Usher - iTunes Festival, Roundhouse, London - 1st September 2012 (Live Review)
Monday, 03 September 2012
Written by Lara Rainsforth
The iTunes Festival has well and truly kicked off thanks to American artist Usher who took to the stage at around 9.00pm on Saturday 1st September to become the first main headline act.
Usher kicked of his set with ‘Can’t Stop Won’t Stop’ from his current album ‘Looking for Myself’ and then smashed straight into his hit ‘OMG’. After a bit of chatting with the crowd, Usher launched his massive hit ‘Yeah!’ and had the crowd singing along at every chance.
Next up was another track from his new album entitled ‘Lemme See’ with Usher stripping off mid song and delighting those fans watching. Fans could barely contain themselves with excited screams wailing around the venue whenever he spoke.
Usher proceeded to introduce himself with ‘Lil Freak’ before slowing things down with the track ‘Nice & Slow’, again stripping off to the delight of the crowd.
Now it was time to rewind a few years with his track ‘Lovers and Friends’, with Usher cutting the music to hear the crowd sing every lyric back to him. Then, no sooner had that track had finished, the chords for ‘U Remind Me’ kicked in and was met with yet more hysterical screams. Yet another old school track played out with ‘U Don’t Have To Call’.
Usher had the audience pumped up to the max as he launched into another classic with ‘Caught Up’ from his 'Confessions album'. Next up was ‘Burn’ and you could hear the crowd singing along over his vocals.
Continuing with the slowed down theme, Usher showcased ‘Dive’ from his new album and also ‘There’s Goes My Baby’. Then Usher took it way back with ‘You Make Me Wana’ along with an energetic dance routine.
As he launched into ‘Love In This Club’, Usher was about to make the crowd’s night as he jumped off stage and sung to the front row. After the track he took a moment to thank his massive army of fans that had attended the show and were watching live via iTunes store. He then launched into ‘Without U’ as if it was his anthem to his fans.
It’s been a tough few months for Usher in his personal life and it was clear to see his hurt while asking fans to remember the lost loved ones from his past before launching into ‘Numb’.
Next up was a member of Usher’s band to keep the hype going as the man himself took a wardrobe change and introduced the dancers. ‘DJ Got Us Fallin In Love’ was the next track of choice and another dance routine to keep everyone going and singing along.
There was only one track coming up when Usher asked the crowd to scream – ‘Scream’ ! Thats exactly what they did and blew the roof off the Roundhouse in London. As the track ended, confetti filled the Roundhouse as the audience fell in darkness and the chords began for ‘Climax’ as Usher proclaimed that he must have forgotten one last track.
Vocals as you would expect from Usher were perfection and on point throughout the show. Recent troubles looked far from his mind as he took in the atmosphere from the crowd. Overall it was an amazing performance from an outstanding R’n’B legend in music.
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