Concert Review :Chris Brown, "Breezy Bowl" @ Nationals Stadum

. (Photo Credit: Jamece “Mecie” Gold)

Nostalgia and showmanship filled the air on Thursday, October 9th, when Chris Brown performed the final show of his “Breezy Bowl XX” tour stop in Washington, D.C. Bryson Tiller and Jhené Aiko were the opening acts, while DJ Fresh kept the crowd entertained throughout the night.

Having seen Chris live twice before in arenas, I was curious to experience what he would bring to a stadium after twenty years in the industry. As my companion and I made our way to our seats, we noticed the diverse backgrounds of Breezy fans, which was refreshing to see.

Bryson Tiller took the stage first, but he did little to win me over as a fan. Dressed in typical hip-hop attire and relying on pre-recorded tracks, Tiller’s eight-song set included “Inhale,” “Sorry Not Sorry,” “Ciao,” “Wild Thoughts,” and “Don’t.” While I didn’t expect a knockout performance from him, it would have been nice if he had offered more than glorified trap soul karaoke.

After about ten minutes, Jhené Aiko had her moment in the spotlight. Although I am not her target demographic, Aiko had the women in the audience singing along word for word. Her set featured songs like “While We’re Young,” “It’s A Vibe,” “The Worst,” and “Post To Be.” Aiko deserves credit for her elaborate stage show, which included dancers and effects; however, given her vocal range and singing style, stadiums might not be the best setting for her performances.

DJ Fresh then took the stage, entertaining the crowd and setting the momentum for Mr. Brown, who appeared around 8:40 PM. Opening with his debut single “Run It,” Chris took the audience on a journey through his twenty-year career, performing a fifty-song setlist. The appeal of Brown’s latest tour is that it mirrors Usher’s “Past, Present, Future” tour from last year.

Brown structured the show into four acts: “The Rise” (early material), “The Fall” (recent material), “The Fantasy” (slow jams), and “The Legacy” (biggest hits). Like most of the audience, I was on my feet for the majority of the evening, enjoying high-energy tracks like “Yeah 3x” and “Turn Up The Music,” as well as ballads such as “Say Goodbye” and “Residuals,” and slow jams like “Take You Down,” “Wet The Bed,” and “2012,” which sent the ladies into a frenzy.

While Brown boasts pristine choreography and impressive effects, such as flying through the air, I would have loved to see him backed by a live band. Nevertheless, his talent is undeniable, and Breezy Bowl XX is a defining moment in his career.

Final Grade: A-