Showing posts with label concert. Show all posts
Showing posts with label concert. Show all posts
Review: Chrisette Michele Live at Spirit Square
Artist: Chrisette Michele
Venue: Spirit Square - Charlotte, NC
Date: 2.28.09
Venue: Spirit Square - Charlotte, NC
Date: 2.28.09
Once a year, the CIAA Basketball Tournament visits 
A small yet energetic crowd of supporters filled the McGlohon Theater at
“I’ve been hurt y’all,” Michele confessed as she showcased her new single Epiphany, the Ne-yo penned title track from her forthcoming sophomore album. She also disclosed that this album would be more personal, discussing the “sadder parts” of her life. For a closing number, she chose the crowd-moving Let’s Rock, on which she again treated the audience to some of her soaring vocals and scats of jazz. Overall, this was a great performance for Chrisette Michele – with no band or backup singers, she still managed to deliver a performance that matched and at times exceeded her vocal delivery on the recorded versions of her songs. Fresh off her Grammy win for Be OK, she’s now preparing for the release of her second project Epiphany, set to hit stores March 31.
Photos courtesy of Suavv Magazine.
Lil' Wayne Debut PERFORMANCE of 'Prom Queen' TONIGHT!
Lil' Wayne Exclusive from AT&T
Did you know Lil’ Wayne is the most popular music artist on Facebook - 1.3 million fans and counting ? Now, he’s teaming up with AT&T to release his new single via the social network for the very first time!
Don’t miss Lil Wayne’s live, world-debut performance of his highly-anticipated new single, “Prom Queen,” from his upcoming new album “Rebirth,” live on Facebook. The special streaming video event from a concert in San Diego is scheduled for 12:40 a.m. EST on Wed., 1/28 (9:40 p.m. PST on Tues. 1/27) on the AT&T Mobile Music page on Facebook (www.facebook.com/mobilemusic)
After the show, AT&T customers can buy the exclusive ringtone by texting “Wayne” to 7317 or by purchasing it through the AT&T Media Mall from their handsets or online (www.att.com/mediamall). AT&T customers can also download the full track by texting “Wayne” to 7299 following the performance. Lil Wayne ringtones were the most downloaded ringtones in 2008, according to AT&T sales records.
You can listen to Prom Queen here:
Ludacris and Soulja Boy Rock The Tabernacle - ATL
We may be in a recession, but even in the midst of hard economic times some rappers still find it in their hearts to give the fans what they want - in the booth AND on the stage. ATL-Native Ludacris and Soulja Boy Tellem took to the stage at the Tabernacle in Atlanta for a free concert sponsored by AT&T in celebration of the SEC Football Championship game also held in ATL.
ATL Folks: Party With Ludacris and Soulja Boy in ATL!
ATL-Readers, this one's for you: Ludacris and Soulja Boy are set to perform this Saturday, Dec. 6th at 8 p.m. at the Tabernacle in Atlanta for AT&T’s ‘Unofficial’ 2008 SEC Football Championship Afterparty.
Ludacris will perform some of his most popular songs as well as some new cuts from his album Theater of the Mind, which dropped on Nov. 24. Soulja Boy Tell’em, who will open the show beginning at 9 p.m. ET, plans to perform songs from his upcoming album, iSouljaBoyTellem, which drops Dec. 16.
Fans interested in attending this FREE concert can text ATTLUDA to 66937* for a mobile ticket good for two people. Mobile tickets will be delivered via text message by Dec. 3. The first 1,000 fans in line on Saturday with a mobile ticket will be admitted. If readers are not in the ATL area, they can still text in and receive an alert to view exclusive concert footage when available.
AND TELL 'EM SOUND-SAVVY SENT YA!
