Just before Keyshia Cole took the stage at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater on Friday night, the DJ warming up the crowd made it a point to note that it was International Girlfriend Day. At most other shows, this minute detail would simply scan as audience hype filler. But last night, it translated as an almost coded warning for anyone who chose the concert for Friday date night: Treat your girlfriend right. Or else.
Cole, a fiery R&B singer known for pushing out notes as if she can barely contain them, made that very clear two decades ago when she released her debut album, “The Way It Is.” And it’s