Maxwell’s Black Summer Nights Tour captivates

By ANTHONY McPEACE

North Little Rock’s Verizon Arena provided the perfect backdrop for a exemplary evening of music as Maxwell’s Blacksummernight’s Tour captivated the A-State. A crowd of 5,639 took in a magnificent display of energy from three Grammy award winning artists and reciprocated by providing the stars with intense and invariable adulation for the next four hours.

The dynamic tones of songstress Chrisette Michelle ignited the grown-and-sexy crowd seconds after the Verizon Arena fell dark. Sexy in all black, the young starlet commanded the stage like a seasoned vet, gliding through her already impressive collection of hits

A confident swagger was evident in every step Common took toward the single microphone as a wave of adulation greeted him. The most impressive thing about Commons impeccable set wasn;t the songs he performed but the hits he didn’t perform. Classic Hip Hop cuts like “The Corner” and “I Used To Love H.E.R” were conspicuous in their absence but not missed as the legendary MC worked a complete set including paying homage to everyone from Earth, Wind and Fire to the Fugees.

An extended break did nothing but intensify the ungoverned anticipation for the night’s featured artist, Maxwell. Razor sharp in a black suit and tie Maxwell hit the stage with a reckless abandon, working up a sweat in the first five minutes of his show, tearing through a seemingly endless array of hits that included, “Dancewitme,” “Get To Know Ya,” and “Bad Habits.”

Maxwell returned to the Y-shaped stage for more sensual cuts like “This Woman’s Work” and an erotic rendition of “Til The Cops Come Knockin'.” The flawless night was brought to a harmonious end when, after nearly two astounding hours, white feathers cascaded from above as Maxwell performed his latest hit, “Pretty Wings.” The feathers resembling snowflakes befit perfectly the evening’s brisk air.

Not even the bitter clutches of Mother Nature could extinguish the final hint of Summer delivered courtesy of Chrisette Michelle, Common and Maxwell. An extremely appreciative crowd even motivated Maxwell to make them a promise they hope he will keep. “I’m going to make this the first and last stop of every tour I do from now own.” “I love you.”

Perfect.

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