Justin Timberlake’s “Forget Tomorrow”

I’ve been to countless concerts in my lifetime, but this concert had me counting some firsts.

This was the first concert I had ever seen with a DJ as an opening act.

DJ Andrew Hypes got the audience up and dancing, completely revved up by playing hits from multiple genres and multiple decades.  Hypes stage was at the opposite end of Timberlake’s stage all the way in the back of the venue on the ground floor of the arena. There was a VIP pit area surrounding the stage.

As the audience began to fill the American Airlines Center, the energy was completely heightened!  Justin Timberlake’s stage had no curtains or stage truss visible on either side. There was one huge LED video wall behind him that led us on a journey down a dirt road at sunset while we waited for Timberlake to take the stage.

Timberlake opened his show with” No Angels” released in 2024.  The setlist was a well-curated mix of his classic hits and newer tracks from his latest album. Timberlake’s vocal prowess shone through as he effortlessly delivered powerful performances of songs like “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” and “Cry Me a River.” Each song was met with enthusiastic cheers from the audience, creating a palpable energy throughout the venue.

The LED video wall had a distinguishable vertical rectangle that stood out, and eventually, literally did stand out. It slid forward towards the audience, and then the top tilted down towards Timberlake and his band members until it was hovering above them. It was quite a sight to see.

Once hovering above them, the LED rectangle slowly rotated in circles above them. This was definitely a first in production for me. I had never seen anything like it before.  At one point, Timberlake disappeared with some of his musicians and backup singers and dancers into the floor, only to reappear within the audience, making his way towards the back of the venue where that DJ was originally spinning hits.

Once at that back, VIP stage, Timberlake played piano and acoustic guitar.

Timberlake’s signature falsetto vocals were highlighted throughout, showcasing his exceptional vocal range.  Timberlake’s choreography was sharp and engaging highlighting his skills as a dancer and performer.  I felt like he was at his absolute best while singing and playing acoustic guitar. For me, that made his performance complete.

He had a full band encompassing a horn section and back up dancers that were extremely talented and high energy.  The show culminated with that LED rectangle being a stage that Timberlake performed on top of and at the very end it tilted forward at an angle with Timberlake, suspended directly above the audience while tethered with chains. Again, a spectacle in stage performance like I had never seen.

After that, the LED video rectangle tilted upwards again, and Timberlake, after teetering on the edge, ducked back behind it as he said goodbye to the audience.  The stage design was innovative and elaborate complementing the music expertly.  It was an unforgettable experience for fans and myself as well.  One of the most heartfelt moments of the concert was his tribute to his fans, where he shared personal stories and expressed extreme gratitude for their support over the years. This connection with the audience made the show feel intimate and genuine.

Justin Timberlake is a consummate performer exhibiting outstanding stage presence, expertly expressed vocal ability, and an over the top stage performance that is unlike any other.

With Sincere Gratitude,