Friday night, two days before concert-of-the-year contender, the Usher-Kayne West doubleheader, at Mandalay Bay. Lee-Ann, my homegirl from the Bay Area, calls after the just-finished concert there. Says it was the shit. Sunday morning, my best friend Sayoko rings me. She attended the Oakland concert Saturday. Not a fan, she enjoyed it. I'm pumped.
Sunday night: I'm eyes and ears for hordes of people who couldn't go, and for my boyfriend, who gave up his ticket on condition that I write this review. (Thanks, sweetie!)
Events Center (after fighting for parking): I hear Kanye! How much did I miss? I hear a Rick James beat; he's doing a tribute. The beat for "All Falls Down" comes on and the crowd erupts. Kanye says how College Dropout made him a celebrity overnight ... then bam, he launches into the song of the same name, made with fellow Chicago rapper Twista. Next is "Slow Jams," before he turns the center into a church service with hip-hop ecumenical "Jesus Walks." An all-around great show.
Intermission: A young lady in the audience is drawing looks for her outfit: bright pink hat; pink, diamond-studded shoes; black, button-up men's shirt and nothing else. Another woman, the size of The Color Purple Oprah gets stares for her outfit and figure, wearing a floral satin top resembling a pillow case, short shorts and heels tied up to her knee that make her legs look like sausages. A young man in Section 111 begins dancing his ass off.
9:57 p.m.: A film starts. Eight dancers appear, Usher begins singing and fireworks crackle. Usher removes his shirt to reveal rippling abs. Between complimenting the audience on its style, stressing the importance of voting, and introducing his dancers and band members, he sings ("Nice & Slow," "Let It Burn," "Yeah," "Confessions Part 2," on which Kanye joins him), and serenades a bad girl from the crowd. Erica, 23, got white roses and a kiss, lucky girl. But was she a plant?
The end: Red, white and blue confetti falls from the ceiling, dousing the crowd. To everyone's surprise, Usher returns, gives love to every section, mentions the after-party at Seven, and throws the upside down peace sign for Atlanta, his hometown. The close to a great night.