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Beyoncé's solo coming-out party — the "Ladies First Tour" with pals Alicia Keys, Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott and guest Tamia, which arrived at the SBC Center on Wednesday — has been called the urban Lilith Fair.
But this ladies night out owes as much a debt to Cher glamour and fun as it does singer Sarah McLachlan's ambitious vision for the ground-breaking, women-only Lilith experiment that combined fellowship and rock.
Beyoncé, and to a lesser extent Keys and Elliott, changed glistening costumes almost as often as Cher did on her recent visits to San Antonio.
But leave no doubt, "these ladies bring it," in the words of one fan that described Elliott as the street rapper, Keys as the mellow melody maker and Beyoncé as pure fire.
The show was definitely sexy and hot.
While technically, all of the ladies are headliners, bootylicious Beyoncé was the undisputed first lady — carried in on the floor to the stage as if she were Cleopatra in her full glory. Not only does she go by her first name only, she's even down to just the initial "B" on the main curtain.
She slinked soulfully on new songs "Naughty Girl" and "Me, Myself and I." A Destiny's Child medley included "Say My Name, " Independent Women Part I" and "Survivor," the latter with Houston gal pals Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams making a surprise appearance.
Beyoncé wore nighties, short shorts, a flowing gown and shimmering mini skirts — but nothing too revealing.
Earlier in the night, Elliott pumped up the more than 12,000 fans from the first "whazzup!" She attacked the stage like an updated James Brown, dressed in post-modern gangsta worthy of a millionaire that also happens to be the most influential woman in hip-hop.
Backed by male and female dancers, Elliott raised the roof with the tongue-twisting "Get Ur Freak On," a chopped-up digital masterpiece that manages to stammer and hammer at the same time.
Where Lilith Fair represented, somewhat, a utopian dream of women rockers united and praised for their hard-earned reputations and success in pop music, Elliott presents a grittier "keepin' it real" side to the music — and brings on the party, too.
Can anyone imagine a stripper's pole at Lilith? Here, Elliott toys with it — this is the makeover age after all — and breaks down stereotypes about the people that perform and enjoy her rap music such as the bouncy "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)," "Hot Boyz," "Pass That Dutch" and "Work It."
Keys was as startling as she is beautiful.
Her vocal range defies easy description, but contains a power that, say, Norah Jones could never match. She actually shook her booty on Wednesday, too. She danced on some numbers, but drew the loudest cheers for her signature "Fallin."
Tamia opened the show with songs about love's suspicions and disappointments, performing hits including "Stranger In My House" and "Questions." Her new album, "More," hits stores April 6.
"They all bring different flavors," said Venita Mitchell, 47. She accompanied her 17-year-old daughter, Ashley (a pianist and huge Key fan) and some friends to the concert.
"To me, these are all clean acts into their craft."