He emerged from the game of the interview on a rectangularpiece of metal, soared above the awestruck crowd and descended onto hisfuturistic-looking stage. (Think "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome")(ed. Please say he looked like Tina Turner).
Fromthere, a bungee-corded Usher performed a serial of gravity-defying, "Matrix"-esquemoves.
At least,the visuals kept the stress off of a God-awful sound systemthat completely ravaged his first two songs, making them almostunrecognizable. The job was corrected by the third song, "Yeah,"which got the audience amped.
Usher and his phenomenal female dancers tore upthe stage with precise steps, and one energy. (They really earnedtheir paychecks last night.The dancers even did a small acting during his performance of theballad "You Remind Me," where he depicted a playboy with a wanderingeye. The skit was a little corny and dated (insert Tiger Woods jokehere), but played up Usher's showmanship.
The singer paid court to pop music's ultimate showman- his idolMichael Jackson - during a minute-longtribute where Usher mimicked anumber of Jackson's dance moves, including the crotch-grabbing pelvisthrust and the "Moonwalk."
Usher quickly returned to his own material with familiar ballads such as"You Make Me Wanna," "Mars vs. Venus," and "Decent and Slow." He started to make a romantic mood, and slowed down the tempo. For Usher that way that on the song"Trading Places," he picked out a fan from the audience, brought heron stage and began to simulate sexual acts on her. (How proud her parents must have been.)
I think it was an appropriate transition to his song "Lil' Freak," whichwas originally recorded as a pair with Nicki Minaj. Thoughts ofthe absent rapper were quickly eliminated by Usher's female dancers whowere seductively crawling over the stage. The singer picked up the step with "Hot Tottie," arguably his bestnumber of the night. The choreography was particularly stellar, and thecrowd really got into the song.
Usher then fired off a serial of ballads including "There Goes My Baby,""Burn," "Bad Girl," "Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home), among others. To polish out the night, he performed the high-energy "DJ Got UsFallin' in Love." He pulled out all the stops with this performance.
Hisbackground dancers waved glow sticks against the black lightsused on stage, which created a rave feel to go on with the dance hit.After a quick exit, Usher encored with mega hit "OMG." Dressed in awhite sports jacket, black hat, tank-top, and jeans, he personifiedcool. He glided across the point with a fluidity that only trueperformers posses, and he worked the heck out of the crowd - all whilesinging.
Many consider Usher the heir apparent to the power of pop. Last night, he made a reasonably good cause for whyhe should at least be considered for the distinction.
Usher playlist:MonstarShe Don't KnowYeah!U Remind MeU Don't Get To CallYou Make Me WannaMars vs. VenusNice and SlowLove 'Em AllTrading PlacesLove In This ClubLil' FreakHot TottieThere Goes My BabyBurnBad GirlHey Daddy (Daddy's Home)Confessions, Part 2My BooI Need a Girl (Part One)Lovers & Friends Caught UpDJ Got Us Fallin' in LoveOMG
John-John Williams the IV is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He has previously contributed to Midnight Sun. Erik Maza edited the post.
Photo: Baltimore Sun photo by Karl Merton Ferron. See more photos from the concert.
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