The “SexyBack” singer is currently on his first global trek in several years
Pop prince Justin Timberlake danced, grooved, and gyrated his way through more than two dozen songs at CFG Bank Arena on Wednesday night (July 3rd) in Baltimore.
The concert was a non-stop party. Timberlake kept his trademark energy up for four opening numbers. He then delivered knock-out vocals on the stripped-down opening of “My Love” before the song turned into a full-blown power ballad.
The charm that has made Timberlake an endearing, fun-loving figure of pop culture was also on display. He spent a good portion of time chatting with a soon-to-be-ten-year-old who was dressed like JT, bling and all. “You out-rizzed me!” Timberlake joked.
Both Timberlake’s drummer and trumpet player are Baltimore natives. The latter, Dante Winslow, could be spotted at the merch both meeting fans and selling his own shirt. JT told the crowd that Winslow had the whole crew, including Timberlake, to a family cookout.
Timberlake’s band is massive, comprising two full risers on both sides of the stage. Unique for a pop artist, a horn section adds a refreshing texture to the music. This large band allowed Timberlake to slide the scale between his pop sound and more rock attitude. “Sanctified” stood out as a red-hot rocker, while the live arrangement for “Imagination” fits squarely in the pop box.
At 43 and perpetually baby-faced, Timberlake still moves like a fresh-faced boy bander. It’s a deceptively complex thing to sing live and hit your choreo for each number. But JT makes it look effortless. He stays in sync—sorry, had to—with his killer background dancers all night.
The stage show is impeccable. Not overdone and yet immersive, it’s lightly based on the theme of a desert monolith. The lighting rig extends all the way to the back of the arena for a mesmerizing light show. Choosing “mood lighting” rather than a follow spot for much of the numbers, this reporter advises getting tickets as close as possible to the stage if you want to directly witness Timberlake’s boyish charm.
But the back offers breathtaking views of the full production, and JT spends considerable time on a B-stage. In this case, B stands for “Bar.” The VIP experience includes a seat at the outer ring of the B-stage, with its inner cavity providing complete bar service. It is here where Timberlake appropriately delivers his classy “Suit and Tie,” atop the musical liquor cabinet.
Ending the night with “Can’t Stop the Feeling” and “Mirrors,” it’s obvious that Timberlake’s influence is wide-reaching, the strands of his artistic DNA in the pop stars of the last two decades. No need to bring “SexyBack,” it’s here to stay.