Rock Witchu Tour: ATL
Artist: Janet Jackson
Venue: Philips Arena
Date: 10.19.08
On a nice cool October evening in
Considering a catalog of 10 studio albums, it was amazingly impressive that she was able to perform hits from each one, totaling 37 songs and giving fans rush after rush as they screamed lyrics to the tops of their lungs and affectionately formed Janet’s signature “heart” symbol with their hands. “I was 15…” Janet confesses as the music switches from one of her first-ever singles Young Love into the fan favorite Say You Do from her self-titled debut, which preceded the Control album. The hits came non-stop, and were accompanied by acrobatic dance moves, and action from all areas of Janet’s trendsetting catwalk stage. Fans in the arena knew every word to every song, and most new at least a few dance moves, especially the infamous breakdown to If. Miss Jackson’s live vocals soared with emotion and elegance during her ballad section featuring Come Back To Me and Never Gonna Letchu Go from her latest project, among other classics. Shouts to Derrick, the lucky guy who was featured on Discipline, despite a few issues in the contraption and losing his glasses in Janet’s boobs! My personal favorite song was performed in full, Doesn’t Really Matter complete with the dance breakdown. I found (while talking with them) that the dancers all love the All For You routine which switches between doubled-off and individual routines to synchronized movements in an instant.
When it comes to dancing, who does it better than the queen? As her personal assistant told us on the exclusive backstage tour, each dancer is at the top in their field. Shouts to Gil Duldulao (a really cool down-to-earth guy to meet!), Cassidy, Teddy, Nick, Jillian, EMO!, Laurel and all the other dancers I met on the backstage tour! That headspin = off the chain!! Also shouts to Joey and Tommy who were also really cool members of Janet’s personal security, and Lil Jon Roberts (amazing drummer and great guy to meet also!). Also, a special shout to the tour manager Flo, she was really nice and started working for Janet straight out of college, she has an impressive resume!
The thing that’s most admirable about Janet, the kids and her band (which includes Lil Jon on drums!!) is something that I haven’t seen in any other stage show, even the ones that imitate hers: its effortless appearance. Not to discredit the large amounts of work that go into a production so huge, but they have a visible connection that shines onstage, making each night of the show look like total fun! It doesn’t even look like they’re working onstage and that says something about the caliber of the artist and the character of her team. There is laughter, moments of interaction, improvisations, but what tops it all is the display of family unity, in their moves and their eyes.
There aren’t many artists who can perform a show that’s over 2 hours long, either for fatigue or lack of content. It’s an amazing thing to see an icon in her element, totally at home on the stage and loving every moment of it. There’s a reason she’s as great as she is, and it is shown on every night of the Rock Witchu tour. Since my last Janet show seven years ago on the All For You tour, I have been to over 50 different concerts by different artists and I have yet to see an artist reach her caliber in performances. Forget the Ringling Brothers folks, this here is truly the greatest show on earth!
Related Posts:
Rock Witchu Tour: DC Show Review
Twisted Elegance: A Look at 'Discipline'
All Janet-Related Posts
-Mack-
P.S. A very very special shout to Josh and Yen who were sitting next to me, and all the fanclub members I got to meet, you guys are the best: enjoythevision, thicksational, Cas, thatdarrell, gdm, mkozik and if I forgot you, please hit me up so I can add your name in, I already know I forgot a few of you. Much LUV!
Concert Review-Janet: Rock Witchu Tour - PART 1
All those songs reflect all the people that live within me...-Janet JacksonSome people are often imitated, but NEVER duplicated. There are those who try to do it, while others are BORN to do it. Rumors upon rumors surfaced about this tour in particular being cancelled due to Janet's sudden illness. Yes, some tour dates were postponed, which of course saddened her fans, but her health comes first. We all want whats best for Ms. Jackson if you're NASTY, right?
When I heard Washington D.C. would be the official spot for Ms. Jackson's return, I thought, why wouldn't we be? After all, we are the Nations Capital. We are the future home of the future President Barack Obama!!! I could have been anywhere in the world tonight, but on this particular humid fall evening, I chose to be in the presence of greatness. Naturally, as a woman, I was looking forward to the opening act, Mr. LL Cool J, however, for whatever reason, he didn't perform. I was looking forward to seeing that muscle mass of a man licking his lips(sue me, I'm human ,I came to get disciplined).
