Justin Timberlake Concert Review Glendale Arizona

Pop star Justin Timberlake (Ticket Broker | Justin Timberlake Tickets) justified his smooth transition from boy-band singer to mature performer with an evening of sexy, adult-oriented material Sunday (1/14) at Glendale AZ’s Jobing.com Arena.

A 20- to 30-something crowd embraced Timberlake’s set list, which began with “FutureSex/LoveSound” and closed more than two-and-a-half hours later with “All Over Again (Another Song),” both from his latest album, “FutureSex/Love Sounds.” On the flip side, he even paid homage to his seemingly innocent ‘NSync past with a snippet of “Gone” that was part of a mid-show medley.

Wearing a smart, three-piece gray suit, Timberlake kicked off the show by repeating, with increasing speed, “Future, Sex, Love, Sound” from behind a curtain. Sheer screens, on which the words “Future, Sex, Love, Sound” were projected, surrounded the three stages set up in the middle of the arena floor.

The screens, which intermittently covered the stage during high points of the show, lifted to reveal an enthusiastic and smiling Timberlake. The Southern pop star pointed at his drummer during “FutureSex/Love Sound” and batted his hand in the air to the beat. Afterward, the band arose from a peripheral orchestra pit at a level even with Timberlake. (Unfortunately, the drummer and some of the other instrumentalists blocked the view of ticket-holders in the lower bowl and main floor.)

On “Like I Love You,” from “Justified,” Timberlake joined dancers on a side stage, which set off a slew of camera-phone shooters.

Each time the band descended into the orchestra pit–during songs like “Sexy Ladies” and “Summer Love”–it signaled that Timberlake was going to show off the deft dancing skills that he honed during his years with ‘NSync.

Timberlake offered a balladic version of “My Love” until he yelled, “Drop that s— right.” That unleashed the electronic beats that flow behind “My Love.”

“Justified”‘s “Senorita” gave Timberlake the ability to show off his keyboard prowess, while the female ticketholders took cues from the recorded song and traded lyrics with men.

“This is our first show outside of California,” Timberlake baited the crowd. “I gotta tell you: California, for lack of a better term, knows how to party.” After he was met with boos, Timberlake said, “Arizona parties harder than Cali? Where have I been? Get me a house next to Alice Cooper or something,” he added with a laugh.

To celebrate the first show outside of California, Timberlake and his bandmates each drank a shot during a toast to Arizona.

“Kids, don’t try this at home,” he announced to the crowd.

With Timberlake on piano, the stunning ballad “What Goes Around” was a highlight of the show. The females in the crowd screamed when Timberlake sang “I was ready to give you my name.” The band arose as the lights came down and the song took on a new urgency, if not an eerie feel, when Timberlake used a webcam to shoot himself for the videoscreen curtains. He ended the song by giving the camera–and presumably the protagonist of his cheating song–the middle finger.

“Chop Me Up” was the surprise of the evening thanks to a guest appearance by Timberlake’s producer, Timbaland. The song closed the first half of the show and segued into a DJ set by Timbaland during which he played a slew of Nelly Furtado songs (he provided the beats for her latest album “Loose”). He also paid his respects to the late Detroit R&B singer Aaliyah with a video and song tribute. The set, promoting March’s “Timbaland Presents Shock Value,” carried on much too long, and turned tedious after 20 minutes.

When Timberlake returned wearing a vest, white shirt and black hat, he stood within a circle of lights surrounded by a circular video screen on which a wall of lights was projected, taking a cue from the “Rock Your Body” video.

He then slowed things down with a medley of “Gone,” “Take It From Here,” “Boutique in Heaven” and “Last Night,” four songs, he said, that were important in his career.

“It was clear the crowd remembered ‘NSync’s “Gone” when Timberlake backed off and allowed the audience to sing the verse.

He dedicated the dramatic “Losing My Way” to anyone who lost someone special. Taking a step back from the song, he allowed a videotaped orchestra and gospel choir to take the forefront.

Raindrops played out on the videoscreens for “Cry Me a River,” but Timbaland was noticeably absent during his portion of the song–unfortunate considering he was in the house. He did return for the second-set closer, “Sexy Back,” providing the “yeahs” and the yips. The show closed with an encore of “Another Song (All Over Again),” and with the confirmation that Timberlake cuts it as an adult artist.

Opener Pink, fitting her muscular body into a black leotard, black mini skirt, fish-net stockings and knee-high boots, was just as impressive. “Just Like a Pill” and “Trouble” were vocally dead-on key. “U + Ur Hand” was the perfect showcase for her vocals.

For the closer, “Get the Party Started,” Pink showed off her athletic ability by performing Cirque du Soleil-like acrobatics with two red curtains and one of her dancers.

Set List

“FutureSex/LoveSound”
“Like I Love You”
“My Love”
“Senorita”
“Sexy Ladies”
“Until the End of Time”
“What Goes Around”
“Chop Me Up” (with Timbaland)

Intermission

“Rock Your Body”
Medley: “Gone”/ “Take It From Here”/ “Boutique in Heaven” / “Last Night”
“Damn Girl”
“Summer Love”
“Losing My Way”
“Cry Me a River”
“Love Stoned”
“Sexy Back” (with Timbaland)

Encore

 

Christina Fuoco

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