Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024 | 2 a.m.
Striking visuals. Screaming fans. Dancing choreographed to the hilt. Sexually charged energy. Mad moves on roller skates. And hit song after hit song.
Usher must have been in Las Vegas again.
The Grammy-winning Atlanta-based R&B icon pulled into T-Mobile Arena for his latest Las Vegas concerts Nov. 15 and 16, showing fans that in addition to the intimate settings of his recent Las Vegas residencies — the highly successful “My Way” with its nearly two-year run of shows that ended at Park MGM in 2023 and his “Usher: The Las Vegas Residency” in 2021-22 at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, he also can shine in a larger arena venue.
Of course, he also performed as part of the “Lovers and Friends” festival in 2022 and 2023 at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds.
And in February in Las Vegas, his star shined on the biggest stage of them all, performing at halftime of Super Bowl 58 at Allegiant Stadium.
The T-Mobile performance Nov. 15 was just more proof positive that Usher can command a presence in his adopted hometown.
Now just past the midpoint of his 78-show “Past, Present and Future” tour, which is scheduled to conclude in 2025 in London, Usher captivated a capacity audience at T-Mobile Arena. The tour is in support of his ninth and latest studio album, “Coming Home,” released in February and featuring songs such as “Good, Good” and “Ruin.”
An entertainer’s entertainer, Usher exuded charisma and energy throughout his nearly 2-hour set that included songs new and old, and pretty much all of his fan favorites.
On this night, he paid homage to what Las Vegas means to him.
“This ‘Past, Present and Future’ experience has led me here again,” Usher told the audience during a break in the show. “You have no idea how important and incredible this city has been to me. I couldn’t wait to get back to my home away from home in Las Vegas.”
The night was pure Usher.
Songs like the 2001 release “U Got It Bad,” (“Tell her, ‘I’m your man, you’re my girl. I’m gonna tell it to the whole wide world.'”), his cover of Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz’s 2004 hit “Lovers and Friends,” his own 2004 hit, “Confessions, Part II,” the 2008 release “Love in the Club,” and the 2015 hit “Burn” helped to rev up the audience in the first half of the show.
Interspersed between songs were videos of a young, almost babylike, Usher that had the crowd gushing.
As is his custom, Usher also danced while he performed. On this night, he was accompanied by up to eight men and women dancers, and none of them outshined the star. It’s difficult to believe that someone so talented musically is as gifted a dancer as he is.
That’s before mentioning his roller-skating abilities. At 46, the guy still glides around like he’s a 15-year-old showing off on a Friday night at the Crystal Palace Roller Rink.
Proof that the superstar works hard at his craft: Closeup shots of him performing throughout the night show his face drenched in sweat.
Through it all, the fans reveled in and celebrated the talented Usher and his music.
At the end of nearly every song, ovations were loud and long. During one — given after his 2004 hit “Superstar” — Usher stood for what seemed like an almost-uncomfortable amount of time, just soaking in all of the adulation before breaking out one of his trademark ear-to-ear smiles, then blowing kisses back to the audience and mouthing, “I love you,” to his adorers.
Before performing the 2011 David Guetta hit, “Without You,” Usher ordered the house lights turned on and led the audience in a touching sing-along, pointing from section to section of the arena to sing with him while cueing in the crowd on the lyrics as the song progressed.
In closing out the night, Usher broke out his 2004 signature hit, “Yeah,” which he originally performed with fellow “A-towners” Ludacris and Lil Jon. Saying it drove the crowd into a frenzy is shooting well below the mark. In a night of Usher highlights, this song stood out.
We don’t know when Usher will return to Las Vegas, but we’re confident that he will. And if past is prologue, his return will offer another opportunity to enjoy a true Las Vegas showman.