WOW! All we can say is WOW! Yes, we went into D’Angelo and The Vanguard’s The Second Coming Tour with high expectations; and THEY. MET. EVERY. SINGLE. ONE!!!

Now, we’ve been rocking with D’Angelo since the Brown Sugar album, we swooned with the world when they discovered Voodoo; we even covered that tour! So, when he swooped in like a superhero to save R & B music in December 2014 with Black Messiah, we knew that the coming tour would also help to get live music off of its respirator; because how many concerts can you attend that are filled with useless filler, props, needless pyrotechnics, and lip-synching before you need a good dose of R & B? And we mean, REAL R & B performed live with a rocking band?!?

D'Angelo performs during The Second Coming Tour at the Royal Oak Music Theatre. (Marissa Pierce/Phashion Phish) — D'Angelo performs during *The Second Coming Tour* at the Royal Oak Music Theatre. (Marissa Pierce/Phashion Phish)

The show began with “Ain’t That Easy” and proceeded to excel from there. Through song after song D’Angelo and The Vanguard gave the audience what they came for; an amazing night of REAL music. Oh yeah, and with some real swag! D’Angelo worked the crowd with energy and a clear love of performing; not to mention an unmatched, cool confidence that we don't think another singer could present AND then back it up with a worthy performance. We’ve been to many a concert where the performers were just going through the motions, but that was NOT the case here. You can feel the love that D’Angelo has for this music and it transcends beyond just the performance. The quick smiles here and there and interaction with The Vanguard shows a musician and songwriter that is meant to be here, doing this, and enjoying every minute of it.

D’Angelo and The Vanguard continued through the set with fan favorites including, “Brown Sugar”, “Sugah Daddy”, “Betray”, “Chicken Grease”, the transformative “Untitled”, and our favorites “Really Love” and “The Charade”. Just as the songs are important, the music has such a special role at a show like this; because just as lyrics tell a story so does the music. D'Angelo has built an amazing band that helps to tell that story; and along with D’Angelo on vocals, guitar, and keyboards you also have Charles "Red" Middleton, Jermaine Holmes and the firecracker Kendra Foster on vocals, Keyon Harold on trumpet, Kenneth Whalum on tenor sax, Cleo “Pookie” Sample on keyboards, Isaiah Sharkey and Jesse Johnson; yes THAT Jesse Johnson on guitar, bassist Rocco Palladino who filled in for his dad, the master Pino Palladino, and Chris “Daddy” Dave on drums.

D'Angelo and Jesse Johnson perform during The Second Coming Tour at the Royal Oak Music Theatre. (Marissa Pierce/Phashion Phish) — D'Angelo and Jesse Johnson perform during *The Second Coming Tour* at the Royal Oak Music Theatre. (Marissa Pierce/Phashion Phish)

Isaiah Sharkey performing during The Second Coming Tour, with Charles "Red" Middleton and Rocco Palladino in the background at the Royal Oak Music Theatre. (Marissa Pierce/Phashion Phish) — Isaiah Sharkey performing during *The Second Coming Tour,* with Charles "Red" Middleton and Rocco Palladino in the background at the Royal Oak Music Theatre. (Marissa Pierce/Phashion Phish)

Jesse Johnson performs during The Second Coming Tour at the Royal Oak Music Theatre. (Marissa Pierce/Phashion Phish) — Jesse Johnson performs during *The Second Coming Tour* at the Royal Oak Music Theatre. (Marissa Pierce/Phashion Phish)

Jermaine Holmes, Charles "Red" Middleton, and Isaiah Sharkey perform during The Second Coming Tour at the Royal Oak Music Theatre. (Marissa Pierce/Phashion Phish) — Jermaine Holmes, Charles "Red" Middleton, and Isaiah Sharkey perform during *The Second Coming Tour* at the Royal Oak Music Theatre. (Marissa Pierce/Phashion Phish)

Kendra Foster performs during The Second Coming Tour at the Royal Oak Music Theatre. (Marissa Pierce/Phashion Phish) — Kendra Foster performs during *The Second Coming Tour* at the Royal Oak Music Theatre. (Marissa Pierce/Phashion Phish)

D'Angelo performing during The Second Coming Tour at the Royal Oak Music Theatre. (Marissa Pierce/Phashion Phish) — D'Angelo performing during *The Second Coming Tour* at the Royal Oak Music Theatre. (Marissa Pierce/Phashion Phish)

The crowd rocked the ENTIRE time and of the many shows we've been to the last few years; this was one where the crowd was not actively taking photos or video. They were really there to enjoy the music and be in the moment, which was SO refreshing! D’Angelo and The Vanguard’s The Second Coming Tour is just further validation that an album 14 years in the making is worth the wait!

The Second Coming Tour also features an AWESOME opening act in Meg Mac. First of all she’s touring with D’Angelo, so that is one hell of a co-sign! We really enjoyed her song “Known Better”, because everyone can feel the quintessential “you don’t realize what you’ve got ’til it’s gone” and "I'm sorry that you were stupid" song. She also took us to church with “Grandma’s Hands”. Her powerful voice definitely sets the stage for much success to come. Her EP MEG MAC is definitely worth a listen. You can find out more about her here!

Meg Mac performing as the opening act, during The Second Coming Tour at the Royal Oak Music Theatre. (Marissa Pierce/Phashion Phish) — Meg Mac performing as the opening act, during The Second Coming Tour at the Royal Oak Music Theatre. (Marissa Pierce/Phashion Phish)

D'Angelo and The Vanguard perform during The Second Coming Tour at the Royal Oak Music Theatre. (Marissa Pierce/Phashion Phish) — D'Angelo and The Vanguard perform during *The Second Coming Tour* at the Royal Oak Music Theatre. (Marissa Pierce/Phashion Phish)