BOSTON, MA | Usher brought his magnetic stage presence, gifted vocals, and sex appeal to the first of two sold-out shows at the TD Garden in Boston, Tuesday night. With an undeniable charisma, Usher delivered for fans during his Past Present Future Tour, an homage to his upbringing and early success, and an exciting look ahead at what is to come.
Usher spent the night connecting with the crowd, whether flashing his infamous grin during a high-energy dance routine, or making eye-contact during a soulful ballad, greeting female fans in a slow, soulful saunter around the stage perimeter. The performance showcased both his captivating stage presence and gifted vocal abilities.
Brittany Lee of Londonderry, NH, and her girlfriends were so excited to hear about Usher’s tour not long after his Super Bowl halftime show. “We’re all ’90s babies and grew up on his music and this show brought us right back to the good times,” she said. “I have distinct memories of learning a dance to the song ‘Yeah!’ when I was a little girl with my close family-friends up at our lake house—we were so excited to perform it for our family. So, when that song came on last night all I could think about was that moment. The best, most nostalgic show. I loved seeing the stage setup like it was the set of a music video back in the day, too.”
The theatrics were a major component of the show. For “U Got It Bad,” “Climax,” and “Burn,” Usher performed front and center, with singular spotlight, while a striking and sensual routine executed by gifted dancers took place in the background, bringing his songs to life through a dramatic performance.
Originally from Jacksonville, FL, Kiara Alexis is currently living and working in Boston. What she loved most about her first Usher show was seeing how genuinely happy he was to be there. “I absolutely loved it. You can tell he had a good time, spending time with the audience. I loved the fan interaction and I just loved how he was taking his time. It made me even more of a fan of his, especially to see his physical abilities and how he was able to perform some of those dance moves like doing a headstand and then going back into dance and then going into a full song. He lived up to all my expectations.”
Usher’s ninth album Coming Home was released in February of this year, peaking at number two on the U.S. Billboard 200, and featuring collaborations with Burna Boy, 21 Savage, Latto, H.E.R., and more. Looking ahead to the future, Usher: Rendezvous in Paris is coming to AMC Theatres September 12-15 only. The concert film features chart-topping hits from Usher’s 30-year career, performed with never-before-seen costumes and state-of-the-art lighting and special effects.
Cynthia N. traveled from Southern California to Boston to watch Usher live with friends. “Not only did Usher have the voice and dance moves, but he presented to his fans a true show—projecting his life’s story in the music industry from his past, present, and future. As someone who grew up bumping to music by Usher, and as someone who jammed on roller skates for fun, it has always been a dream of mine to attend one of his shows. This one hit heavy for me.”
