Usher brings Past Present Future to Houston with Bun B and Nia Long

Usher invited Houston to a pre-Thanksgiving celebration at Toyota Center on Wednesday night. It was a two-hour extravaganza full of sing-along hits and precision dancing, stripper poles and roller skates, celebrity sightings and a surprise appearance. He even brought dessert in the form of a daring audience game involving cherries.

As he walked through the crowd to a VIP area, Usher recognized actress Nia Long (“Love Jones,” “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”) sitting at a table with a friend. Just a few feet away was singer Al B. Sure!, who lives in Houston. He wrote and produced Usher’s self-titled debut album.

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“This man showed me the ropes, he wrote songs for me, he was patient with me. We’ve had some incredible moments together, but most of all, you’ve been a big brother to me,” Usher said, before the DJ played a bit of Sure’s 1988 hit “Nite and Day.” It was a sweet, unexpected moment.

Usher shouted out to Houston rappers Trae Tha Truth and Slim Thug in the crowd before introducing Bun B, who performed “Get Throwed” and “Int’l Players Anthem (I Choose You)” as Usher danced along. It doesn’t matter how many times Bun shows up at someone else’s show – Missy Elliott, Megan Thee Stallion – the crowd always goes wild for the King of the Trill.

Houston fans will return to Usher’s party for seconds and thirds. Two more shows are scheduled for Friday and Saturday in Houston. Usher wisely announced the Past Present Future tour in conjunction with his Super Bowl LVIII performance earlier this year, maximizing demand for tickets.

Before the main event, a DJ warmed up the crowd with a setlist of ’90s throwbacks including SWV, Keyshia and Ginuwine. A celebratory atmosphere arose that intensified as the night progressed.

The show is designed as a timeline of Usher’s career, rewinding three decades to his early R&B hits. The stage was divided into an upper and a lower section, which often featured live scenes with dancers. Long catwalks led to a smaller circular stage, and screens displayed images of Usher from throughout his career.

The sheer breadth of Usher’s catalog led to some songs being cut due to time constraints. The intro was clearly inspired by Michael Jackson: finger snaps, kick steps, sharp silhouettes and a fedora. There was even a riff on Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin'” during Usher’s own “Big.”

Usher is a clean, effortless dancer with a style that blends hip-hop, modern storytelling and Broadway. It made him a unique force in music. “You Make Me Wanna…” and “U Don’t Have to Call” were impressive displays of his skills along with several lively dancers.

He skated on “Don’t Waste My Time” and “Love in This Club.” He changed clothes several times, from sparkling vests to fur coats to apocalyptic couture. And finally, he took off his shirt to reveal his signature abs.

“Nice & Slow” and “U Got it Bad” were standout moments in showcasing his star power. Just Usher is wearing a white tank top and jeans. There were women on their feet in every place, not only singing, but also singing Feeling Songs like “Burn” and “Confessions” with her whole body.

After a few lines of “There Goes My Baby,” Usher moved through the crowd to play a game he called “Cherry on Top.” He would stop in front of a woman and either feed her a cherry or have her partner do it. Houston, you’re all wild.

The euphoric house energy of “Without You” was the perfect ending. The crowd was still buzzing as the lights came on and “Green Beans, Potatoes, Tomatoes” ushered in the next day’s Thanksgiving festivities.