Dj Quicksilver was on the one's & two's keeping the crowd entertained, while we awaited the headliner. Boy was the Verizon Center rocking! Being. we're the home of go-go, he took us back, wayyyyyy back, to sardines & pork n beans; one of the many tunes played to keep a SOLD OUT house in the right mental state. He did one hell of a job.
House lights on. Time now is 8:00. Let me put you inside of the mind of Mellomusic for a second. Now I'm thinking, Janet has a catalogue full of hits, what will she open with? Mind you. I have a full hour to keep my over anxious mind at work. Boy, did that hour feel like twenty four. During this time, I'm conversing via AIM with my Sound-Savvy partner Mack & MILLIONS of fans by way of JanetFanclub.com(whatup folks). Janet if you catch wind of this someway, somehow, you are definitely LOVED!!
Finally, HOUSE LIGHTS OUT! Here's comes the screaming & chants, Janet, Janet... Enters Janet Jackson, hidden behind two J's, dressed in a cream colored body suit, starting the show off with Pleasure Principle, full of energy! Sick? HELL NO! She took us from old school, new school, middle school, high school, & college with the hits. Streaming from Control, What Have You Done for me Lately, You Want This, just to name a few. I definitely don't want to ruin the fun for those who have yet to experience this life changing event. Those were just some of the upbeat tracks she performed. Slowing it down a taste, she did a medley of my favorites, Come Back to Me, Lets Wait a While & Again. Let's Wait a While took me back to a place.... boy!!! I LOVE that song, it gets me every time!
My highlight of the show, of course was when Ms. Jackson if you're NASTY came out to play. Janet is phenomenal. When she performed in her dominatrix attire & brought the sex slave(XBOY from JanetFanclub.com) onto the stage, it was lights out for him! Janet had her way with him, that brought all the men to their knees, even the homosexuals! She has ways to turn everyone out. I will leave the rest to the figments of your imagination. If its anything like mine, you're in for a treat.
There's nothing more I can say about this show. She proved all the rumors wrong. She gave us 1000% energy, which she fed off from the crowd. Her aura is amazing. She comes from a family of entertainers, she was born to do this & it showed tonight. God Bless her! The money I paid for the ticket was well worth it. If you think this review was something, stay tuned to part 2 from Mack: LIVE from ATL shawty!
-Mello-
A Shining SoulStar
I am Musiq Soulchild, of course…and I have a few songs I wanna sing for you…
Artist: Musiq Soulchild
Venue: Amos' Southend,Charlotte , NC
Date: 9.12.08
Venue: Amos' Southend,
Date: 9.12.08
You can never underestimate the power of music -- it moves you, relaxes you, gives you strength, inspiration, and can make you experience an unlimited number of emotions. Somewhere through the course of time, it has blessed us with a soulchild endowed with the very same abilities... The B.U.D.D.Y. of many devoted fans delivered a crowd rousing performance in
The show kicked off with the ever-familiar jam Just Friends (Sunny) and moved on to more favorites like Halfcrazy and Forthenight, which ignited a slew of steppers to unravel their stresses beneath the rhythm. Going back to his debut album, he reached out to “the true Musiq Soulchild fans” with You And Me, Girl Next Door, and had the whole crowd spelling out their disbelief of how Mary could be so cruel (shouts to the real ‘Girl Next Door’ and her company down front that kept talking to Musiq during the show!). After a bit of a vocal teaser, he belted out every fan’s favorite, his signature Love and let his juicy falsetto bring smiles to the hundreds of faces gathered as he hit that infamous note. There was a connection with the audience during Teachme that just seemed to make the entire performance extra special for everyone in attendance. I’d personally like to thank Musiq for performing my favorite track from his last album Luvanmusiq, the Raphael Saadiq-helmed Betterman; that one holds a special place for this fan of the soul star.
