Concert review: Usher leads audiences through triumphant ‘Past Present Future’ celebration of R&B
Usher wears a red fur coat while performing at Inglewood’s Intuit Dome on Saturday. The R&B singer-songwriter played four shows at the venue, including a show Wednesday, as part of his ongoing “USHER: Past Present Future” tour. (Courtesy of Emma McIntyre for Getty Images and Live Nation Entertainment)
“USHER: Past Present Future”
Usher
Intuit Dome
Sept. 25
By Aisosa Onaghise
Sept. 26, 2024 4:26 p.m.
This post was updated Sept. 29 at 9:08 p.m.
Thirty years into his career, Usher proves that his impact will continue into R&B’s future.
The singer-songwriter electrified his last of four sold-out shows at Inglewood’s Intuit Dome on Wednesday night. Beginning in August to coincide with the 30th anniversary of his eponymous debut album, the “USHER: Past Present Future” tour follows the artist’s monumental Super Bowl LVIII halftime performance earlier this year and promotes his ninth studio album, “COMING HOME,” released in February. With a rich setlist spanning his three-decade-long career, hypnotic theatrics and thrilling surprises, Usher delivered a sensational experience that celebrated R&B music from every era.
Around 9:20 p.m., the hourlong preshow DJ set concluded as the lights went down. The audience erupted in cheers and screams during the intentional glitch of the 3D cubed screen and its display of achievement statistics from across Usher’s career. After introducing clock imagery and the theme of time in a prerecorded visual, Usher appeared under the white spotlight, wearing a sparkle-covered fedora and black coat as he shifted and glided across the curved stage. He commanded the smoky stage with jumping, full-body movements in the show opener “Hey Daddy (Daddy’s Home),” fitting for his arrival and his presence as the king of R&B.
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Usher maintained his magnetic energy as he led a synchronized dance above his backup dancers on a rising portion of the stage during “BIG.” After the song’s end, the screen lit up to show a 1993 video of Usher dancing in a yellow jumper jacket with matching pants, representing a switch from the present of his new music to the past of his career beginnings. The transition was marked by Usher’s change into a white fedora and floral blazer in his performance of “My Way.” Quickly removing the accessories, he transitioned to “You Make Me Wanna…” in a black snapback and open red button-up, occasionally dancing atop a barred-back chair to match the song’s relaxed acoustic production.
The trend of past hits continued as the lighting and screen shifted from the cool, deep-blue coloring of the artist’s second smash album to warm orange for “U Remind Me,” matching the aesthetic of its 2001 parent album, “8701.” The audience reacted positively, excitedly singing along as Usher circled around female dancers – one for each of the two verses he performed.
Usher repeatedly validated his status as one of the greatest entertainers with his commitment to dance and theatrical vision. “Caught Up” featured newspaper headlines and clippings of his scandals and controversies on screen as he pushed fluid, yet sharp and technical, movements ahead of his dancers. Following a short couple dance to “Don’t Waste My Time” was a roller skating portion of the show where Usher and his entourage slid around the circular stage to the DJ’s short set of songs, including Ludacris’ “Move Bitch” and Soulja Boy’s “Donk.”
Usher added to the theatrical elements in the middle of the show by bringing out featured guests to enhance the entertainment and celebration of R&B music. Lil Jon made his first appearance of the night to perform his track “Lovers And Friends,” which features Usher. Kevin Hart was later brought on stage, expecting to sing “Nice & Slow” for Usher until he was jokingly interrupted and dismissed – earning cheers and laughter from the audience. The singer resumed the song, projecting the sensuality of the track through slow hip thrusts to the microphone stand before partially removing his tank top to reveal his chest and pour water on himself.
The superstar’s string of hits continued with energy. His begging-on-the-knees act during “Confessions Part II” maintained attention and engagement at the one-hour mark of the show. Although his power slightly fell during the high-strength dance breaks in “OMG” and “DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love,” Usher kept the audience engaged by encouraging people to sing along.
For the first time in more than an hour, Usher spoke to the audience after “Superstar,” expressing love and gratitude for his fans’ continuous support over the three decades of his career. After giving an anecdote about saving money as a child to buy a Bobby Brown tape – the first album he ever bought – Usher put the spotlight on the R&B icon in the crowd, crediting him as his musical inspiration. Usher, Brown and the audience then sang along to Brown’s “Roni” and “Rock Wit’cha” as the songs rang out through the arena. Juicy J then made an appearance to perform “Bandz A Make Her Dance” while walking offstage around the floor section with Usher as he threw $100 “Usher Bucks” to the small stage in the middle of the floor. There, Usher seductively fed cherries to fans and introduced Tommy Richman to perform his viral TikTok hit “MILLION DOLLAR BABY.”
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Influential musician and R&B pioneer Stevie Wonder was Usher’s final guest of the evening, with Usher crediting him as one of the most motivating artists of all time. On his notable piano in deep violet lighting, Wonder performed “Overjoyed” and then, joined by Usher and the audience, “Ribbon In The Sky.” After Wonder’s exit, Usher laughed at the audience’s surprised reaction and proclaimed he would go over the concert’s allotted time to continue his celebration of R&B.
Despite the long runtime, Usher’s final performances assured a proper end to the celebration. The majority of the audience remained for Lil Jon’s return for Usher’s hard-hitting, spirited dance to “Yeah!” as he made his seventh outfit change to a glittery silver hoodie and pants. The final song, “Without You,” was marked by Usher’s appreciation for his fans as the screen displayed the audience during the chorus, reflecting his gratitude for how his fans have helped him obtain enduring success.
With his alluring stage presence and devotion to R&B, Usher shaped an unforgettable journey through the genre and gave a reminder of the potential it still has.