Review | Justin Bieber at Sprint Center

(Photo by Joe Ledford | The Kansas City Star | More photos here.)

He arrived inside the arena virtually, as a winged image flying from one side to the other. Then the lights went up and the real Justin Bieber arrived inside the Sprint Center, airborne and winged again. He descended to the stage, where his band and a troupe of dancers awaited him, and for the next 90 minutes put on a show that kept much of the sold-out arena on its feet, singing and screaming and screaming some more.

(Photo by Joe Ledford | The Kansas City Star | More photos here.)

These days, Bieber, 18, is still an eminent pop idol, but he is approaching the crossroads every teen star faces: the transition to adult star. For now, his fans are primarily young girls, teens and tweens, and he caters to them and their puppy-love innocence. But it also seems evident that he is plotting a slow move towards the adults table, a move few have navigated, though his successful role model seems to be another Justin (Timberlake).

Bieber is touring off his third album, “Believe,” which is also the name of this tour, also his third. His set list included 10 of its 13 songs. Though the album is barely four months old, the audience reacted to each of its songs as loudly and feverishly as it did the older material.

He opened with a new one, “All Around the World,” setting the table for what would follow: -- music, dance,f ireworks, lasers, flashpots, confetti storms, plenty of costume and wardrobe changes and lots of video accompaniment. His songs are blasts of percussive confections, melodic and groovy and superficially rewarding. The long list of songwriters and producers who contribute to his material includes names like Max Martin, who helped make N’ Sync and the Backstreet Boys famous.

There was plenty of visual candy, too. The stage changed sets several times. For a while it was a large ship of some sort. During “She Don’t Like the Lights,” as he and his dancers delivered the live goods, the enormous video screen showed footage of Bieber, looking very matinee idol in a black suit and tie, playing what looked like the hero of some espionage film, running and leaping from one rooftop to the next, dropping bad guys along the way. 

The night felt like one long blitzkrieg of of song, dance, ear-piercing screams and visual flash, but a few moments generated more noise than others: “One Time” and “Eenie Meenie,” two of his earliest hits, “Beauty and a Beat,” which featured some virtual vocal accompaniment from Nicki Minaj; “Beautiful,” when he was joined by one of his openers (and his protégé) Carly Rae Jepsen; and one of his encores, “Boyfriend,” a track from “Believe” that has become his biggest U.S. hit (it reached No. 2).

During a couple of those wardrobe changes, the video screen showed documentary footage of Bieber’s rise from a precocious tot who wanted to be a crossing guard when he grew up to the aspiring singer soon to be plucked from a teeming sea of YouTube performers and thrust into international stardom. He comes off as a polite, hardworking kid with a sense of humility and a sense of humor. There’s no telling right now whether he has enough of the other goods he’ll need to stay airborne and cruise into a career as a multi-media entertainer of young adults. He’ll need some growth and refining. But he seems grounded enough to do it.

Setlist: All Around the World; Take You; U Smile/That Should Be Me (acapella); Catching Feelings; One Time; Eenie Meenie; Somebody to Love; Love Me Like You Do; She Don’t Like the Lights; Die In Your Arms; Beautiful (with Carly Rae Jepsen); Out of Town Girl; Be Alright; Fall; Never Say Never; Beauty and a Beat; One Less Lonely Girl; As Long As You Love Me; Believe. Encore: Boyfriend; Baby.

To reach Timothy Finn, call 816-234-4781 or send email to tfinn@kcstar.com.

Comments

[Lazy]

-insert nasty comment here-

[Steve J]

Fair review, gave them a good show, ticket prices fair. FYI Taylor Swift August 2 & 3 guessing Sprint Center. She is going everywhere in 2013 I saw Omaha, Des Moines, Wichita, Tulsa.

[913KCKKID]

We are a sad and pathetic people

[lettsrock]

25 years ago on 10/26/87 U2 played Kemper. That show set a really high standard for live shows for me. I'll never forget the feeling asthe opening notes of "Where the Streets Have No Name" rang out and the stage became bathed in red.

I didn't have the same feeling at the Bieber show last night, but seeing the look in my daughter's eyes as she got lost in the spectacle was just as cool as Bono asking me to play his guitar.

[913KCKKID]

HERESY! Comparing U2 or Bono to Justin Bieber. Good God forgives us for our ignorance and stupidity and help me remember where I left the Ambien.

[Steve J]

I know what you mean lettsrock, parents make sacrifices, like seeing Justin Bieber.

[Kurt]

The review said it was sold out. How many were at the show?

[Foster]

The saddest part is greed.

As with the oil, Wallstreet and car towing industry, the music business is all about greed and making money. And when the executives look out they see the greatest amount of money today can be made from acts appealing to girls aged 12-17, spending their parents money.

Too bad these acts will not be in 5-10 years. These acts like Hanna Montana, Back Strret Boys and other "hollow/no talent" acts take their 5% of the profits and go away, like a used up Don King Boxer.

The music business does not build for the future, it wants its money today and they basically ignore the rest of the market and genres, then 10-15 year down the road they start whining that the music business is hurting.

Maybe if they had not been so short sighted 10-15 years ago and so focused on making money in the moment, then the industry might not be in the shambles it is.

[Marcos]

Tim, are the rumors that he sells his best seats to ticket brokers before fans true? Second question: are all of the big acts doing this currenty?

[Foster]

Of course every act is doing this, even the Stones did it (actually the they sold control of their concerts/tickets to Richard Branson and he did it)

The whole music industry these days is nothing but whores and pimps, from concerts to itunes to radio (all stations nationwide owned by 3 pimps) to ect etc.

It is disgusting and has little to do with dancing to the music.

[Steve J]

Saw a reprint concert poster today. It was the Beatles at Shea stadium, $5 ticket price, I am sure people complained about that price.

[onthemark]

"The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side."

Hunter S Thompson

[NEW]

"HERESY! Comparing U2 or Bono to Justin Bieber. Good God forgives us for our ignorance and stupidity and help me remember where I left the Ambien."

I think Letsrock was comparing his daughters reaction to JB to his reaction to U2 in 1987. Not actually comparing the two bands there.

Name one time in the last 60 years when there has not been one (or multiple) Justin Biebers at the top of the charts. No point in getting into a twist about it.

[Robert Log]

At least they got a good light show... the LD is the dude from Phish.

[Foster]

"The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side."

Hunter S Thompson
===========================

WHOA!!! I did not know that quote. I was speaking from my heart... maybe channeling the great Hunter S.

Thanks otm.

I was actually expecting to get slammed (again) today, for posting my opinion.... but surprisingly enough, not much dissent.

Soooo.... while were are all in the right mood, Can I get everyone on board against the Crossroads KC?... THAT PLACE SUCKS!! Talk about whoring out the music for a fast buck and doing it a dump that gives nothing back, makes no improvements.

[Hamster]

At least from my perspective, far too many lines devoted to the review of Biebs. Would have liked to have seen more than a few of those spent on a lengthier RHCP review, but that's just me.

And while I'm at it, why not stir up the dump troll? I have seen more than just a few good shows at Crossroads KC, and their ticket prices can't be beat given the acts they present on stage.

[Cami Bieber!!💗✌]

Was the one less lonely girl an actress she didn't seem all that excited and he ran off with her backstage?!