Breezy loves STL

Chris Brown packed out The Dome at America’s Center from the floor to the ceiling for a sold out show Friday night for the St. Louis leg of his Breezy Bowl XX global tour. As the tour title suggests, it was a night that celebrated his 20 years of music, awards, albums – and the adoring fans who made it all possible. 

“It’s been 20 years for me,” he said through the roaring cheers. “Every time I’m on a tour, I try to come to St. Louis. I just want to tell everybody here I appreciate y’all – I love y’all – and I’m so thankful for you all.” 

The show also gave a rare first-person glimpse of Brown’s infamous personal challenge that played out before the world’s eyes, just a few years into his meteoric rise to the top of music.

Without the support of his fans, Brown’s career would have bottomed out in 2009 when he pled guilty to the assault of then girlfriend Rihanna. He addressed the tragic moment and fallout that ensued in his comprehensive showcase that was essentially a non-linear timeline of his career. In the years since 2009, Brown has been a polarizing phenomenon. Some believe that the actions of a 19-year-old should be forgiven since he admitted his guilt, and completed the terms of his sentence. Others feel that he should be forever tethered to the violent encounter. 

Regardless of the negative interpretations about Brown, there was a stadium full of doting fans in St. Louis Friday night. They came to Breezy Bowl dressed in their finest. Many of the outfits paid tribute to Brown’s likeness. His face was plastered across custom t-shirts – and on jeans. One fan was super creative with digital single-lens sunglasses with the words “Breezy Bowl” in bright red, a tribute to fashion in the early 2000s.  

The tone was set for Brown by featured artists Bryson Tiller and Summer Walker. 

Tiller brought everyone to their feet with classics from his debut studio album “Trap Soul.” Walker worked the stage and gave a performance that included fierce and flirty choreography. Her well-rounded set was a far cry from the days when she performed seated in a lone chair, and sang to her lap.  

Their sound and energy set the stage perfectly for Brown, who emerged singing his classics “Run It!” and “Gimme That.” Fans were immediately on their feet. They sang and danced with so much passion that they shook the ground.

The beat of the music and fans rippled through the seats as he performed “Party” and “Ayo”. He kept things fun loving and joyous with “Yo (Excuse Me Miss), “Yeah 3x”, and “I Can Transform Ya.”

In his music, Brown has always portrayed himself as an imperfect lover boy.  His performance at the Breezy Bowl was no different. The epic performance followed the ebbs and flows of his 20-year career. He took the audience through a gauntlet of emotions. They ranged from love and longing to appreciation and gratitude. He also shared life lessons.

“The journey ahead is unknown to all of us,” he said in a voice over message to himself. “Stay focused but be careful along the way, what goes up must come down.”  

After “I can Transform Ya,” the stage faded to black. A revealing montage followed. 

In it he flashed clips of his arrest and mugshots. Brown also commented on the isolation that followed the 2009 incident. 

“It was hard. Nobody really picked up the phone,” Brown said. “Nobody wanted to be associated with you. Nobody really wanted to be around you.” 

He credited the love of his fans for helping him through that period of his life.

“I was able to be vulnerable and still do my music in that time,” Brown said. “[Since then] I’ve focused on my craft. And I’ve learned just how to be a better human, and just to be myself and don’t worry about trying to fit this picture that somebody needs me to be.”

He followed this montage with flashing blue and red lights that seemed to simulate his arrest. The lights transitioned into a deep green as he belted out “Anxiety” and “Grass Ain’t Greener”. 

His confidence showed in songs like “Sweet Love”, “Back To Sleep” and “New Flame.” He leveled up on self-assurance with his performance of the double-platinum single “Take You Down.” He sang the first half of the song with his male dancers grinding and lifting their shirts. The music paused so that Brown could bring a lucky fan on stage. She reclined on a red curved loveseat while Brown sat on top. 

The audience watched in awe, some shocked by his forward display. The audience let out screams and gasps as Brown lowered his face to hers and the lights went black. 

He concluded the concert with “Forever,” and paired the finale with a backdrop of a futuristic neon city-scape in the background. Brown and his dancers returned to the stage with high energy footwork. They jumped and kicked to the techno beat.  Brown smiled brightly and exuded his joy and appreciation for performing – and the mutual love between him and his fans. 

Living It content is produced with funding by the ARPA for the Arts grants program in partnership with the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis and the Community Development Administration.