On July 27th, Chris Brown took the stage at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, delivering a sold-out show to a packed crowd of over 19,000 fans. American R&B artist and singer-songwriter, Muni Long, opened the show to an eager crowd, playing many of her hits including, “Made For Me” and “Hrs & Hrs”. With a DJ facilitating the transitions throughout the night, there was a brief break after Long’s captivating set before the lights dimmed for Chris Brown to take the stage.

Full gallery and review by Kianna Sumitani.

Off the get-go, the creative crew behind this tour was top-notch, with production design and choreography shining through, seamlessly divided into four distinct acts, each representing a different element: Fire, Water, Air, and Earth. From the red lighting and explosive pyro to the intimate, stripped-down final moments, Brown's performance was a dynamic showcase of his versatile artistry. And in case you haven’t seen him perform live, this show truly demonstrated Chris Brown’s quality as a singer and dancer, impressively maintaining high energy throughout his two-hour set.

Act 1: Fire

After the 11:11 tour intro which included a video montage displayed on a screen, the monitors were brought up, revealing Brown who was standing on a pedestal in the centre of the stage. Getting right into “Angel Number / Ten Toes”, “Run Away” and “That’s on You”, immediately established the mood of the entire production. The stage was transformed into a breakdance arena, reminiscent of a street-style show. LED strips and background visuals added to the edgy, urban vibe. “Fire” was the first act of many, but it was clear that this show was a celebration of Brown's dance skills, with the choreography taking center stage. With more than 10 dancers being brought out or jumping out of the stage cut-outs at the front of the stage, the crowd was cheering from start to finish. With the intermission between acts featured a DJ set and displaying a live feed of fans dancing, the energy was kept high while Chris Brown and his crew changed outfits to transition to the next segment of the show.

Act 2: Water

With the lights dimming once again, Brown appeared on stage to begin Act 2, “Water”, wearing a blue sparkly jacket and many of the dancers repping in blue balaclava-like coverings. With the stage now featuring a 45-degree tilt, the thought behind this show continued to remain evident. Utilizing lasers during the performance of “Bruce Lee”, “Privacy” and “Indigo”, not to mention a surprise verse covering Drake’s chorus of “Rich Baby Daddy” which caused a stir in the crowd. Brown then performed a cover of Nicki Minaj’s “Only”, ending as he gets launched into the air, seemingly floating over to the mini-stage located at the back of the arena’s floor where he finished up a majority of this act before being transported back to the main stage.

Act 3: Air

The third act of the night was "Air", where Brown appeared in a white shirt, green baggy jeans, and a green hat, starting this section with a red "Press Me" button on the screen behind him. This act featured more than ten dancers and dance was the main element of this act. The only downside to this set was the simple screen paired behind the dancers, which displayed stock-like images of different locations including, pyramids, cityscapes, etc. Chris Brown did, however, showcase his dancing ability doing more than just keeping up with his dancers, even pulling out a moonwalk. With his solo stage moments throughout the set, his performance was heightened via the tilted stage and the production’s use of C02, playing tracks such as "Don't Judge Me," performed under a blue spotlight, and "Residuals," featuring a drop-down retro-style silver mic. This act ended with a series of slower, ballad-style R&B tracks, including a cover of Jordin Sparks' "No Air."

Act 4: Earth

The final act, "EARTH," was the shortest but packed a punch. Dressed in a grey outfit with jorts, a t-shirt, and a hat, Brown brought the energy to a peak with the use of fireworks, which exploded from the corners of the stage. While unsure if the extreme sounds of the fireworks were intentional, the only critique of this act was it was much shorter than the rest and the abruptness of the fireworks visibly startled a number of fans. Nonetheless, this act included "No Guidance," and the section ended with a bang…literally.

Outtro

The show's outro was a nostalgic trip down memory lane with a random song generator featuring classic Chris Brown hits like "Kiss Kiss," "Deuces," and "With You." This segment was stripped down, with no dancers and minimal visuals, creating an intimate atmosphere even in the vast arena. Bringing the dancers back to the stage, Brown closed the night with "Loyal," sending the crowd off on a high note.

Final Thoughts

Chris Brown's performance at Rogers Arena was a testament to his skills as a true performer. The two-hour set was a high-energy journey through his discography, complemented by impressive dance routines and a well-thought-out stage design. The visuals were simple yet effective, allowing the focus to remain on the dance-heavy set. The pit was spacious, providing great opportunities for media photographers, and the crowd was on their feet dancing all night. Demonstrating his calibre of performance, Chris Brown is a must-see artist if you haven’t already bought tickets for this tour.