What to know
- Chris Brown and Usher kicked off their two-night Toronto run at Rogers Stadium with a nearly sold-out crowd and a set packed with R&B and pop hits.
- From “Yeah!” and “Party” to “Wall to Wall” and “Deuces,” the set leaned heavily on 2000s hits, backed by live vocals, choreography and Brown’s signature aerial moments.
- The biggest tip for concertgoers? Plan your exit ahead of time, as crowds, cars and rideshare demand can make leaving Rogers Stadium a challenge.
Chris Brown and Usher just performed the first night of their R&B Tour at Rogers Stadium, and it was exactly what you’d expect: nostalgic, energetic and packed with hits.
The duo took to the stage Tuesday night for the first of two shows at Rogers Stadium, performing for a nearly sold-out crowd that seemed ready to sing and dance along to every song.
The nostalgia surrounding Brown’s catalogue also sits alongside a serious part of his public history. Brown pleaded guilty in 2009 to felony assault in connection with an attack on Rihanna.
This was my fifth show at Rogers Stadium, but my first from the Rogers North Lodge decks, which included access to the American Express Lounge and its food and beverage offerings. The lounge is accessible to all American Express card users.
The bowl opened with a DJ set by DJ Fresh at 7 p.m., playing some of the best throwback pop and R&B tracks to get the crowd hyped. And yes, the crowd was certainly hyped. You rarely go to a concert where the pre-show DJ set feels like a concert of its own, but Tuesday’s show felt like a double bill. While I was more than ready for Brown and Usher to take the stage, saying goodbye Fresh was honestly bittersweet.
Brown and Usher kicked off their portion of the show around 8:30 p.m., and, best believe, the crowd was on its feet, and stayed there for the rest of the show. Myself included.
They opened their set with hits including “Yeah!,” “Party,” “Poppin,” “Wall to Wall,” “Bad Girl” and “Deuces.”
For a moment, it really did feel like 2007 all over again. When Brown started performing “Wall to Wall,” I was literally dancing from wall to wall. Nothing else mattered in that moment.
Between the live vocals, synchronized choreography and, of course, Brown’s signature flights across the stadium suspended in the air, the show felt like a true stadium-level production. The duo proved exactly why they belonged in that space.
The premium experience
The Rogers North Lodge access also included entry to the American Express Lounge, where food and drinks are available alongside a multi-course dining option from Liberty Oak View Entertainment.
The menu included Miami-style short ribs, Korean dumplings and matcha churro poutine. I wasn’t able to try everything, but the added food and lounge options made the premium experience noticeably different from a standard stadium visit.
Between the setlist, crowd energy and stadium-scale production, the night largely delivered on the throwback appeal the tour is built around.
One thing to know before you go
If you’re heading to night two of Toronto’s leg of The R&B Tour, or any concert at the stadium, my biggest tip is to plan your exit.
Leaving the stadium can feel like it takes a lifetime, with crowds and cars flooding the area at the same time. Transit is truly your best option. If you’re planning to take an Uber, be prepared for a potentially long wait, that was my one and only mistake from the show.
The difficult exit aside, Brown and Usher delivered the kind of polished, hit-heavy stadium show their fans came for. For anyone looking to revisit the R&B and pop soundtrack of the 2000s, there was plenty here to satisfy that nostalgia.
Whatever section you were sitting in, the crowd reaction suggested plenty of people left with exactly the night they came for.
Editor’s note: This article was updated on Aug. 12 to disclose that Liberty Oak View Entertainment provided the writer with complimentary premium tickets and lounge access.
Disclosure: Liberty Oak View Entertainment invited Now Toronto to experience the Rogers North Lodge premium food and beverage offerings featured in this review. LOVE had no editorial input or approval over the coverage, and Now Toronto received no payment for it.