This 80-minute performance embodied the very element that completes a live show – the music. Each time I’ve seen Musiq hit the stage, he leads his band in a jam session that is simply amazing for a fan to watch and hear. He leaves behind the glitz and glamour of his celebrity and connects with his fans. Only an artist with proven ability could have a sea of dedicated fans singing every lyric and ad lib as they sway from left to right. As for the new music, it sounds like Musiq hasn't lost his touch one bit, and is still ready to bring yet another album of hits. for you to 'Juslisen' to. Aside from the acoustic problems of the venue, this show was There are no signs of slowing down for Musiq - I think I speak for every fan that attended the show last night when I say 'I'm so glad!'
Related Posts:
-Mack-
ONE NIGHT ONLY!!!
Event: Celine Dion World Tour
Date: 9.8.08Venue: Verizon Center
Grade: A++++++
For all that know me, I'm an avid listener of music.; GOOD music that is. Last night, thanks to my brother, I had the opportunity to witness a concert like no other. For those individuals who don't know Mellomusic, let me be the first to say, I have an eclectic taste when it comes to my tunes. I think outside the box, & I NEVER limit my ears to whats hip. With that being said, lets get on with this review.
The concert started with an opening act, whom, honestly, could have been waivered. He was a mix between a comedian & singer, who did his best to try to emulate some of the most celebrated artists around, such as Aaron Neville, Usher, Elvis, Willie Nelson, just to name a few. If i didn't know any better, he clearly was a Barack supporter, he threw out countless jabs on the Bush regime. (Vote or Die, BARACK 08) Because I didn't catch the name of the opening act, we'll refer to him as ????. Yea, it was that bad. I was anticipating the phenominal Celine Dion, so his 30 minutes of fame ran its course. Exit stage left! Granted we had to wait 30 mins for the main event to begin, and folks, they seemed like an eternity, but they were WELL WORTH IT.
House lights OUT. I was like a kid in a candy store. It's just something about the main event that gets my blood to flowing. FLASHING LIGHTS, props goes to the production crew! Every screen served its purpose. Backdrops of photoshoots, chronological events leading up to THIS event, you name it, she had it. Baboom, Baboom, Baboom goes my heart as I anxiously await Celine to come on stage.
BOOM! She's here, in a beautiful fuschia dress, commanding everyones attention. She performed a multitude of hits streaming from All By Myself, I'm Your Lady, Because You Loved Me, The Prayer, Man's World (James Brown), just to name a few. In between wardrobe changes, her backup singers & dancers each had their own set to keep the over anxious crowd entertained.
She performed for a solid two hours. Hit after hit. She was full of energy & she fed off of our energy, making her performance one to remember. She ended the show with the tear jerker My Heart Will Go On, laced in a black free flowing dress, the set was real intimate with exceprts from the motion picture Titanic playing in the backdrop. This song gets me every time! I held back the tears, because she sang it with so much emotion. What a way to end the night.
Celine has proven she's at the top of her career. The night was simply magical & worth every dollar spent. She's an icon, and she's simply fabolous. If I had to do it all over again, you already know the answer would be a YES!
The concert started with an opening act, whom, honestly, could have been waivered. He was a mix between a comedian & singer, who did his best to try to emulate some of the most celebrated artists around, such as Aaron Neville, Usher, Elvis, Willie Nelson, just to name a few. If i didn't know any better, he clearly was a Barack supporter, he threw out countless jabs on the Bush regime. (Vote or Die, BARACK 08) Because I didn't catch the name of the opening act, we'll refer to him as ????. Yea, it was that bad. I was anticipating the phenominal Celine Dion, so his 30 minutes of fame ran its course. Exit stage left! Granted we had to wait 30 mins for the main event to begin, and folks, they seemed like an eternity, but they were WELL WORTH IT.
House lights OUT. I was like a kid in a candy store. It's just something about the main event that gets my blood to flowing. FLASHING LIGHTS, props goes to the production crew! Every screen served its purpose. Backdrops of photoshoots, chronological events leading up to THIS event, you name it, she had it. Baboom, Baboom, Baboom goes my heart as I anxiously await Celine to come on stage.
