Review of his last show in Newcastle yesterday (Nov. 25)
Review: Bruno Mars at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle
26 Nov 2013 10:10
Pop sensation Bruno Mars and his brilliant backing band lit up a sold-out Arena with a set that rocked, swung, glittered and grooved
Pop sensation Bruno Mars and his brilliant backing band lit up a sold-out Arena with a set that rocked, swung, glittered and grooved.
The Hawaiian-born 28-year-old, who burst on to the scene in 2010 with the hit single Just the Way You Are, arrived in Newcastle on the final night of his worldwide Moonshine Jungle tour.
On a cold November night, the temperature inside the Arena soon reached boiling point as the band kicked off with Moonshine.
Followed by Natalie and Treasure , Bruno and his backing musicians, The Hooligans, insisted that everybody stood up and danced and everybody duly obliged and stayed on their feet for the rest of the show.
The bulk of the set came from his two mega-platinum albums Doo-Wops and Hooligans, and Unorthodox Jukebox, with a couple of old hits cleverly mixed in including Money (That’s What I Want).
In an era when much of pop is manufactured and soulless, Bruno takes us effortlessly back to a 60s and 70s golden age when music was played live, loud and proud.
Indeed he was recently described by the influential Rolling Stone magazine as ‘pop’s golden child.’
His outstandingly talented soul band cooked up a musical storm and had the packed Arena crowd dancing in the aisles.
Highlights, of which there were many, included Marry You, Runaway Baby and When I Was Your Man.
Special mention must be made of the brass section who danced around the stage while never missing a note, and Bruno’s brother Eric Hernandez who packs a mean beat behind his giant DW drum kit.
Bruno’s band, led by his production partner Philip Lawrence, were crucial to the performance, keeping the energy high and the atmosphere electric. Everyone in the eight-piece set-up appeared to be having a ball.
Bruno is a young man with an old soul voice and has been compared with all-time greats such as James Brown, Michael Jackson and Prince - and rightly so.
His music blends the best American/Hawaiian/Cuban styles and the end result is utterly refreshing in the music scene of 2013.
The multitalented singer holds high notes, leads choreographed dances, plays electric guitar, plays acoustic guitar, plays drums, engages the crowd and flirts outrageously with the audience.
A sensational night from a great band and singer. Bruno’s first visit to Newcastle displayed impeccable musicianship and good old-fashioned entertainment values rarely seen today. The harmonies were sensational and the lights, pyro technics and huge glitterball thrilled a feverish crowd.
After a beautiful rendition of Just The Way You Are the band closed with Locked Out of Heaven.
There’s a new King of Pop.
http://www.chroniclelive....io-6341727