A Night to Remember

Music plays an important role in our lives. It offers emotional expression and can even contribute to our mental well-being. We listen to music as a form of worship, celebrations, and healing. If you grew up in certain cultural backgrounds, your mom may have even woken you up early Saturday morning to the sound of old school music which could only mean one thing-it was time to clean the house!  We may also listen to music when we are sad because those lyrics resonate with how we are feeling and, in some ways, make us feel better. We listen to our favorite songs on repeat and if you grew up in the 90s, you probably made mix tapes using your tape player and the radio to record. My college roommate and I even had music playing in the background of our outgoing answering machine message. Basically, what I’m saying is that no matter who you are or what you’ve been through, music soothes our soul.

In addition to listening to music, I also enjoy going to concerts. I remember attending my first concert when I was ten years old. My Uncle Keeo and Nanny Vicki took me and a few other cousins to see MC Hammer. You couldn’t tell me anything. LOL

I’ve seen Maxwell, Mary J. Blige, Bel Biv Devoe, R. Kelly (twice), Beyonce (three times), Robin Thicke, Musiq Soulchild, several artists who performed at the Essence Music Festival in 2009 and then again in 2024. But let me tell you, the most legendary, entertaining, soul-satisfying concert I have ever experienced was Usher’s Past, Present, Future show in Houston last year.

I had high hopes that I would see his Vegas Residency show, but it never worked out. I think at that time, I wanted to go because of the hype behind it. Then I finally watched his Tiny Desk performance, and my interests were genuinely piqued. Now don't get me wrong, I've always been an Usher fan. But when he

released his “Coming Home” album-I knew. That was the moment I HAD to see him on tour. His latest album is for the grown and sexy and there is a song for everything! You wanna dance, there is a song, somebody broke your heart, there is a song, you found new love, there is a song, you want to set the "mood" right, you guessed it-there is a song! It is still in heavy rotation on my playlist even a year later and was my most listened to album on Spotify in 2024.

I was so committed to going to see him perform that all my family, friends and coworkers knew that I wanted to, NO, that I was going to see Usher at one of his shows. “Webster, will you get my paper off the printer?” “Yep, for Usher tickets”. “Webster, will you observe this classroom with me?” “Yep, for Usher tickets”. "Bri, will you watch the kids?" "{Maybe} but for Usher tickets."

The weekend I picked up Brice from school for Thanksgiving break, we talked about going to the concert. What I didn’t know was that Jordon had been wanting to go as well. His birthday was two weeks after the concert, so Brice and I thought that it would be a great birthday present for Jordon and that the three of us could go together. At that point, the cheapest tickets were standing room only. So, I bought three tickets. And how cool is it that the same little boys that once depended on me for the simplest of things are now my party people!

We got to the Toyota Center not long after the doors opened, I claimed my standing spot front and center behind the rope that separated standing room from the VIP tables. What I didn’t realize was that I had bought standing room only tickets at Usher’s VIP bar! The bartender tells us that Usher comes to this area during the show. We were in the G Spot! SAY WHAT, NOW?! Fast forward, Usher’s mom and her guest were seated at the VIP table directly in front of me. The DJ did not disappoint; he had the party going for the two hours before the concert started. Yep, that's right, I was on my feet for FOUR hours dancing and the best part is that I got to share the moment with my boys. I warned them before we got there that when I go to a concert, I GO to a concert. Ask me about that time security told me that I couldn't dance in the aisle at Beyonce's concert!

Ok...focus..

Usher rose from the floor in a white fur coat and opened the show singing "Coming Home", then he hit us with hit after hit after hit. It was nonstop and high energy. I'm an ASMR, low lights kinda girl, but I was all in with the energy in the place during the concert.

The boys and I had the absolute best time; it was truly an experience. I was in no way interested in going viral by auditioning to be on the G Spot stage or eating cherries, but it was entertaining to see the women perform their best "get it sexy" dances and swoon over being fed by Usher.  I was so close to Usher that I was able to grab the bottom of his red fur coat. The ladies next to me were trying to help me grab his hand, but I was too short. LOL

The night was epic, and I took great pics and videos. We were so close with such a great view that I didn't need to zoom my phone to capture the photos. That night was like a dream come true, and I don’t feel like this blog is giving justice to the experience or how excited I was to be there. My boys took this wild photo once we got back to the hotel of me crying on the phone with my mom telling her all about my night. Some things are too sacred to share, so I'll leave that image to your imagination!

Needless to say, I lost my voice, my body was sore and the drive home was not as fun as the drive there. But it was worth every minute on my feet, every sway of my hips, and every loudly sung lyric.

I've seen lots of Facebook friends share footage from their experience at Usher's concert. Did you enjoy it as much as I did? What was your favorite moment(s)?