There was a moment at FirstBank Amphitheater in Franklin last weekend when it felt like the ’90s had never left.

The crowd came ready to sing, dance and relive some of the biggest songs of their lives as TLC, Salt-N-Pepa and En Vogue brought their IT’S ICONIC tour to a sold-out audience. From the opening notes to the final singalong, the night was less about nostalgia and more about remembering just how much these women changed music in the first place.

TLC and Salt-N-Pepa are sharing a stage for their first-ever co-headlining tour, with En Vogue joining them as a special guest. Together, the three groups delivered a night packed with songs that have become part of the soundtrack of several generations.

The crowd needed little encouragement when songs like “No Scrubs,” “Waterfalls,” “Push It,” “Shoop,” “Free Your Mind” and “Don’t Let Go (Love)” came around. People knew every word, proving that these songs have stayed firmly rooted in popular culture decades after they first arrived.

What makes the tour feel particularly special is the history behind the three groups. TLC helped reshape R&B and pop with songs that mixed confidence, vulnerability and social commentary. Salt-N-Pepa brought a fearless energy to hip-hop at a time when the genre was largely dominated by men. En Vogue brought powerhouse vocals, style and a sophisticated R&B sound that influenced countless artists who followed.

And while the show is certainly a celebration of the past, it does not feel stuck there. The energy in the room is a reminder that the music still connects. Parents are singing along with songs they grew up with, while younger fans are discovering the artists who helped create the blueprint for so much of the music they hear today.

For TLC, that legacy stretches back more than three decades. The group has sold more than 85 million records worldwide and earned five Grammy Awards, with songs including “Waterfalls,” “Creep,” “No Scrubs” and “Unpretty” continuing to resonate. Their influence can be heard across pop, hip-hop and even K-pop, with artists from Beyoncé and Missy Elliott to Nicki Minaj, Cardi B and BLACKPINK citing the group as an inspiration.

Salt-N-Pepa have their own remarkable history. Cheryl “Salt” James and Sandra “Pepa” Denton helped open the door for women in hip-hop with their confidence, humour and unapologetic approach to being themselves. “Push It,” “Shoop,” “Whatta Man” and “None of Your Business” remain instantly recognisable, while the duo's list of honours now includes a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Then there is En Vogue, whose harmonies and style helped redefine what a female vocal group could look and sound like. Songs such as “Hold On,” “My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It),” “Free Your Mind” and “Don’t Let Go (Love)” have become R&B classics.

That is what makes IT’S ICONIC more than just another nostalgia tour. It brings together three groups who helped shape the culture, rather than simply revisiting it.

After Franklin, the tour heads to Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville, Indiana, on Thursday, August 20, before continuing through cities including Cincinnati, Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta, Houston, Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

For anyone who grew up with these songs, it is a chance to hear them live again. For anyone who did not, it is a chance to see the women who helped make them iconic in the first place.

And judging by the reaction in Franklin, the music still has plenty of life left in it.

IT’S ICONIC TOUR DATES: 

Saturday, August 15 – Franklin, TN – FirstBank Amphitheater
Thursday, August 20 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center
Friday, August 21 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
Sunday, August 23 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
Monday, August 24 – Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake
Thursday, August 27 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Albany Med Health System at SPAC
Friday, August 28 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena
Sunday, August 30 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
Monday, August 31 – Darien Center, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater
Wednesday, September 2 – Toronto, ON – RBC Amphitheatre
Thursday, September 3 – Grand Rapids, MI – Acrisure Amphitheater
Tuesday, September 8 – Chicago, IL – Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
Thursday, September 10 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center
Saturday, September 12 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
Sunday, September 13 – Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
Tuesday, September 15 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell at Jones Beach Theater
Wednesday, September 16 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
Friday, September 18 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach
Saturday, September 19 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
Sunday, September 20 – Charlotte, NC – Truliant Amphitheater
Wednesday, September 23 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
Thursday, September 24 – Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Live
Sunday, September 27 – Brandon, MS – Brandon Amphitheater
Tuesday, September 29 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP
Wednesday, September 30 – Kansas City, MO – Starlight Theatre
Friday, October 2 – Atlanta, GA – Synovus Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park
Sunday, October 4 – The Woodlands, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Sponsored by Huntsman
Monday, October 5 – Irving, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
Wednesday, October 7 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
Friday, October 9 – Las Vegas, NV – Fontainebleau Las Vegas
Saturday, October 10 – Inglewood, CA – Intuit Dome
Sunday, October 11 – Concord, CA – Toyota Pavilion at Concord

Author: Andrew Braithwaite

Andrew is the founder and chief editor of Music Talkers. He's also a keen music enthusiast and plays the guitar.