With 16 shows already under his belt for the North America leg of his Breezy Bowl XX Tour, Chris Brown landed in Los Angeles Saturday night (Sept. 13) for the first of a two-date stand at SoFi Stadium. And during the two-time Grammy winner’s 2 ½-hour set, Brown proved once more what a consummate artist/performer he’s become as he celebrates 20 years in music with his legion of fans.
From the moment Brown rose up onstage to a standing ovation — buttressed by resounding cheers and shout-outs — to when he triumphantly exited alongside his team of masterful dancers, he kept the audience engaged the entire time. As noted by Billboard and in other media coverage since the tour’s U.S. leg kicked off on July 30 in Miami, Brown’s show is comprised of four acts complemented by various video segments, album cover images and photo flashbacks: Rise, Fall (during which Brown is seen on video addressing his legal issues over the years), Fantasy and Legacy. The most moving montage came towards the show’s end, in which Brown is seen interacting with his three children.
During each of the acts, an indefatigable Brown performs key songs associated with those time periods in his career. Drawing from an estimable catalog of 50+ hits and fan faves, the set list ranges from “Run It!” (his first Hot 100 No. 1 in 2005), “Gimme That” and “Ayo” to “Deuces,” “She Ain’t You,” “Kiss Kiss” and other points in between. Among the songs garnering raves and raucous sing-alongs from Saturday night’s audience were “Loyal,” “She Ain’t You,” “Under the Influence,” “Yeah 3x,” “No Guidance” and “Sensational.”
Brown’s agile tenor-to-falsetto vocals remain just as supple as his still superlative dancing skills. He was in constant motion throughout the show: whirling, twirling and twisting in tandem with maneuvering fleet-footed, endlessly smooth moves that defy the eyes — reminiscent of Michael Jackson, whose Bad album image was featured on one of the T-shirts that Brown wore during his performance. Just as fluid were the moves being made by his team of female and male dancers, who helped maintain the evening’s high energy level.
As did the rabid fans who packed SoFi Stadium from its rafters to the ground floor. Their excitement and pre-show anticipation were palpable prior to the 8:25 p.m. start time. Long lines of fans stretched in front of the merch booth, while others cruised throughout the stadium to their seats and elsewhere in the venue wearing T-shirts emblazoned with Brown’s visage. Also adding to the anticipation: a giant balloon rendering of Brown stationed alongside the stage.
On either side of the stage were giant video screens which gave everyone in the venue a bird’s-eye view of Brown and his crew. Brown made engaging his fans a top priority, playing both the main stage but also working his way up and down a catwalk that midway along stretched into two long side extensions for him and his dancers to do their thing. At one point during the Fantasy act, Brown donned a harness and flew high over the crowd to perform on a platform located at the other end of the venue.
Admirably holding their own — and demonstrating how they’ve leveled up over the course of their own careers — were opening acts Summer Walker and Bryson Tiller. Also playing a key role was DJ Fresh, whose pre-show appearance set the tone for the evening as he took fans down memory lane with tracks by Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson, Too $hort and Selena while simultaneously pumping up anticipation with the query, “Where are my day-one Chris Brown fans?”
Acknowledging his fans before leaving the stage at 10:55 p.m., Brown said, in part, and to more cheers, “California, I just want to thank you all. I call this my home too. You’ve always come out and showed your support. I’m just really appreciative and thankful for everybody in this building tonight … I love you all so much.”
The one clear takeaway after the show: 20 years later, Chris Brown is still having fun — and has no intention of slowing down.
Marking Brown’s first stadium tour, Breezy Bowl XX kicked off in Europe in early June and wrapped its international leg in Paris in July. After launching its North American leg in Miami on July 30, Breezy Bowl concludes its two-night stand in Los Angeles Sunday, Sept. 14, then heads to San Diego (Sept. 17) and other stops, including Denver (Sept. 24), Atlanta (Oct. 3) and Washington, D.C. (Oct. 8), before closing in Memphis (Oct. 18).