The reviews are in and they are all raving! Bruno slays again and stays winning! The man is on fire!
July 27th @ the Staple Center, Los Angeles reviews:
Bruno Mars Sprinkles Solid Gold Dust at L.A. Tour Stop (And We Love It): Concert Review
Nothing says an evening out quite like a Bruno Mars concert – and in the case of the singer’s July 27 stop at Los Angeles' Staples Center, Saturday night was made for dancing.
The 27-year-old Hawaiian born hitmaker, who’s almost single-handedly returned pop music to its R&B and funk roots with radio smashes like “Locked Out of Heaven” and “Treasure,” in addition to featured turns on songs by B.o.B. (“Nothing On You”) andTravie McCoy (“Billionaire”), sprinkled his solid gold dust on those assembled in the 20,000-seat-capacity arena and it’s safe to say, nearly all were smiling ear-to-ear.
They were just following by example. Onstage Mars and his merry band of eight, which included three horn players and Smeezington cohort Phillip Lawrence on vocals, in addition to a guitarist, bassist and drummer, had energy to spare as they ran through choreographed opening numbers like “Moonshine,” “Natalie” and “Treasure.” It became clear almost instantly that here was a group whose sole purpose is to entertain – and, sure enough, they had it down to a science.
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It’s not like Mars’ set had such tremendous visuals -- pyro aside, glittering gold lights were the order of the day -- but the sheer showmanship was truly a sight to behold. From lovebird favorites like “Marry You” and “Our First Time” to the undeniable hooks of “When I Was Your Man” and “Grenade,” Mars’ unenhanced vocals served as an instant reminder of why he’s among the best male vocalists that the music industry has to offer. Add the sophistication of his melodies and lyrics -- best represented on the singalong closer “Just the Way You Are” -- and you have music’s great pop hope.
In fact, you saw how far-reaching Bruno Mars’ appeal is simply by the audience makeup at Staples. For every couple embracing in the crowd -- and there were plenty of those -- you could also spot entire families making a night of it. And if that means Mars marks these kids’ first concert, then hallelujah. At least they’re exposed to real singing, as opposed to most of today’s arena acts which often lip-synch to track and hide behind showy gimmicks.
STORY: Bruno Mars' Mother Dies
Indeed, there were few enhancements to the music, other than two video screens purposely made to look like you were watching a broadcast that would have fit on a 1970s live television special by Don Kirshner Presents. With the exception of Mars’ Four Tops-like moves, all eyes and ears were on the night’s star, especially on slower numbers like “Grenande,” that showed off his high-pitched pipes.
The highlight, however, was the encore. “Locked Out of Heaven,” a sexually-charged anthem of the highest order with its inescapable Police-like groove had the house on its feet and howling along like there’s no tomorrow. Trading verses with the crowd, Mars looked elated. Clearly, this was heaven for the singer, who had paid his dues and came out on top.
Mars closed the night with “Gorilla,” which is already gaining buzz as a potential next single. It would be a fitting choice from Unorthodox Jukebox, his second full-length and the follow-up to the beloved debutDoo-Wops and Hooligans, as it demonstrates not only Mars’ retro-esque signature sound, but the very best of his stellar band’s abilities. Most importantly, however, it’s the mark of an artist who has truly grown into his own with more goodness surely to come.
Set List:
Intro
Moonshine
Natalie
Treasure
Money Make Her Smile
Billionaire
Show Me
Our First Time
Marry You
If I Knew / It Will Rain
Runaway
Nothing On You
When I Was Your Man
Grenade
Just the Way You Are
Encore:
Locked Out of Heaven
Gorilla
http://www.hollywoodrepor...lid-594654
Review: Bruno Mars brings Moonshine Jungle to Staples Center
By Mikael Wood
July 28, 2013, 3:20 p.m.
Bruno Mars makes it look so easy.
Midway through his concert Saturday night at Staples Center, the style-skipping singer hushed his band to deliver a lesson in seduction -- “R&B 101,” he called it.
First he demonstrated his strategic use of the word “damn,” which he said communicates all kinds of romantic intent. Then he singled out a female fan near the stage and told her -- lied to her, really -- that by this point in his show he sometimes gets a little weary.
