Genres collide in Boyz II Men performance at the Americana

On a 66-degree night in Glendale, a crowd of more than 1,000 people gathered on the grass and around the fountain at the Americana at Brand, many singing along word for word to Boyz II Men songs released in the 1990s.

It was a testament to the legacy of the Grammy Award-winning group, who performed a free concert on the Green to promote the release of their new album,” Collide,” out on Oct. 21.

PHOTOS: Boyz II Men perform at the Americana

The trio brought a few different sounds together for the concert, singing some of their R&B hits such as “On Bended Knee,” and “Motownphilly,” and songs from the new release, as well as covers of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” and the Guess Who’s “American Woman” in the style of Lenny Kravitz.

“You didn’t think Boyz II Men could do a rock song?” one of the performers quipped onstage.

The diversity of sounds was in keeping with their new album title, which group member Shawn Stockman said includes “music that a lot of people may not expect Boyz II Men to do.”

“We actually play instruments with some of the music now. We picked up guitars,” Stockman said backstage before the concert. “It’s kind of like, let’s just enjoy life, let’s enjoy this music and it revived us pretty much. I’m not saying we needed it, but it gave us a totally different window to look into.”

The performance drew longtime fans like Nam Tran, 30, who came to the concert from Anaheim with his girlfriend.

“They’re the only ones that can sing a capella nowadays and it’s going to be fantastic,” Tran said. “They don’t need power. They don’t need anything.”

The couple saw the group perform in Las Vegas — where they are the artists-in-residence at the Mirage Hotel and Casino — and came out hoping to hear the hits they love, and songs from the new album.

The concert made for a good date night as well, the couple agreed.

“Boyz II Men is the soundtrack to my childhood,” Tran said. “Their music speaks volumes on its own.”

Venida Smith, 54, of Glendale, Ariz., happened upon the concert at the Americana while in town visiting a friend, and was looking forward to hearing some of the group’s hits, such as “End of the Road.”

“I saw them in Cleveland years ago at the Coliseum. They’re good,” she said. “When they were playing then, they were suspended over the audience. And they were very much in sync.”

While Monday night’s concert didn’t feature anyone suspended in midair, the group members did do the “Running Man” while singing “Motownphilly” — much to the delight of the audience.

It’s the way they keep in the spirit of their sound that has kept fans coming back, Stockman said before the trio hit the stage.

“Normally, artists change and transform. We didn’t do that much,” he said. “We pretty much stayed true to who we are. We might have changed an outfit every once in a while, but we kept it true and I think that’s why people enjoy us. We can’t be anybody but ourselves.”