Reviews: Janet Jackson, Kenny Chesney, Britney Spears & More

This week we have compiled critical reviews of Janet Jackson performing live in Syracuse, NY for your reading enjoyment. Kenny Chesney of Kansas City, Mo .; Britney Spears of Bethlehem, Penn .; Evanescence / Lindsey Sterling of Mansfield, Conn .; Hall & Oates / Zug in Omaha, Neb .; Janelle Monáe in Toronto; and Radiohead in Montreal.

Anna C. JonesJanet JacksonJanet Jackson is in control of the BJCC’s Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., December 9th.Janet Jackson @ Lakeview Amphitheater in Syracuse, NY, July 18 – “Jackson, who gave birth to her first child a few months before she was 51 last year, has shown that being a single mother has not stopped her. She performed with a group of backup dancers for most of the songs, and looked particularly violent with her moves on songs like “Love Will Never (Without You)”, “If” and – of course – Rhythm Nation “. – Geoff Herbert / The Post Standard
Kenny Chesney @ Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Mon., July 14th – “As he jumped across the sprawling stage that had a large band and three huge video screens of live and taped footage, it seemed like a knee or an ankle to tweak. Instead of spending the rest of the evening indulging in his ingratiating talent, acting less like a conventional entertainer than the most enthusiastic member of the audience, Chesney regularly doubled in pain and playfully hobbled around a small radius at the end of the stage for them last hour of the show. “- Bill Brownlee / The Kansas City StarBritney Spears @ Sands Bethlehem Convention Center in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, July 17th -” The 23-song show was so closely choreographed that Spears literally spoke to the crowd twice: to say, ‘ What’s up, Bethlehem? ‘After the second song, her 2008 hit’ Womanizer ‘, then late on the show when she took a man out of the audience to dance with her on’ Freakshow ‘. ”- John J. Moser / The Morning CallBritney SpearsAndy Argyrakis / ConcertLivewire.comBritney Spears“B96 Jingle Bash”, Allstate Arena, Rosemont, Ill.Evanescence / Lindsey Sterling @ Xfinity Center in Mansfield, Mass., July 18th – “Sterling is a performance artist with a style of her own and brings energy to the stage along with original compositions that show not only her choreography but also her ability to narrate a story by strumming the violin. … [Evanescence’s] The music ranges from hard rock to metal and there have been numerous band changes over the years, with the exception of [Amy] Lee. She stays on top with powerful but ethereal vocals, like a mix of Pat Benatar and Enya. Lee is pretty good at the keyboard too. “- Patricia McAlpine / The Chronicle of the Sun
Hall & Oates / Train @ CenturyLink Center Omaha in Omaha, Neb., July 18 – “Although it was a night of well-known songs, the co-headline had a strange feeling. On the one hand, you had Train. On the other hand, Hall & Oates: “One brought R&B, soul and rock together in new ways and helped create a sound that represented an entire city while writing numerous classics. The other has a knack for making hits with catchy melodies and little substance. – Kevin Coffey / World-Herald Janelle MonáeJames HendershotJanelle MonáeThe Summer Spirit Festival at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Md.Janelle Monáe @ Rebel in Toronto, Ontario, July 16 – “There was also a joyously funny piece where she invited viewers to perform her own dance solos on stage to show how much attention she was paying to her crowd (at least in) the front rows) because she picked fans, each with their own style. “- Chris Rattan / NowRadiohead @ Bell Center in Montreal, Quebec, July 16 -” As always with this band, the details mattered a lot, whether it was guitarist Ed O’Brien’s faintly devastating backing vocals amid the lyrical movement of ‘ Weird Fishes ‘traded / Arpeggi’ or Jonny Greenwood expand the percussion section to a triple threat to ‘Bloom’, all skittering beats and aquatic atmospheres. But there was more joy than hard work, especially when the encores began with a scratchy ‘Bodysnatchers’ – Jonny Greenwood peeled his guitar like in 1993 – and Yorke good-naturedly shook off a false start in the finespun House of Cards. – Jordan Zivitz / Montreal Gazette

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