With a musical style that is clearly an ode to soul and R&B, Justin Timberlake floored fans with a three hour concert experience that was as close to on par with his idol Michael Jackson than any of his peers could ever dream of delivering during his sold out show Tuesday night at Scottrade Center.
A DJ served as the opening act as the technical staff and crew diligently prepped for a stage show that lived up to every bit of the hype that has surrounded Timberlake since he kicked off his solo career a decade ago.
Although the tour’s title suggests that it supports the album that marked his return to the music scene after a lengthy hiatus, The nearly three dozen song set list was a Timberlake box set that took fans on a journey from his initial domination of the pop music scene to his meteoric return that kicked off earlier this year with the first of two 20/20 Experience albums.
He opened and closed with selections from the 20/20 Experience but everything in between was an exceptionally presented comprehensive musical overload that will have fans lauding Timberlake for an unyielding performance that left no stone unturned.
“Pusha Love Girl” started the show off and Timberlake and his band the Tennessee Kids made it known from the very beginning that they were not to be toyed with for a show that proved to be as stunning audibly as it was visually thanks mostly to the musical direction of Adam Blackstone.
A sleek white backdrop was the perfect complement to Timberlake’s current formal swag that seems to pay equal homage to the Rat Pack and the days of the dapper big bands.
With 20 people on stage at any given moment (when counting the backup dancers) his show gave an ensemble feel – with Timberlake proving to be the most charismatic of front men.
At first sight, Timberlake appeared to be taking it easy on the choreography side when he started his dance sequences with “Rock Your Body.” But fans would learn that he was pacing himself for a show that would stretch just past midnight – and carry on twice as long as the typical concert run time.
Every single radio hit Timberlake enjoyed over the course of his career was worked into the stage show, “Summer Love,” “Senorita,” “Sexy Back,” to name a few.
He even managed to make note of his current Jay-Z bromance with an offering of the hook to “Holy Grail” and remixing “Cry Me A River” to include the hook from “Tom Ford.”
But what Timberlake did more than anything over the course of his show was prove himself as a rising icon and quietly stake his claim as heir apparent for Michael Jackson’s King of Pop throne -even though pound for pound Timberlake’s music is more urban in composition and riddled with hip-hop influence than Jackson could ever get away with at the height of his fame.
Jackson would be among the tributes to his many influences over the course of the show. Timberlake performed an extended snippet of “Human Nature.” He also tipped his hat to Elvis Presley with a guitar toting, hip-swiveling performance of “Heartbreak Hotel” and gave his backup singers some shine with a spin on Bell Biv Devoe’s “Poison.”
Awe inspiring special effects included a full-fledged laser show and a plexiglass detachable cherry picker contraption that ran the width of the venue and allowed carried Timberlake to get up close and personal with the audience.
It was as nerve-wrecking as it was breathtaking to see him perform selections like “Take Back The Night” as the set extension crept into the crowd and parked him in the middle of the floor for several selections to give fans in the center area a better view.
If there was any note to give the Timberlake team as he continues with the tour it would be to evenly space the 10 minute intermission. The show felt longer because he took a break so early on in the performance.
But for fans it didn’t matter because the take away from the 20/20 experience for fans was that the feeling is mutual.
Timberlake’s intention to give fans an unforgettable concert experience was loud and clear – from the set design that carried him into their personal space, to a show that had to take everything out of him (even though it didn’t show) to power through.
And by the time he closed the show with “Mirrors” even the most die-hard fans couldn’t help but step away with a new appreciation for Timberlake thanks to giving them their money’s worth and then some on stage.
