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The ’90s Never Left: TLC, Salt-N-Pepa & En Vogue Take Over PNC Bank Arts Center

Sarah Silbert
20 hours ago
4 min read
TLC | by Sarah Silbert for Zany Waves
TLC | by Sarah Silbert for Zany Waves

There was something special about the energy at PNC Bank Arts Center before the first note of the night had even been played. As the sun began its descent into the late-summer evening, fans poured into the New Jersey venue for the IT’S ICONIC Tour, filling the seats in anticipation of a night with three of the most recognizable girl groups of the ’90s: TLC, Salt-N-Pepa, and En Vogue.


The evening kicked off at 7:30 p.m. with a DJ spinning a nostalgic mix of ’90s hits, from hip-hop staples to the kind of girl-power anthems that defined a generation. The crowd was dancing, singing along, and settling into the unmistakable feeling of being exactly where they wanted to be. It was a fitting introduction to a show built around music that has remained a part of people’s lives long after its original release.


And judging by the packed venue, those connections have only grown stronger.


Fans arrived dressed for the occasion, sporting merch from previous tours, homemade outfits inspired by the groups themselves, and the iconic TLC pajamas, a detail that Rozanda “Chilli” Thomas would later acknowledge from the stage. Just by looking at the crowd you could tell that these were fans who had carried this music with them for decades.


En Vogue opened the evening with “Never Gonna Get It,” immediately setting the tone for what was to come. Terry Ellis, Cindy Herron, and Maxine Jones all wore showstopping, coordinated black outfits while holding handheld fans which read “OOH BOP!” Their confident stage presence and unmistakable ’90s girl-group aesthetic felt right at home on the PNC stage. 


En Vogue | by Sarah Silbert for Zany Waves
En Vogue | by Sarah Silbert for Zany Waves

From there, TLC and Salt-N-Pepa took turns commanding the stage, with En Vogue returning throughout the evening. Rather than separating the three acts into distinct performances, the show moved between them, keeping the music going and the crowd engaged.


TLC appeared first, with Chilli taking the stage solo, as Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins is recovering from an illness. Even without her longtime partner beside her, Chilli brought the group’s unmistakable personality to the performance. The familiar sound of TLC’s music carried across the venue, and the audience responded with the kind of enthusiasm that comes from knowing every word.


Salt-N-Pepa brought their own distinct energy to the stage, with Cheryl “Salt” James and Sandra “Pepa” Denton performing in vibrant red and yellow outfits that matched the playful confidence of their music. DJ Spinderella (Deidra Roper), joined them as part of the group’s performance, bringing another familiar piece of Salt-N-Pepa’s classic lineup to the stage. “What a Man” was a particular highlight, joining the sounds of two groups whose musical histories have been intertwined for decades. Seeing Salt-N-Pepa and En Vogue share the stage was a reminder of just how much these artists helped shape the sound and image of ’90s R&B and hip-hop.


Each transition introduced a new voice, a different visual aesthetic, and another set of songs that the audience knew by heart, keeping the energy moving without lengthy breaks. That momentum was matched by the production, with thoughtful styling and outfit changes throughout the night that made the concert feel like a cohesive production rather than a collection of sets.


Salt-N-Pepa | by Sarah Silbert for Zany Waves
Salt-N-Pepa | by Sarah Silbert for Zany Waves

At one point, as TLC prepared to perform “No Scrubs,” Chilli asked how old some of the younger fans in attendance were. When she heard ages like 12, 13, and 14, she encouraged them to listen to the words in the song and take her advice when they were old enough to drive. It was a funny, endearing exchange that highlighted the generational reach of TLC’s music. The song was released in 1999, but here it was, connecting with fans who were born years later.


Later, as the DJ introduced “Waterfalls,” the venue transformed. Phone lights illuminated the crowd, creating a sea of tiny lights across the amphitheater. The atmosphere shifted from the dancing and excitement into something more reflective. For a moment, thousands of people were sharing the same song, the same memory, and the same feeling.


It was a fitting moment for a concert that felt so deeply rooted in nostalgia without being stuck in the past.

As summer begins to give way to fall, there is something bittersweet about watching the sun set earlier and knowing that another season is coming to a close. But inside PNC Bank Arts Center, the music offered a different kind of timekeeping. The songs held memories of another decade, while the crowd singing them proved that those memories are still being made.


TLC, Salt-N-Pepa, and En Vogue have each built lasting legacies, and the evening was a celebration of what happens when those legacies meet in one place. The performances were filled with recognizable hits, striking visuals, and moments of connection that extended far beyond the stage.


For a night, the ’90s felt less like a decade that had passed and more like a place everyone in the audience could return to together.



Issue 001 out now!

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