If our musical memory serves us right, Maroon 5 has always been a bit of a tease.
Each visit the three-time Grammy Award-winning pop band has made to Las Vegas in recent years has been a tantalizing New Year’s Eve showcase that’s left fans begging for one more night. That demand was finally met on March 24, when Maroon 5 kicked off its residency at Dolby Live. The 16-date engagement is the band’s first extended stay in Las Vegas, and if their first weekend proved anything, it’s that some things are worth the wait.
When Adam Levine took the stage to “Animals,” he did so with the confidence of a frontman who knows exactly what he brings to the table. Even though stars like Taylor Swift and Adele were performing mere miles away, the 44-year-old Levine held court before a packed house at the Park MGM theater, serenading fans with the kind of charisma one only possess after being named People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive.
For an indulgent 90 minutes, fans were treated to the sexiest eras of Maroon 5’s multi-decade legacy. Levine’s candied falsetto breathed new life into the 20-year-old tracks of Songs About Jane, especially “Sunday Morning,” which featured a brass trumpet and saxophone section. Dolby Live also erupted into a sing-along discotheque at the top of favorites like “Makes Me Wonder,” “Sugar” and “Moves Like Jagger,” during which Levine discarded his shirt, to the rapt attention of swooning fans.
There were plenty of other memorable moments from Night 1. Here are some favorites.
Disco funk entered the chat “Want a little Prince?” Levine coyly asked before launching into a cover of “I Wanna Be Your Lover.” The band truly brought the jam here with textured instrumentation that did the Purple One justice. At this point, the disco-funk flag was flying, so when Levine also snuck in the Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive,” fans gladly rode the rhythm.
A heartfelt tribute Halfway through the set, Maroon 5 hit pause on the party to pay tribute to manager Jordan “Jordi” Feldstein, who died in 2017. “I can’t promise I’m gonna get through this, but this song means something to everybody. To us, it means Jordi,” Levinesaid, kicking into the poignant single “Memories.” The touching change of pace had many audience members hold their loved ones close.
“She Will Be Loved” For the feel-good moment of the evening, Levine dropped down into the audience with lead guitarist James Valentine on his heels. The singer pointed out a stair he’d picked to stand on for this exact moment.
“Then I was told almost immediately that this little stair you see was built for Usher, for his concert. So I immediately felt like my idea wasn’t the best idea, because f*cking Usher had the best idea,” Levine affably joked. “So I just wanted to take the time to ask Usher—he’s not here, don’t freak out—if it would be cool if I used his spot.”
The monologue, while disarmingly offbeat, did wonders for Levine’s setup of the night’s most anticipated song: “She Will Be Loved.” The singer dedicated the cut to the ladies in the room and to his family, which was in attendance. “I used to be out here for me,” Levine said, “but now I’m out here for them.”
MAROON 5 April 7-8; July 28-29; August 2, 4-5, 9, 11-12; 8 p.m.; $90+. Dolby Live, ticketmaster.com.
Click HERE to subscribe for free to the Weekly Fix, the digital edition of Las Vegas Weekly! Stay up to date with the latest on Las Vegas concerts, shows, restaurants, bars and more, sent directly to your inbox!
