For your reading enjoyment, this week we’ve gathered critical reviews of performances by Adele in Australia; Ariana Grande in Columbus, Ohio; Regina Spektor in Portland, Maine; Sting in Montreal; and Maroon 5 in Buffalo, N.Y.
AP Photo / NBC – Adele
NBC “Today” show, New York City
Adele @ ANZ Stadium in Sydney, Australia, March 10 – “With a massive sold-out crowd of more than 90,000 in attendance, Adele’s first-ever Sydney concert was never going to be an intimate affair — and yet, the insanely popular singer-songwriter managed to make it feel like she was singing in your living room. … It’d be hard for any Adele fan present to deny how great it would’ve been to see her five, seven, 10 years ago, when she would’ve been playing those intimate pubs and theatres she reminisced about on stage tonight. But she’s the biggest star in the world with the songs to match — and she’s absolutely owning the spotlight.” – Nick Bond / News.com.Au
Ariana Grande @ Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, March 9 – “Of course the best feature was Grande’s voice, which alternately soared above and drizzled over the music in soulful riffs, with some standout moments occurring on ‘One Last Time,’ ‘Touch It,’ ‘Bang Bang’ and ‘Problem,’ which is a an Olympic feat to sing live. … But where artists like Aguilera still have the advantage over Grande is the ability to convey raw emotion and experience through their singing. For example, Grande’s live performance of the soulful, moody, slow-burning “Leave Me Lonely” in all white brought to mind Aguilera’s chill-inducing cover of James Brown’s ‘It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World’ at the 2007 Grammy Awards. While Grande is as adept at singing, there is a lack of emotional depth to her performances.” – Erica Thompson / Columbus Alive
Regina Spektor @ State Theatre in Portland, Maine, March 9 – “This is exactly the thing that sets Spektor apart. She’s a poet who tells stories with her songs and sings them with a voice that can bring tears to your eyes. Many of her songs are like embraces that don’t want to let go, whether she’s singing about love in ‘Fidelity’ or opulence in ‘Small Bill$.’” – Aimsel Ponti / Portland Press Herald
AP Photo – Sting
Sting brings on the night at a free concert in New York City
Sting @ Metropolis in Montreal, Quebec, March 6 – “Monday’s club concert was a remarkably close approximation of a plug-in-and-play gig for an artist still capable of selling out arenas. And yet there were similarities: a shifting onstage lineup, a familial bond, and a visibly delighted singer.” – Jordan Zivitz / Montreal Gazette
Maroon 5 @ KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y., March 8 – “Wednesday’s show offered a bit of everything the band has done over the years. A median of uber-professionalism has been achieved. This band does not make mistakes. It doesn’t ever break from the script long enough to blow you away, either.” – Jeff Miers / The Buffalo News