IT was a capacity crowd at Burswood Dome as they eagerly awaited one of the sexiest musicians in the world, Justin Timberlake.
Theatrics was the name of the game with a circular split-level stage, sheer moving screens and over-the-top lighting effects promising more than your standard performer propped at a piano.
As Timberlake emerged from the centre of the stage and the screen slowly rose, the crowd went bananas. Timberlake launched straight into Future Sex/Love.
A consumate showman, Timberlake mixed it up with beat-boxing, breakdancing and moves that gave Usher a run for his money. He also played bass guitar, guitar keyboard and the piano.
The set list was all a devoted fan could hope for, with a mix of old and new tracks including Like I Love You, Rock Your Body, Cry Me a River, Senorita, Sexy Back, My Love, Lovestoned and his latest single, Summer Love.
He also paid homage to his N’Sync days with a rendition of Gone, but the two main highlights were unquestionably What Goes Around and Losing My Way, a moving ballad that involved violinists and a gospel choir.
While Timberlake never moved through the crowd, a wise decision on his part, he was constantly interacting with the audience.
On the flipside, he is an amusing character - reminiscing of a previous visit to Australia when he was swooped by a “gangster of the air”, or magpie.
Points of difference for this show was an intermission that made it feel more like a theatre production than anything else. The music in between the two halves ensured the crowd stayed pumped. There was only a brief support act by Paris Wells, which many appreciated as it meant Timberlake performed longer than your average artist, with over two hours of entertainment ensuring punters got their money’s worth.
With his impressive falsetto, sleek moves and tailored suit, Timberlake proved you don’t have to strut your six-pack to be sexy.
