Early on in Miguel’s hour-plus set at Drai’s early Saturday, his band broke and bounded to the front of the stage to groove to Fetty Wap’s “My Way,” reminding everyone we were still at a nightclub. They quickly segued the smash into sinister, sexy banger “gfg” from latest album Wildheart. Later, Miguel grooved to the classic Digital Underground reunion track “I Get Around” and rhymed atop 2Pac’s rapid second verse, repeating the line, “Don’t be picky, just be happy with this quickie,” until it morphed into his slinky 2010 sex jam “Quickie.”
Simply put, this guy knows what he’s doing ... and what a great place to do it. With his solid band’s backing, a vivid, almost psychedelic light show going on all around him and cocky charisma to spare, Miguel’s set might have been the most complete live music performance to hit this stage so far. He focused on the sexy-spiritual material from Wildheart and never let up, toasting the crowd and exhorting us to live in the moment before closing with an extra-smooth version of megahit “Adorn.” Drai’s may be a smaller venue than his other tour stops, but the energy was big enough to fill an arena.