisfying all their nostalgia pangs. Though it was a shame a younger faction wasn’t present to understand how influential the three acts have been to today’s R&B core.
“This is a night of excellence, commitment, showmanship and dedication at the highest of levels,” DeVoe said to introduce the show. “And all six of us on one stage? C’mon y’all!”
It was more than just the six of them, though, which made the night a true feat. The tour is uniquely orchestrated as a rotating platter of New Edition, Boyz II Men and Braxton song cuts, with all acts continually coming in and out of the spotlight on a 360-degree platform via a minefield of stage cut-outs. With no dedicated opening slots, all three groups collaborated on each other’s tracks, representing a body of work that has collectively sold over 100 million albums and garnered countless awards.
Notably, it’s the first time New Edition has ever toured with Boyz II Men, the ‘90s R&B beacons from Philly who named their group after a New Edition track off the 1988 album “Heart Break” and were discovered by Bivins.
“They represent the New Edition family tree to the fullest,” Bivins declared ahead of the vocal trio nailing “Water Runs Dry,” “On Bended Knee” and their Mariah Carey duet, “One Sweet Day” (paired with the original 1995 music video filling in for the songstress’ vocals) with those unmatchable three-part harmonies that still get everyone in the mood. But just in case they didn’t win over enough hearts, Nathan Morris, Shawn Stockman and Wanyá Morris doled out fresh-cut roses to the ladies in attendance for their romance lasso “I’ll Make Love to You.”
Braxton brought much-needed feminine energy to the night — “our queen” as DeVoe referred to her — with her dramatic flair and deep register standing the test of time on “You’re Makin’ Me High” and the crescendo of “Un-Break My Heart.” But it was the beloved ballad “Breathe Again” that truly tipped the scales. A visibly emotional Braxton explained it was her late sister Traci’s favorite song and also spoke about her own health battles that almost prevented her from appearing on a stage again. “You all know I have that stupid lupus and doctors told me I’d never ever be able to perform again,” she shared of her battle with the autoimmune disease. “But New Edition and Boyz II Men, they said you can’t stop performing, come out with us,” she added. “Thank you for putting me on the stage.”
As the hosts of the night, New Edition took creative liberty with their song choices, placing a strong emphasis on the solo careers and side projects that blossomed from the band’s success. Tresvant sauced up the crowd with bedroom hits “Sensitivity” and “Do What I Gotta Do” (with a Boyz II Men vocal backline) while Johnny Gill showed off his vocal acrobatics with “Fairweather Friend” and “Rub You the Right Way.” Naturally, it was the two major breakouts from the band, Bobby Brown and Bell Biv DeVoe, that stole the spotlight.
On “Don’t Be Cruel,” Brown paired his vocal chops with his signature two-step moves that had his bandmates and the crowd declaring, “Go Bobby, Go Bobby!” After the personal tragedies, such as the death of his children and first wife Whitney Houston, and the legal and drug problems over the years, Brown returned to a more spirited version of himself on stage Wednesday.”
By the final three numbers of the night — a lively throwdown of Brown’s “Every Little Step” and “My Prerogative” and Bell Biv DeVoe’s hip-hop classic “Poison” — which netted the biggest singalongs and smartphone captures, it was hard to deny that the New Edition Way Tour is paving the way for a new future for R&B’s finest.
Set List for New Edition Way Tour at United Center Feb. 4, 2026
We Going Out Tonight (New Edition)
Motownphilly (Boyz II Men)
He Wasn’t Man Enough (Toni Braxton)
If It Isn’t Love (New Edition)
You’re Not My Kind of Girl (New Edition)
Hit Me Off (New Edition)
N.E. Heart Break (New Edition)
Please Don’t Go (Boyz II Men)
Uhh Ahh (Boyz II Men)
4 Seasons of Loneliness (Boyz II Men)
You’re Makin’ Me High (Toni Braxton)
How Many Ways (Toni Braxton)
Fairweather Friend (Johnny Gill)
Don’t Be Cruel (Bobby Brown)
Do Me! (Bell Biv DeVoe)
When Will I See You Smile Again? (Bell Biv DeVoe)
Do What I Gotta Do (Ralph Tresvant)
Just Be a Man About It (Toni Braxton)
Breathe Again (Toni Braxton)
I’ll Make Love to You (Boyz II Men)
Roni (Bobby Brown)
Sensitivity (Ralph Tresvant)
My Body (LSG cover)
My, My, My (Johnny Gill)
Long As I Live (Toni Braxton)
Un-Break My Heart (Toni Braxton)
Can You Stand the Rain (New Edition)
Water Runs Dry (Boyz II Men)
On Bended Knee (Boyz II Men)
Mr. Telephone Man (New Edition)
Candy Girl (New Edition)
Cool It Now (New Edition)
One Sweet Day (Mariah Carey/Boyz II Men)
End of the Road (Boyz II Men)
Rub You the Right Way (Johnny Gill)
Every Little Step (Bobby Brown)
My Prerogative (Bobby Brown)
Poison (Bell Biv DeVoe)