TLC and Shaggy – Grandstand Stage – Minnesota State Fair – August 29th 2021

Lens on Music at the Fair – Day 4   TLC and Shaggy

Review and Photos by Patrick Dunn

I was so thrilled to wake-up to a weather forecast filled with sunshine for day four at the Minnesota State Fair.  I took full advantage of knowing how good King Calaway’s set would be on their second day at the Leinie Lodge, and that was my first dose of music for the day.  I remained in my seat to catch the next round of semi-final performances for the MSN Amateur Talent Contest.

The Grandstand stage was catering to fans of 90’s R&B/Reggae/Hip Hop and it was clear they continue to have a loyal fanbase as the crowd was substantial.  The headlining act was TLC, who didn’t waste time getting to some of their hits.  The mix was dialed in nicely and the performance pretty much sounded like their recordings.  The visual aspect was a big piece of the show with lots of dancers constantly moving about, a giant screen for video coverage and a nice splash of sparkle in their outfits.  One thing that felt a little off was that T-Boz and Chilli seemed to be performing independently and were grooving mostly with other dancers, but rarely making eye contact with each other.  It wasn’t a show wrecker, but was a bit distracting.  Shaggy brought the Reggae flavor, and his energy was as bright as the yellow sweatshirt he was wearing.  He covered quite a bit of material and was very engaged with fans.  Bone Thugs-n-Harmony laid down the hip hop, spitting the familiar quick, complex rhymes that got them noticed in the first place.

I joined Indie Rock fans at the Shell Stage to get a taste of what Kansas City band, The Greeting Committee had to offer.  They were very committed to their performance and the crowd was into it.  They especially seemed to have fresh energy when performing some of their new material.  The Gear Daddies were also back to headline the Leinie Lodge stage for a second night.