Maxwell Serenade Tour: From Nosebleeds to Front Row – Diva Aunties Edition

Sunday was already set to be a vibe. I mean, Maxwell Serenade Tour with Jazmine Sullivan, and October London? Come on!

But as the saying goes, life had other plans—and in this case, those plans came in the form of my mom and her posse, aka the “Diva Aunties.”

Our Maxwell Serenade Tour night became an adventure of a lifetime,  filled with Tex Mex, unexpected twist, laughter, surprise seat upgrades, and some serious diva energy that turned what was supposed to be a casual night, into a front-row spectacle. But I digress. Let’s rewind.

Tex Mex & Diva Aunties’ Arrival

The evening started innocently enough. Kema, my cousin and regular concert buddy, and I met at my brother’s job to consolidate cars. I had warned her that the Aunties were “too hot to handle,” but I don’t think she was ready for how much—and neither was I, to be honest.

They arrived, and did not disappoint. Picture this: my mom shimmering like a crystal disco ball in her tailor fit suit, Edith with a diva hat so bold, we respectfully threatened her not to block our sightlines, and Auntie Gale tied us together with her shiny rhinestone jacket, twinning it out with me in leather pants (faux, in my case—not sure about Auntie, but, hey, don’t judge. That ain’t my business).

With the Diva Aunties in tow, we kicked things off with our now traditional Tex Mex and margaritas, prepping for a night of music, fun, and (unbeknownst to us at the time) ascension—literally. Little did we know that our seats in section 324, row T, with our heads against the back wall, would soon be a distant memory.

Diva Aunties Do What They Do Best

The concert opened with the soulful sounds of October London, and I’m not gonna lie—he delivered! My grandmother is his biggest fan, and she was supposed to join us but had to cancel last minute. She would have loved it. By the end of his set, Kema and I were vibing hard, but the Aunties? Gone. They had taken a “restroom break,” which turned into a 25-minute disappearance act.

Cue the phone call: “Come down to section 121, and tell them you with the lady in the shimmering suit” my mom said, casually. “We’re on the front row, and we have seats for y’all too.” I mean, WHAT?! Of course, they did. The Diva Aunties never fail to make an impression, and this was no exception. Somehow, between their height-related anxiety, fluid-filled dancer’s knees, and fabulous looks, they convinced someone (or charmed their way) to the front row. We were no longer resting our heads on the back wall; we were leaning on the barricade to the stage! Started from the back, now we’re here! (Or whatever Drake said.)

Eye Contact with Maxwell & Diva Shenanigans

Now, let me set the scene. My cousin Kema was dumbfounded when Maxwell blew a kiss. She swears it was for her, but listen… I know it was for me.  I’ll let her have her moment, though—team player and all. Jazmine Sullivan, with her warm, raspy voice had already given us everything with Heaux Tales and Bust Your Windows. Y’all would be sick of me if I had that voice and that tone.

Maxwell’s set was the cherry on top. He kicked off with “Simply Beautiful,” grooved through a little “Sumthin’ Sumthin’,” and wrapped it up with the iconic “Pretty Wings.” We didn’t have to strain our necks looking at the jumbotron anymore; we were making eye contact with the band and Maxwell himself. It was magical.

My mom, always one to offer good commentary, leaned over and said, “I had never seen Jazmine, especially from up this close, but she’s a beautiful young lady with an even more beautiful voice.” Yes, Mom, yes to both. Was that a low key brag.!? Meanwhile, I was still in the nosebleed at the time of her set, so I have yet to see her up close.

2 Truths & A Lie: Diva Edition

Now, for some fun: Let’s play Two Truths and a Lie:

1. My mom and the Aunties sweet-talked their way to the front row.
2. Maxwell personally invited us to an afterparty (and we respectfully declined).
3. One of the Aunties was able to get an innocent fistful of Maxwell’s arm as he walked by.

Guess away in the comments, but if you know the Diva Aunties #3 definitely happened! 

Lessons from the Diva Aunties

Our Maxwell serenade tour night started with the Aunties tagging along, but by the end, it was Kema and me taking notes on how to be fabulous. From their bold fashion choices to securing front-row seats without breaking a sweat, these ladies are pros. They know how to turn any situation into an event. And as for me and Kema? We’re still processing the whirlwind that was Sunday night.

Oh, and if you’re wondering, we are planning our next concert already. The Diva Aunties, of course, have an open invitation. But let’s be real—the question is: Will they let us come with them next time?

Stay tuned for more concert stories and maybe—just maybe—I’ll drop more behind-the-scenes gems about Maxwell and the Aunties. Until then, stay fabulous!

BTW: The mic was hot for all three artist!

What about you? Have you ever been upgraded to front-row seats? Or maybe you have your own version of Diva Aunties who turn every outing into an unforgettable experience? Let me know in the comments, and don’t forget to share your two truths and a lie! We’re all in this concert journey together!

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