George Micheal Twenty-Five Tour: Concert Review

Far surpassing expectations, George Michael put on a show worthy to compete with Justin's FutureSex/LoveShow for pure entertainment value. Concertgoers knew they were in for an excellent show from the time Michael arrived in an epic entrance, complete with blinding neon-lights and a giant doorway. After exiting, George got down in a way only George can. For those familiar with the pop legend, further explanation of his unique style of movement is unnecessary. After a dance-filled intro, Michael burst into "Fastlove," and, barring intermission, the audience barely sat down for the next three hours.

Focused mainly on the club tunes, Michael brought along spot-on soulful singers and an expert band, giving the often cold genre a significant boost of life. The somewhat middle-aged crowd looked mildly surprised at the modernity of tunes such as "Spinnin' the Wheel" and "Flawless (Go to the City)," but nevertheless got their groove on and broke out their best moves. After-all, no one was looking at them, as Michael put on a spectacle-filled show with giant screens and over-the-top dancing antics.

The atmosphere was pure dance-club, forget 80's retrospective nostalgia trip. However, Michael did perform his past hits interspersed cleverly through the more modern pieces. It is also of note that not every performance on this tour has the same set-list. I must admit I was left a bit disappointed that one of my favorites ("I Want Your Sex") was absent.

George gave heartfelt and capturing performances of some of his best work. Of significant mention was his performance of the masterpiece "Father Figure," which did not disappoint. Also performed were covers of both "Roxanne" and "Feeling Good." As the audience screamed in preparation for "Felling Good," Michael quipped "Shhh! This one sounds better without screaming. I promise."

Pleasantly surprising was the clarity of Michael's voice, be it a dance-track or a soulful ballad. This concert had possibly the best mixing in recent concert memory, with instruments and vocals clearly heard throughout the set. In a modern bass-filled world, a properly-mixed set is a dying art. In fact, the vocals almost sounded clearer than the original tracks in some instances. Imagine that.

The lack of dancers was surprisingly unnoticeable, most likely because giant screens depicted music videos and alternate footage of everything from futuristic dancers to electrified cityscapes. Much of the video footage was surprisingly racy, bordering on pornographic at times. So take note if you had planned on taking the kids.

In closing, this is one of the best concerts I've had the pleasure of attending. George Michael is a master entertainer, and there is no doubt this reviewer will be buying advance tickets to his next tour. In an era of uninspired entertainers and superstar wannabes, Michael shows just how rare a true artist really is.