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“But then I see your smile and I just want to keep singing for the rest of my life,” he said, adding with a grin, “You can put that one in your pocket, fellas.”
Such knowing finesse has made Mars one of the most successful acts in pop, with a string of smartly crafted No. 1 singles (including “Grenade,” “Just the Way You Are” and “Locked Out of Heaven”) and sold-out arena gigs such as Saturday’s, the first of two at Staples on his Moonshine Jungle tour.
Its name comes from “Moonshine,” the opener in his set and a shimmering highlight from Mars’ second album, “Unorthodox Jukebox,” which has sold more than 1 million copies since it came out in December.
That doesn’t mean Mars is coasting. In addition to his own work, he’s written, produced and appeared on tunes by a number of other artists, and Saturday, his chest -- visible through the open neck of a wide-collared shirt that gave him the vibe of either a pimp or an early ’70s cab driver -- gleamed with sweat.
But unlike some new-media adepts who’ve struggled to meet the demands of real-world stardom, Mars, 27, seems completely at home onstage, a natural performer with a second skin of leather and polyester.
His preparation runs deep.
PHOTOS: Concert photos by The Times
A pint-sized Elvis impersonator during his childhood in Hawaii, he moved to Los Angeles after high school and spent the next half-decade here playing “bars, clubs, pubs and strip clubs,” as he put it Saturday.
In early 2010, he and his production crew, the Smeezingtons, scored hits with B.o.B.’s “Nothin’ on You” and Travie McCoy’s “Billionaire” (both of which featured Mars’ vocals), and later that year, he released his solo debut, “Doo-Wops & Hooligans.”
Now he fields calls like the one he recently received from the Grammy Awards’ Ken Ehrlich, who asked him to jam with Rihanna, Sting and two of Bob Marley’s sons on the 2013 telecast.
Backed Saturday by a crack eight-piece band no less invested in the performance than Mars was, the singer drew on that varied experience at Staples, in a show that felt like a vigorous survey of tactics and moods, from the stripped-down piano ballad "When I Was Your Man” to the busy '50s-era rock of "Runaway Baby" to "Treasure," Mars' current soul-funk single, during which a giant disco ball reflected dozens of bright gold lights.
In “Moonshine” and “Natalie,” a video screen behind the stage flashed images of wild animals, while sparkly confetti rained down on the crowd during a ferocious rendition of “Locked Out of Heaven.” (Media outlets including The Times were barred from photographing Saturday's concert, which seemed like a wasted opportunity; Mars’ tasteful application of arena-show trickery could serve as an example to young stars still figuring out what to do with a room this size.)
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A close follower of pop history, he drew lines between his songs and those that preceded them, as when he mashed up “Billionaire” and “Money (That’s What I Want)” and later dropped bits of Ginuwine’s “Pony” and Ghost Town DJs’ “My Boo” into his mid-’90s-R&B homage “Our First Time.”
And before he sang “If I Knew,” he said he had “a special place in my heart for old-school music”; the openly Sam Cooke-inspired slow jam, he admitted, was his “attempt to write an old-school song.”
Mars did well by all these signifiers; his shrewdly respectful synthesis of tradition and novelty shared something with that of Beyoncé, whose own summer tour touched down at the same venue last month.
But where she maintains plenty of space for herself -- for the myth of Beyoncé -- at the center of her show, Mars often seemed happy to disappear into the music, which in a way sets him apart.
Pop stars in 2013 tend to make themselves reducible to a single motivating idea: Lady Gaga’s love of the underdog, for instance, or Taylor Swift’s determination to redress romantic wrongs.
In its boundless energy and seemingly effortless precision, Mars’ performance is about performance itself -- about how giving yourself over to show business can actually serve as a kind of liberating force.
The harder he played, the easier it appeared to get.
http://www.latimes.com/en...full.story
Famous Females Flock to the Bruno Mars Concert at the Staples Center
Taking in a fun summer concert, lots of celebs headed to the Bruno Mars show at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Saturday night (July 27).
Mixing her seasons, Ashley Greene wore a long-sleeved red sweater with tiny shorts while Hailee Steinfeld wore a pretty white blouse, black jacket, and white and black patterned pants.
