The Birchmere is an interesting place to go and see some of your favorites perform in a very intimate setting. Ticket prices can vary - the food is edible - and may seem small for some - but for an "in your face" kind of experience, its one of the best in Virginia. My only advice to you is don't show up fashionably late and think you're going to get a great seat - you're not. As long as you're okay with sitting in the back or not sitting with the person you came with - you'll survive.

 Boyz II Men played there last night and I only have one word for the entire performance - Horrible! Let's be clear - the tickets at this sold out event were $60 not including all the handling fees. You'd expect at that price point that you'd at least get a band. Many groups come to the Birchmere - and even at the $20 - $30 price level groups are bringing bands with them. These folks did not. They sang live to tracks - the kind of crap you see them do on any given tv show.

The set list was a mix of their well known hits, some selections from more obscure albums that didn't sell well and songs from their latest project. While the mix was for the most part decent, there were songs I did not know (I missed a couple of albums) and did not play well with the audience. There were only a couple of songs where the crowd was less enthusiastic about their song choice and probably should have been left off the list.

The performance was mediocre at best. The singing was not great. The sound was not great and didn't expect it to be because they were singing from tracks. The tracks weren't even that great - they sounded like live tracks but could have been done better. There may have been one moment where their former brilliance had shown through - but it was fleeting. The dancing - while very coregraphed - was embarrassing. It was as if a group of has beens were making a very desparate attempt to come back - and it was pretty sad. From a performance standpoint, I don't think they have it anymore. Age has definitely caught up with them. When you see them in such a close up way at the Birchmere, you'd wish there were some smoke'n'mirrors involved. The performance could have used it.

 At the end of the day, I wish I had my money back. I could have found a much better way to spend a rainy evening in May. No one who came with me were happy with what they saw - but the other patrons seemed perfectly happy with it. Growing up in a family who is very aware of music and what is to be expected and having a little training myself, it is amazing what people will accept. I normally don't do this - but felt I had to because I felt like I was taken for a very bad and expensive ride. No other sites really bad mouth them live - but I hope to start a movement of sorts. Artist who do what they have done insult the intelligence of their fans. While I enjoy their music, I am not a "superfan" and have managed not to commit all the lyrics to their songs to memory (and I'm okay with that). I don't appreciate being taken advantage of - next time use vaseline. I just think you should get what you pay for. There are artists out there who are willing to give their fans the show that they paid for - but Boyz II Men are eternally greedy and do well enough to just get by. What makes it so bad - they've been to the Birchmere before and have done the same and sold out every show. So here's my 2 cents - save your money and go see someone who is worth your time and your money. i will enjoy their music from afar - but will never - NEVER - see them live ever again in life. And I mean it.