futuresex/loveshow: the aftermath
so jeff and i arrived at staples center last night around 8 pm and walked a few blocks (parking near the center was $40!!!) because we parked in some dark alley where we only paid $15. it was cold as f and the line to get in was fairly decent. security was yelling out that "cameras are not allowed" so i worried that my cell phone/camera would get caught, and i'd have to trek back to my truck. thankfully, i went through the detectors okay, and we met up with melissa and evelyn. they have great seats, right next to the side stage, while jeff and i had seats in front of the main stage (or the back, depending on where jt was facing). i'd say his stage set up and special effects were the next main attraction to jt's show, because it put him right in the middle of the audience, and he's able to interact from every side of the stage. he had these massive see-through projection screens that i've seen used by everyone from madonna to cirque du soleil: delirium. it's great because even though jt and his dancers would be on the other side, we could still see him "up close" because of the massive projection screens.
jt opened with "futuresex/lovesound" and the crowd went crazy for the song and his three-piece-suit hotness. i mentioned to jeff that the audience consisted mostly of college-age women who were huge nsync fans, and their junior high boyfriends who have since come out of the closet and are full on weho queens. jt definitely had love for all his fans, woman or man, gay or straight. he followed with the guitar intro to "like i love you," and that definitely got everyone pumped even more. he teased with the intro for a bit, and then the dancers (all in black and white) all came out. the choreography hasn't changed for the songs off justified, but i guess that's expected for a pop artist like jt anyway. their dance moves become as iconic as their songs and videos. i'm not going to list every song, but jt performed every single hit off his two albums. i'd say highlights for me were "my love," "what goes around comes around," "damn girl," "rock your body," and "losing my way." there was a 20 minute plus dj set by timbaland in the middle of concert, where he remixed everyone from the fray, aaliyah, kelly clarkson, and even a duet with nelly furtado and jt.
jt not only sang and danced, but he played piano, guitar, the key-tar (think morris day and the time), and beatboxed. the guy has talent, and even with produced pop music in his resume, jt shows that he works hard and has a natural charm. this is the first jt concert i've attended, and i must say, he's a real star.
not quite there
