Before the summer came to an end, I had to go to one last concert at Jiffy Lube Live. I have yet to see the second coming of Chris Brown (post-Rihannagate), and though I have tried to wait out what has turned into a (very, very) very long phase, my curiousity got the best of me. With all the turmoil and drama surrounding his personal life, could Chris still shut down a stage?
The Good: Chris performs his whole catalog; like the entire thing. He takes you back to the very beginning — for many of us where the love affair first started — as if he knows he has to “get that old thing back.” Just as you give into your deep-rooted nostalgia * insert googly eyes* he races toward the present with hits like “Deuces” and “Strip.” From there it’s hit. After hit. After hit.
He didn’t do nearly as much choreography as I’d hoped, but when he did he SLAYED. My favorite moment was his dance break to “Hit the Quan,” everybody was out of their seats!
The Bad: Though I tried to go into the concert as objectively as possible (focusing solely on the music), as an entertainment critic, you can’t help but see the major effects his personal choices have had on his day job. The drinking and drugs have affected his range and it was odd to see him have so many stationary moments behind the mic, especially when he often curtailed any vocal acrobatics. It didn’t feel intentional, but necessary for him to keep up with the pace of the show.
There’s no mistaking it — Chris is the greatest entertainer of our generation. His natural born abilities are unparalleled; and yet, he is still not ready to take on the full weight of that role — he just isn’t there yet.
This tour is not Chris at his best, but if you’re simply looking for a fun summer night with friends you definitely get it with the One Hell of a Nite Tour.