BOOM! She's here, in a beautiful fuschia dress, commanding everyones attention. She performed a multitude of hits streaming from All By Myself, I'm Your Lady, Because You Loved Me, The Prayer, Man's World (James Brown), just to name a few. In between wardrobe changes, her backup singers & dancers each had their own set to keep the over anxious crowd entertained.
She performed for a solid two hours. Hit after hit. She was full of energy & she fed off of our energy, making her performance one to remember. She ended the show with the tear jerker My Heart Will Go On, laced in a black free flowing dress, the set was real intimate with exceprts from the motion picture Titanic playing in the backdrop. This song gets me every time! I held back the tears, because she sang it with so much emotion. What a way to end the night.
Celine has proven she's at the top of her career. The night was simply magical & worth every dollar spent. She's an icon, and she's simply fabolous. If I had to do it all over again, you already know the answer would be a YES!
Southern Soul Personified
I believe that love is synonymous with heaven, such a sensual bliss...
Artist: Anthony David
Venue: The Evening Muse
Date: 7.15.08
Venue: The Evening Muse
Date: 7.15.08
I’m convinced Anthony David isn’t a soul singer… he’s a singer with soul. Last night, the NoDa arts district of Charlotte, NC was rocked by the sounds of Mr. Acey Ducey and company, and there wasn’t an ear in the building that left unsatisfied. Anthony David’s been on the performing circuit for quite some time, making noise in the underground soul world. As I watched the crowd fill the venue, I noticed a few twenty-somethings, but mostly a 30 and up crowd – those with an ear for the real. There was an air of anticipation, and a feeling that this show would be one to remember...
The population density of the venue had the temperature already on hotter-than-July, but it raised to about mid-August when the band and the man of the hour hit the stage. For the next hour-and-some-change, he created a vivid illustration of life through his acoustic soul, his emotional vocal delivery, and his musical arrangements. If you were there I know you felt the energy along the way; maybe it was during his upbeat jams like Georgia Peach, or his slick-talk on Spittin Game. Maybe you were feelin the bluesy, unplugged segment of the show, fighting an addiction on Cold Turkey, or fighting himself on Cheatin’ Man. Nestled in the back of the venue, the band brought to life the depth of his lyrics and the power of the melodies, especially during jams like Kinfolk and that immaculate guitar rift on Somethin About You. For a fan like me, the best attribute of the show was that it was free-flowing, and David took his time to please his audience, performing earlier works that were fan favorites like Ms. Arie’s Can You Be A Part of My Life, and Krooked Kop. The show closed with Words, the duet with India.Arie, which displays a perfect match of tones and style. Any two people can sing together, but this duet is simply a musical masterpiece.
If you don’t have the album, Acey Ducey, I highly recommend it for the R&B/Soul listener. It’s a nice blend of his acoustic works from Three Chords and The Truth and his jam sessions on The Red Clay Chronicles. The bluesy blend of emotional lyrics and artistic sounds brings to life a southern style of soul that is simple yet striking. Highlights include Spittin’ Game, Lady, and Cheatin’
-Mack-
The Brightest Star In The Universe
''We need the brightest star in the universe — you, Kanye! Only you can bring us home. You can glow in the dark!'' – Jane
Concert Review of 'The Glow In The Dark' Tour
Location: Time Warner Cable Arena, Charlotte, NC
Date: 5.8.08
Concert Review of 'The Glow In The Dark' Tour
Location: Time Warner Cable Arena, Charlotte, NC
Date: 5.8.08
I’ve never been a huge fan of hip-hop concerts. I mean, I’ve been to my share, but there’s usually nothing really exciting: 16 different guys on stage during one guy’s set and unless you’re in-the-know, you’re probably guessing which one is the actual performer. Beyond that, hip-hop shows in the past (with a few exceptions) have proven to lack the one thing that sells out shows – artistry. The Glow in the Dark Tour, however, challenged that theory: 4 performers, one stage, and thousands of fans. The highlight of the night, Mr. Kanye West, delivered an astounding performance, and while he didn’t make me a fan of hip-hop shows, he definitely made me a fan of the Kanye West show…
Opening the show was Lupe Fiasco. Now when the intro music was cued, I didn’t know whether to expect the cool young Lu, or a half-dressed Spartan named Leonidas. The theme music from 300 melted away for Fiasco’s triumphant entrance, and an energetic performance of The Coolest. With the same swag, he took us to
Next on the bill were the brothers of N.E.R.D. Let me preface this: I don’t own any N.E.R.D. albums, nor have I listened to any in their entirety. However, those brothers can ROCK!! They performed the better known hits Lapdance, and She Wants To Move. Apparently, I was in the minority, as the rest of the crowd sang along to Brain, and some song that asks “Are you ADHD?” Ummmm.… yeah, okay. Only downside was that you couldn’t hear a word they were saying. I know they’re a rock band, but it helps when people can actually hear you along with the music. Try a sound check next time fellas. But hey that on-stage crumping cameo from Chris Brown at least made their new joint Spaz more enjoyable and memorable.
