Boyz II Men Bring Bangers to Boston’s MGM Music Hall [Photos]

On February 9th, a Friday night in Boston, MA, fans at MGM Music Hall were transported back to the ’90s and early 2000s with a nostalgic performance by Boyz II Men.

Boyz II Men, originally a quartet, now a trio, rose to fame in the early ’90s with their R&B style after being discovered by New Editions member Michael Bivens. They went on to earn recognition from Billboard Magazine as the “biggest boy band” during the period from 1990 to 2012. The crowd at MGM Music Hall definitely reflected this time period, with the average age of those in attendance seeming to be between 40 and 50 years old.

The three remaining members of Boyz II Men, Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris, and Shawn Stockman, might be in their 50s, but they did not act like it! Coming out to start the show in all-white outfits and impressive dance moves, they fittingly began with a performance of their very first song and single, “Motownphilly.” This was their first-ever song released in 1991, and it got every person in the crowd on their feet and dancing. Followed by their hit song, “On Bended Knee.” It was clear these three men were experienced pros and knew how to put on a show.

A favorite moment of the show was when the trio started singing their song “I’ll Make Love to You” from their sophomore album II. Nathan, Wanya and Shawn all came on stage holding bouquets of roses, which they passed out to adoring females in the crowd. Before this song, they had stopped singing to have a short dialogue with Shawn and Wanya about how much the fans meant to them. They discussed how honored they were that people were still showing up to see them perform over 30 years after their debut album dropped.

All three members of the group really put in effort to interact with the audience by doing things such as pointing and singling people out in the crowd and posing for pictures on stage after the show was over. It was very clear that Nathan, Wanya and Shawn loved and appreciated their fans and were grateful for all the continued support.

I was also impressed to see both Nathan Morris and Shawn Stockman playing guitars during the performance, with Nathan playing bass and Shawn playing lead guitar. Wanya Morris explained to the crowd that this was a skill the two had added to their repertoire back in the mid-2000s after Nathan had suggested they all buy guitars and learn how to play them.

My biggest critique of the show was that I thought the sound system and music overpowered the vocals a bit. At times, it was hard to hear the men singing with their talented voices over the instruments. Another piece to note would be that the trio mainly performed songs from their first four albums and did not really dive into their later albums and most recent songs. However, this was not a problem for me because I loved their old hits, and it seemed like most people in the crowd would have agreed.

To finish the show, Boyz II Men performed their most popular song, “End of the Road.” An emotional ballad about going through a breakup but not wanting to let that person go quite yet. This was a powerful moment, with every person on their feet, singing right along with them. At the finale, the men went totally acapella, and to hear just their voices singing with the crowd was a beautiful and fitting end to an amazing performance!

Boyz II Men @ MGM Music Hall at Fenway (Boston, MA) on February 9, 2024

20 photos