The Washington Town & Country Fair has hosted its share of big acts over the years, but last night the I Love the 90s Tour didn’t just put on a show — it threw a retro block party that had the fairgrounds shaking from the first beat to the last “Word to your mother.”
I have to note — the stage renovation since my last show here is incredible. It’s a beautiful setup, immaculate from top to bottom. I hope the fairgrounds start booking more acts outside of the yearly fair extravaganza, because they clearly know what they’re doing. The production, stage, lighting, and sound? Absolute perfection.
We arrived early enough to catch soundcheck, and I was lucky enough to witness Rob VanWinkle — AKA Vanilla Ice — in action. He’s nothing short of a perfectionist, checking every corner for sound quality, tweaking levels, and still making time for selfies and autographs along the way. He loves what he does, and it shows. Beyond the music, he’s genuinely kind. Watching him work set the tone for what turned out to be one of the best nights I could have imagined.
Opening the show was comedian and songwriter Joe Denim, known for his eccentric humor, catchy tunes, and the hit song “Pray For You.” His set was short but memorable, packed with moments of crude humor and parody songs that had the crowd laughing right from the start. He came out, did his thing, and set the mood perfectly.
As the sun dipped behind the Ferris wheel, C+C Music Factory hit the stage. Within seconds of “Everybody Dance Now,” the fairgrounds became a pulsing sea of movement. It didn’t matter if you were rocking a neon windbreaker from 1992 or your usual fair jeans and boots — everyone was dancing. Their energy was infectious, the kind that makes you forget about that 20-minute lemonade line.
Next up, Young MC took over with the smooth confidence that made “Bust a Move” a timeless classic. The crowd laughed, rapped along, and pointed at each other when he dropped the famous line, “Your best friend Harry has a brother Larry,” like we were all in on a 30-year-old inside joke. This wasn’t just music — the entire show was pure hype.
Then came Rob Base, and if you thought the energy had peaked, think again. The opening beat of “It Takes Two” hit, and the ground literally felt like it was bouncing. It was the moment my decades of background singing practice finally paid off — I’d been waiting 30 years to nail those harmonies live. The crowd sang every word back at Rob, who conducted us like the most joyful choir Missouri’s ever seen.
The night had surprises, too — special guests Truman the Tiger and Louie the Bear brought some Missouri pride to the stage, and a man in a full shark costume led the crowd through an impromptu “Baby Shark” singalong (yes, we all danced along and no, I’m not ashamed).
Finally, the man everyone was waiting for — Vanilla Ice. He hit the stage with a grin, teased the first few notes of that infamous sample, and the cheer that followed could probably be heard three towns away. His set was a mix of stories, jokes, surprise covers, and nonstop audience participation. He invited anyone and everyone on stage to dance for most of the show, while his assistant Ronaldo spent the entire set spraying the crowd — and Rob — with water, which was sweet relief in the summer heat.
Of course, the peak moment was “Ice Ice Baby.” Phones shot up, strangers threw their arms around each other, and for a few minutes, the fair became the biggest house party in Missouri. He closed with a heartfelt cover of “No Woman, No Cry,” and the entire crowd sang it like a chorus of old friends.
By the time the lights came up, the smell of funnel cake still hung in the air, voices were hoarse, and every 90s kid at heart was grinning from ear to ear. This wasn’t just a concert — it was proof that the music we grew up with still knows how to take over a night, no matter your age.
Melissa O’Rourke aka WickedWitchofSTL is a jack of all trades. By day she’s an established tattooist and piercer, by night a mother to her amazing son (who is a hell of a guitarist). Melissa has a musical background and can often be found at a local karaoke joint, or a concert when she’s not driving across the country for an adventure. This social butterfly always welcomes conversation so come say hi! See y’all at the next gig!
