Fall Concert Series 2.0: Bruno Mars

Bruno Mars was dripping in Finesse as he opened his 24K Magic World Tour at The Nassau Coliseum on Long Island with his song “Finesse.”

I’ll have to say, I was surprised when he did not open the show with “24 K Magic,” the first song on his 24K Magic album and, obviously, the name of his tour. That is exactly why I loved the show: Bruno does not do what is expected; instead he allows his creativity to flourish and leaves us feeling refreshed after every song.

Bruno’s funky style attracts people of all ages and from all different backgrounds, which was highly evident as I skimmed the crowd: there was a young kid behind me and a group of racially diverse older ladies dancing up a storm in the section over from me. The ability for Bruno’s artistry to bring so many different types of people under one roof to celebrate him and his music is extraordinary.

Bruno is the epitome of what a talented musician is. The downfall for many pop artists that I notice is their inability to focus on their vocals during a live performance because they are too busy dancing and running around the stage. However, Bruno makes his moves and powerful singing look as if he could do both in his sleep (he probably can).

Another thing I appreciate about Bruno is that he stays true to his band, The Hooligans. In matching baseball-style shirts, they all animatedly moved about the stage, never missing a step or a note on their guitars and horns. I enjoy how much Bruno seems to appreciate his band with how involved they are in the performance.He did give them a break during an extended version of “Just the Way You Are.”

The great thing about an artist like Bruno Mars is that he has so many songs that the concert ends up being a perfect mix of old and new. About the first two thirds of the concert consisted of his 24K Magic songs, during which he strutted his stuff on the color-blocked stage to songs such as “Straight Up and Down” and “Chunky.” Bruno’s goofy personality shined through when he and The Hooligans sat down and posed for the crowd to take photos and post them on Instagram. The last third of the show consisted of some of his biggest hits, including “Grenade,” and “Marry You,” which is my personal favorite. Bruno almost had me in tears during his pianist-accompanied “Just the Way You Are” with his soothing, yet strong voice and emotion pouring from his lips.

Bruno packed the show with a whopping 16 songs, with his encore consisting of “Locked Out of Heaven” and “Uptown Funk.” Between the strobe lights and booming indoor fireworks, the audience could never get bored. I am certain, though, that even if it was just a huge stage and Bruno with his guitar and microphone, it would be an equally thrilling show.