Fantasia and Joe in Concert
The Fox Theatre
Detroit, Michigan
February 16, 2023
by Dedan Blackmon
Okay Detroit…lights out…Showtime! After an almost 3-year Covid-19 concert hiatus, R&B music is finally back! Singers Joe and Fantasia brought true Rhythm & Blues to the Fox Theatre stage. After comedian Gary G-Thang had the sold-out crowd laughing all through his set, R&B crooner Joe took the stage.
Dressed in a black and silver jacket, black leather pants with dark shades, Joe opened with his hit song, ‘Stutter’. Never one to let his female fans down, Joe knows how to use his voice to get the ladies going by performing other hit songs like ‘I Wanna Know’ and ‘Don’t Wanna Be A Player’.
During intermission, Gary “G-Thang” went into the crowd and had people singing various Fantasia songs. While everyone is not a singer, sometimes crowds can be cruel to those who think they can sing. But DJ Shaun saved the day by playing hit songs from different artists as the crowd was up on their feet dancing the night away.
Closing out the night, was ‘American Idol’ third season winner Fantasia. It’s been three years since Fantasia last released an album, which was Sketchbook. It was released independently on Rock Soul/BMG and debuted at No. 5 on Billboard’s Top R&B Albums chart. Music aside, Fantasia has kept herself busy. She will star in the upcoming musical film ‘The Color Purple’ as Celie.
She previously portrayed the character in the Broadway musical. Fantasia will be joined by Halle Bailey (as young Nettie), Ciara (as adult Nettie), H.E.R. (as Squeak), Taraji P. Henson (as Shug Avery) and Danielle Brooks (as Sofia). Now back to the concert, Fantasia opened with Whitney Houston’s ‘I’m Your Baby Tonight’. And with the energy that comes with a Fantasia performance, she kicks off her stiletto heels mid-song like her idol Patti LaBelle. During her show, Fantasia gave everything she had on the stage and her fans were right there with her. She reached out and touched them as they sang along with her and danced in the aisles.
