Photos and review by Jenna Hughes
Love was in the air at the Frederick Brown Amphitheatre on June 22nd, as the crowd anxiously awaited the reunion of legendary singers Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack. Though it was a sweltering evening in Peachtree City, devoted fans braved the heat and humidity to see the pair perform together for the first time in years, as part of The Fred’s summer concert series.
R&B crooner Peabo Bryson took the stage first, looking sharp in a cream colored tuxedo and belted out ‘If You Love Someone (Set Them Free)’ to start off the night. Bryson joked with the audience, saying that he picked the wrong night to wear a tuxedo. Several people screamed for him to take his jacket off, to which Bryson simply grinned.
As the sun set behind the stage, Bryson delivered his biggest hits including ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and ‘A Whole New World’, much to the delight of the audience. At one point in the show, Bryson left the stage to walk through the crowd to serenade them, stopping to let fans take photos with him along the way.
Back on stage, Bryson surprised with a fantastic cover of Sade’s ‘King of Sorrow’, during which the backing band and singers truly shone. Fans were on their feet in seconds as the opening chords of ‘I’m So Into You’ began. Bryson finished out the show handing out long stemmed roses to lucky fans in front of the stage and he finally took off his jacket to massive cheers.
It was quite a wait for Roberta Flack, but the crowd didn’t seem to mind. Everyone was on their feet to welcome the legend to the stage, where she greeted them with a brilliant smile and wave, before settling in behind her grand piano. ‘Will You Love Me Tomorrow’ had fans slow dancing before the stage and ‘Sweet Georgia Brown’ had them dancing and clapping along. Flack was very talkative during her set, as if every person in the crowd was an old friend that she was catching up with.
Peabo Bryson returned to the stage to duet with Flack on ‘Tonight (I Celebrate My Love)’ and ‘You’re Looking Like Love To Me’. Flack urged the audience to buy their duet album, 1980’s ‘Live and More’, citing it as her favorite. Then she chuckled and said, “Or just download it. I just want you to hear it.”
Flack also informed the crowd of her new album of Beatles covers, Let It Be: Roberta, an album that has been given rave reviews. Her gorgeous cover of ‘Hey Jude’ had the crowd in awe, until the end when Flack encouraged them to help her sing. The crowd came alive then, with every last “na na na” and gave a standing ovation.
The nearly 90 minute set also included fan favorites ‘Killing Me Softly’ and of course, the infamous ‘First Time Ever I Saw Your Face’.
Full Gallery after the jump…