Nearby, Audrina Patridge rocked a midriff-baring, off-the-shoulder white T-shirt and distressed jeans as she headed inside.
Teaming up for a great night out Miranda Cosgrove and Jennette McCurdy arrived in style with the "iCarly" beauty wearing a lacy black sleeveless top and black pants while her fellow Nickelodeon star wore a white, black and red jacket, and black leggings.
Overwhelmed by the show's success, Bruno himself tweeted, "L.A im speechless. That was a very surreal and special show for me tonight. Thank You Thank You Thank You!!"
http://gossipcenter.com/a...ter-896478
July 28th, 2013, 1:46 pm ·
His headlining debut at the arena solidifies his standing as one of the sharpest new talents in pop.
Bruno Mars paused late into the first of two sold-out shows at Staples Center Saturday night to look out at all the people screaming for him. He smiled, maybe a little amazed, but definitely delighted by the success he's enjoying right now.
Set list: Bruno Mars at Staples Center
Main set: Moonshine / Natalie / Treasure / Money (That's What I Want) (Barrett Strong cover) > Billionaire / Show Me / Marry You / If I Knew / Runaway Baby / Nothin' on You / When I Was Your Man / Grenade / Just the Way You Are
Encore: Locked Out Of Heaven / Gorilla
"I've been living here for 10 years," the 27-year-old said of his hometown since leaving his native Hawaii. "We've played so many pubs and clubs, strip clubs and ...
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She wouldn't be Locked Out Of Heaven! Ashley Greene rocks a pair of denim Daisy Dukes as she heads to Bruno Mars' concert
By CAROLYN HIBLEN
PUBLISHED: 19:11 EST, 28 July 2013 | UPDATED: 19:50 EST, 28 July 2013
She regularly hits the gym to keep her figure trim and toned.
And Twilight star Ashley Greene showed off the results of her hard work as she watched Bruno Mars perform at the Staples Center in Downtown Los Angeles on Saturday night.
The 26-year-old rocked out in a pair of denim Daisy Dukes and black ankle boots teamed with a colourful red knit jumper that was rolled up at the sleeves.
Looking toned, tanned and terrific, the actress stood out from the crowd with her stunning movie-star good looks, accentuated by minimal dewy bronzed make-up and her hair in a pretty braided up-do.
Joining newly-engaged pals Jesse Metcalfe and Cara Santana at AQUAhydrate's exclusive pre-party at Hyde Lounge prior to the concert, it was clearly a night to remember for the star, who later took to Twitter to rave about her evening.
'I'm in love ... With @BrunoMars music and stage presence. Such an amazing show!' she tweeted her more than two million followers after the impressive concert.
Also at the star-studded Moonshine Jungle Tour was Glee star Amber Riley, who looked to be in good spirits despite her recent personal loss.
The 27-year-old joined her castmates for a touching 'emotional celebration' of co-star Cory Monteith's short life on Thursday, following his shock death on July 13.
Meanwhile, former The Hills star Audrina Patridge left her other half, Australian BMXer Corey Bohan, at home for the night out, the effects of which she was apparently feeling the next morning.
'Too much red bull last night... The heart palpitations begin :/,' she tweeted of her non-alcoholic overindulgence.
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Brandi Glanville continued her penchant for stepping out in barely-there, nude-coloured clothing, though thankfully she managed to avoid another wardrobe malfunction this time around.
A beige strapless bandage top only just managed to contain her sizable assets, while cropped torn jeans, strappy stilettos and a fringed clutch completed the 40-year-old's outfit.
Extra co-host Mario Lopez made it a date night with heavily pregnant wife Courtney Mazza, who is reportedly due to give birth to the couple's second child in September.
The baby will join the newlyweds' daughter Gia, who turns three that same month.
The former Saved by the Bell star, who is a long-time Bruno Mars fan, joined in on the celebrity rave reviews following the concert, tweeting, 'Ok... Everything about @BrunoMars is cool. Awesome show!! Throwback feel, classic style.. Seen him in concert 3 times now. He's the best.'
http://www.dailymail.co.u...ds-newsxml