A night of neo-soul nostalgia

St. Louis neo-soul fans got the reunion they deserved Thursday night at Stifel Theatre as Floetry brought “Say Yes: The Tour” to town — and finally delivered the show longtime fans have been waiting for.

When the British duo reunited at The Pageant back in 2015, the music was solid, but the tension was visible. Marsha Ambrosius and Natalie Stewart were sharing a stage for the first time since their 2007 split, and the strain showed. But this time the energy was different. The chemistry that made them childhood friends — and later, one of the most influential acts of the Philadelphia neo-soul wave — was back in full bloom.

They laughed at inside jokes. They dapped each other up. They shared the stage – and their songs with ease and true camaraderie. 

“What you are witnessing is healing in real time,” Stewart told the crowd. 

They also made sure the audience knew how grateful they were for fans who stuck with them through every chapter.

Floetry’s impact has always stretched beyond their two-album catalog. Their sound was so undeniable that Michael Jackson tapped Ambrosius to help remake “Butterflies” for his 2001 “Invincible” album — and Floetry still included their own version on their debut album “Floetic” the next year. Their blend of hypnotic beats, spoken word and raw emotional honesty helped shape the next era of R&B and progressive hip-hop, particularly with female artists. Their musical fingerprints can be heard in the work of Doechii, Rapsody and SZA. But influences can also be found within Kendrick Lamar’s hip hop staple “To Pimp a Butterfly.”

On Thursday night, St. Louis got the best of them — and a pair of fellow neo-soul veterans helped set the tone.

Teedra Moses opened the night with a short but potent set. Dressed in a hot-red bodycon dress and matching belt, she moved across the stage with confidence and intention. She kicked things off with “All I Ever Wanted” before sliding into her latest single, “Single.”

Even as the crowd was still finding their seats, Moses stopped them in their tracks with “Wish U Were Here,” weaving in Camp Lo’s “Luchini” for good measure. She closed with “Be Your Girl,” the early-2000s gem that found new life thanks to Gen Z and TikTok.

Raheem DeVaughn followed with the kind of set that reminded the audience why he’s been an R&B mainstay for two decades. Celebrating the 20th anniversary of his breakthrough album “The Love Experience,” he leaned into nostalgia with covers of Smokey Robinson’s “Quiet Storm” and Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On.”

Along with his usual seductive antics, DeVaughn also brought a political edge. Draped around his mic stand was an American flag in red, black and green. After Gaye’s anthem, he moved into his own socially charged “Bulletproof,” blending it with Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise.”

He revisited his “The Love Experience” classics — “Guess Who Loves You More,” which included a tribute to D’Angelo with a taste of “Brown Sugar.”  The seductive material of his more recent songs also included many throwback R&B references. There was a nod to R. Kelly in “Cuffing Season Interlude,” Jill Scott in “Let’s Fall In Love” and Babyface during “Mo Better.” 

He closed with “Customer,” complete with roses and his signature stroll into the audience.

After a dance-party intermission hosted by comedian Clint Coley, the women of the hour emerged — and the reconciliation was instantly clear.

With a bench and a bright red phone booth nodding to their “Floetic” album cover, Ambrosius and Stewart took fans on a 25-year journey that reminded everyone why their influence still runs deep despite having only two studio albums as a duo.

They kept the focus on the group — no solo material, just Floetry. They moved through “Butterflies,” “Headache,” “Feelings,” “Hey You,” “Sunshine,” and deep cuts like “Mr. Messed Up” and “Ms. Stress.” The love — for the music and for each other — was palpable, especially during the extended live arrangements.

They saved the essentials for last. “Say Yes” was framed as the finale, but a playful bit with Coley led into “Getting Late,” and they closed the night by taking fans back to where it all began, with their debut album’s title track “Floetic.”

The show served as proof that neo-soul’s heartbeat never faded, and that Floetry’s imprint is still pulsing through the culture.

Living It content is produced with funding by the ARPA for the Arts grants program in partnership with the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis and the Community Development Administration.

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