October London

Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre

Detroit, MI

May 23, 2025

by Dedan Blackmon

t was 40 degrees and dropping, but inside, the roof was on fire. On May 23, 2025, R&B lovers braved the frost for a triple threat: Ro James, Tamar Braxton, and October London—and walked away scorched.

Ro James kicked off like a lit match in a velvet glove. From the moody grind of “Burn Slow” to the slick swagger of “Already Knew That,” he wasn’t just performing—he was conjuring vibes. The smoke wasn’t just a metaphor. Ro brought it.

Then came Tamar Braxton, The Lady of Love, and whew—make room. She didn’t enter; she arrived—with the attitude of a woman walking into her man’s arms after midnight. Her voice? Still a bullet train with no brakes. She turned “Love and War” into a spiritual revival. “Hot Sugar” into a dance floor riot. She even let fans vogue it out on stage—because why not? Miss Braxton is still that girl.

And then: October London. He slid onto the stage like a 70s soul ghost dipped in mink and mystery. Purple lights. Cigar lit. His own damn bar. The Shindellas behind him looked like temptation and sang like heaven’s house band. When they unleashed “Mulholland Drive” or “Shot in the Dark,” the crowd didn’t just sway—they levitated.

Every note hit. Every outfit popped. Every minute mattered.

Real R&B didn’t just show up that night—it took over. And the crowd? We were just lucky to be there.

Shout out to Tresa Sanders, Daylan Cole, and the Black Promoters Collective for proving (again) that soul isn’t dead—it’s dressed to the nines and smoking a cigar.

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