Denise Truscello / Getty Images for Dolby Live at Park MGM
Usher performs on opening night of his residency, July 15, 2022, at Dolby Live at Park MGM. The residency continues at 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with additional dates in August, September and October.
Thursday, July 28, 2022 | 2 a.m.
Different venue, same amazing Usher.
One year after the 43-year-old Atlanta R&B megastar began a multidate residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, he is now five shows into his new residency at Dolby Live at Park MGM. From the reaction of the sold-out crowd at Friday night’s show, Las Vegas can’t get enough of the eight-time Grammy Award winner.
The effervescent entertainer danced, roller-skated, talked and sang his way through a nearly two-hour set that drew heavily on his No. 1 hits and assorted chart toppers, including “OMG,” “Confessions Part II,” “Yeah!” and “DJ Got Us Fallin’ in Love.” He tossed in a couple of covers, including Chris Brown’s “Party” and “New Flame,” and “I Ain’t GON Hold You,” a moving song he said would be on his new album, his first full-length album since 2016’s “Hard II Love.”
Some highlights from a night of highlights:
• As with his residency at the Colosseum, Usher and members of his dance troupe donned roller skates for several numbers. The new twist, though, was the rounded Dolby Live stage. The roller-skaters were so adept that at times they resembled a rush during a roller derby match. While singing “Superstar,” Usher really showed off his moves, performing a Michael Jackson-esque moonwalk on skates.
• The multitiered pole dancing set used a year ago made a reappearance for several songs, including “I Don’t Mind” and the ever-popular “Bad Girl.”
• At one point in the concert, Usher started talking about his love of music and performing. “The magic of music is amazing, and that’s why I love it,” he said, pausing to imbibe on a cocktail. He made a deal with the audience: “For every song you sing with me, I’ve gotta take a shot.” His fans gleefully took him up on his promise, leading him to say, “This is gonna be a crazy night … Y’all are trying to get me drunk!”
• In introducing “I Ain’t GON Hold You,” Usher asked for the house lights to come up and said, “I’ve been working on something — a new album.” The song, he said before singing, “was not perfect.”
The soulful melody was moving, as were the lyrics, part of which declared:
What am I supposed to do?
Am I not good enough for you?
I ain’t gonna hold you …
• Should Usher ever lose his ability to sing, he likely could become a professional dancer. He and the 11 other dancers appearing throughout portions of the concert put on a show within a show. The star attraction’s dance moves included a perfectly executed hand-stand. Props go out to choreographers Cornithea “Rio” Henderson and Amy Allen.
• About mid-concert, Usher waded off stage to make his way to the top of the first level, where he climbed on top of his DJ’s stand to perform a couple of songs, including “Think of You,” from his 1994 debut album “Usher.” He dedicated the song to his “Day 1 fans” in the audience.
• His penultimate song, the No. 1 hit “Yeah,” had the entire house rocking — even without fellow ATL’ers Ludacris and Lil’ John. At the end of the song, a clearly moved Usher told his fans, “Thank you from the bottom of my heart. And please, as you leave, leave in peace.”
The message, however, was not a signal that the concert had ended. Instead, it was the lead-in to “Without You,” the 2011 hit written by David Guetta. As blue laser lights filled the stage, confetti cannons sprayed white paper throughout the hall, ending the night. “I love you. I love you. I love you. Good night,” Usher said to one last standing ovation.
Usher’s residency at Dolby Live at Park MGM continues at 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. He’ll return Aug. 26, 27 and 31; Sept. 3, 4, 7, 9 and 10; and Oct. 12, 14, 15, 19, 21, 22, 26, 28 and 29. For ticket information, go to ticketmaster.com/ushervegas.