Speaking of Chris Breezy, let’s move on to his woman: the beautiful Rihanna. With her initial engulfed in flashing lights, Rihanna emerges in a neon trimmed, form-fitting outfit to kick off with Breakin’ Dishes, from her latest album Good Girl Gone Bad. She moved the entire arena with some of her previous hits including S.O.S. and Pon De Replay. Ri-ri proved herself to be more than just a studio singer as she belted out her ballads Unfaithful, and a solo rendition of Hate That I Love You. Her set closed with her best smash to date, Umbrella, which indeed led the entire arena to their feet, chanting along every word and every ”ella ella eh eh”. Overall, her performance was great, much better than I expected. Oh, and for the record: I’m officially hating on Chris Brown, this girl is amazingly beautiful.
Harder, better, faster…STRONGER. The guy sitting next to me wondered aloud as to why this show is called the Glow In The Dark Tour. By the end of the night, we all knew the answer – Kanye sets the place on FIRE!!! I’ll try not to spoil too much of this for you but if you’re planning to see the show, stop reading now. He was like a kid onstage living strictly within his own imagination. He performed for 90 minutes straight, with barely any breaks in between. From his elaborate futuristic theme and introduction to his Homecoming ending, Kan-the-Louis-Vuitton-Don kept the entire crowd on their feet. There’s no way you couldn’t feel the energy emanating from Kanye, he was like a supernova on stage! After his talking spaceship crash lands, Mr. West finds himself on a quest to virtually ROCK his way home. Along the way, he took the audience Through The Wire, introduced us to The Good Life, and taught us all how to Touch The Sky with the help of Lupe Fiasco. On Diamonds From Sierra Leone, the audience created a sea of diamonds, as everyone in the place threw up the dynasty sign. He touched hearts and minds with his performances of Jesus Walks and Hey Mama, and you could feel the tears and sadness in Kanye’s voice. The energy reached a max as West moved erratically while performing Stronger bringing the crowd to an ultimate high. As he closed, he reminded the audience that yes, he’s got a big mouth and a big ego. In fact, his ego is so big, there wasn’t room for his background singers or band on stage, they were all down front! You can’t tell him nothing; but I guess when you’re at the top of the charts and selling out arenas, you can do that! After an amazing show like that, he’s bound to set the world on fire, and have us all glowing in the dark.
-MackN2U-Legacy of a Legend
“This is not the show to sit and stare at me; get up and have a good time…” –Estelle Live at Amos’ Southend, Event: Bailey's Presents Estelle hosted by John Legend
Date: 4.16.08
Location: Amos' Southend, Charlotte, NC
I was curious as to what this
Places everyone. After about 90 minutes, the band files in on stage; each takes their rightful place to back this brown sista with soul and swagger. In she comes, petite, but strong, and she takes her place at center stage. Her intro, a jazzy mix of guitars, drums and horns, and when she grabs the mic she brings it all home, opening the show with her Will.I.Am produced smash Wait A Minute (Just A Touch). The crowd livens, and for the next hour, we’re one nation under a
Estelle’s performance is full of energy, sassiness, and eloquence, all rolled up into one little lady. Her sharp tongue and quick wit kept the crowd with their hands in the air and smiles all night. Although most of her songs were unfamiliar to the majority, one thing was certain, everyone was feeling her! Having been one of the few people there to actually hear the whole project before the show, I must say, I have an even deeper appreciation. The first half was for the ladies, and she performed the reggae infused tracks Magnificent (which features Kardinal Offishall) and Come Over, as well as More Than Friends. The latter sheds light on the often blurred line between friends and lovers.
