Denise Truscello / Getty Images for Caesars Entertainment
Usher performs Friday, July 16, 2021, at the grand opening of “Usher: The Las Vegas Residency” at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace.
Wednesday, July 21, 2021 | 2 a.m.
To say opening night of “Usher: The Las Vegas Residency” at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace offered a party atmosphere is no understatement.
More aptly, though, let’s call it a “parties atmosphere.”
The 42-year-old singer, songwriter and entertainer on Friday reopened Caesars’ largest showroom for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic shut down the Entertainment Capital of the World with a show that at times was reminiscent of a welcome-home party, a skating party, a bachelor party, sleepovers and even a family reunion.
An anxious and lively crowd stood on its collective feet from the moment Usher entered the theater from the Colosseum’s lobby, drawing loud cheers as he walked down an aisle on the orchestra level to the stage — appropriately enough to his tune “My Way” — until he took his final bow.
“Yeah Vegas,” the singer exclaimed, jettisoning into 90 minutes of crowd-pleasing songs, energetic dancing, exhilarating light displays and video storytelling.
Throughout it all, Usher was the center of attention — whether leading the audience in singing his hits, dancing, roller-skating (if this singing thing ever falls flat for Usher, he no doubt can land a job at Floyd Mayweather’s Crystal Palace Skating Rink) or connecting on a personal level with his adoring fans.
“Look out at the audience tonight and all of the beautiful people,” Usher remarked after his rendition of “Lovers & Friends.”
In all, the night offered bits of more than 20 of the hip-hop artist’s singles, including “There Goes My Baby,” “Without You,” “Burn,” “Confessions,” and “Yeah!” the hit that propelled him into stardom.
One sequence of songs — “Don’t Waste My Time,” “I Don’t Mind,” “Bad Girl,” “Good Kisser” and “Back to Sleep” — took place with four pole dancers performing for their onstage mini-audiences. In case the tasteful but exotic dancers didn’t conjure enough images of a strip joint, thousands of “Usher bucks” — novelty dollar bills imprinted with the singer’s profile — rained from the Colosseum’s upper reaches onto the audience below.
Beyond the theatrics, though, was the show. And the show was Usher. Usher in blue sequins. Usher in a gold-beaded, black T-shirt with a matching Atlanta Braves ball cap. Usher in all silver. Usher in pink.
The guy can dance. The guy can skate. The guy can strut. The guy can romance his dancers. The guy can romance his audience. And the guy can sing.
For his 2004 hit “My Boo,” Usher left the stage and wound his way through the orchestra level aisles, stopping here and there to climb up on the railings to direct those seated nearby in a sing-along.
Soon enough, a sweat-drenched Usher made his final costume change and performed his finale, “Without You.” The curtain fell, then raised one last time for Usher and his bevy of dancers to take one last bow and for the singer to acknowledge how good it was for him to be back on a stage performing before an enthusiastic audience that included members of his family.
“Man, this feels so good I don’t want to close this curtain and stop,” he told the crowd just before exiting the stage for the night.
“Usher: The Las Vegas Residency” continues at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace at 9 tonight. He is scheduled to perform at 9 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights through Aug. 14, then is set to return for shows in late December. For information about tickets, go to ticketmaster.com/ushervegas or visit the Colosseum box office.