Highlight of the night for most was when John Legend joined Estelle onstage for a duo rendition of Michael Jackson’s I Can’t Help It, which led into another duet between Legend and his protégé – the rhythmic, island flavored Come Over. Towards the end of the performance, Estelle rocked the house with her Swizz-Beatz produced Shine, an empowerment anthem that had the crowd swingin from left to right, chanting along to an interpolation of Shawty Lo’s Dey Know. Of course there was the crowd-pleasing performance of American Boy her widely popular lead single which features Kanye West.
The first artist on Legend’s Homeschool Records, Estelle proves she’s no amateur to the mic nor the stage. Each number was preceded by a synopsis of its creation, establishing a level of relation with the audience. Armed with a fresh sound, confidence, and a round-the-way girl flow that’ll make her fit right at home in your stereo. On her sophomore effort Shine due in stores April 29th, you’ll find a clever mix of reggae inspired songs, hip-hop artistry, and expressive vocals. If you’ve attended the live shows, you got just a touch – this album is sure to shine!
-MackN2U-
Heart of the City in Chocolate City!
Best of Both Worlds: THE UPGRADE
Concert Review of 'The Heart of The City Tour'
Location: Verizon Center, Washington, DC
Date: 4.6.08
Concert Review of 'The Heart of The City Tour'
Location: Verizon Center, Washington, DC
Date: 4.6.08
If you missed this, count your losses! There aren't enough postings on youtube to capture this once in a lifetime experience. Folks might argue once you've seen one Jigga or Mary performance, you've seen them all, but clearly nothing tops this. What do you get when you add two artists at the top of their career & one sold out venue?? PURE MAGIC!!! They each have enough chart topping hits to entertain without any ounce of a complaint from their fans. Not to mention the wasted time of an opening act, which by the way, SUCKED! No offense to those who enjoyed hearing Mr. American Dream sound like a cat on its death bed, but, the only shining moment to his alloted ten minutes were the retro Jordan IX's.
The minutes leading up to the main event seemed like an eternity. Fans chanting each artists' names respectively in anticipation of who was to perform first. HOUSE LIGHTS OUT! The mini convo between Mary & Jay-Z explaining Heart of the City captures everyones attention, then the countdown begins; 5,4,3,2,1! Enter the guests of honor of the evening performing Can't Knock the Hustle. The first of many crowd pleasing hits.
Many kudos goes out to the production team responsible for the lighting, pyro techniques, and each back-drop, helping to make the experience memorable. Mary's solo performance took us back down memory lane, with hits like Real Love, Reminisce, Sweet Thing, just to name a few, before bringing us to present day with Just Fine & Stay Down. She performed with much intensity & heart, bringing the fans to their feet in applause.
Mr. Carter knows how to bring 'em out. He emptied the entire clip without having to re-load. Throw ya diamonds in the sky! His swagger was on overload, and he knew it. Fans chanting the lyrics to not one, but ALL his songs. Letting the cat out the bag with with hits from Reasonable Doubt, Blueprint & the Black Album, Hov took us on one up& down rollercoaster ride with many unexpected turns. My highlight of the night was Money over bitches...FUCK BUSH. There were so many hype moments, but not enough time nor space to highlight them all, however, they closed the show with You're All Welcome, a song, dedicated to their fans. No matter where you sat, or how much money you paid for your ticket, the show was well worth it. Lets hope Heart of the City makes it to your nearest Circuit City or Best Buy as a collectors item for many years to come, because it definately was an UPGRADE to Best of Both Worlds.
-Mello-
