Exclusive Review: Bruno Mars Wows Wembley at ’The Romanic Tour’

Bruno Mars has long towered tall as one of music’s most successful and impactful artists. With an arsenal of anthems that have served as the soundtrack to the last two decades, the Hawaii-reared singer is firmly established as a titan at the forefront of the Pop star pack.

And yet, even with such notability, Mars’ freshly launched ‘The Romantic Tour’ faced the tallest task: elevating a performer already at the top of his game.

Even against that lofty standard, the seismic show delivers in earnest.

Its mammoth itinerary and slew of sold-out shows already render the trek Mars’ biggest to date. And, in its fully realised form, it may well be his best, too.

With the tour dancing into London for the first of six concerts at the legendary Wembley Stadium, That Grape Juice was on hand for the inaugural performance.

Join us as we recap an unforgettable evening below…

Primed by a dynamite opening set from Victoria Monét, the sold-out crowd of 75,000 erupted into rapturous applause once the showman hit the stage. And the electricity reverberated throughout.

Uniquely, Mars, who is renowned for his high-octane, choreographed spectacles, kicked off the show with the ballad ‘Risk It All.’ A notable move, as it reaffirmed his versatility and ability to command at any tempo.

With ‘Cha Cha Cha,’ ‘On My Soul,’ and ‘God Was Showing Off’ following, and #1 smash ‘I Just Might’ thrilling Wembley not long after, it quickly became apparent that the show’s stacked setlist would aptly be centred on the stage blazer’s Latin-laced new album, ‘The Romantic.’

Paired with savvy and well-paced injections of beloved crowd-pleasers, Mars and his omnipresent crew, The Hooligans, simultaneously fed those with an appetite for the new and those hungry for the familiar, serving up a generous balance of both.

The seasoned performer showcased each song with a vigor and vibrance that kept the energy at its optimum. This saw Wembley on its feet for the length and breadth of the show. Whether it was the familiar chords of ‘24K Magic’ and ‘Treasure,’ stirring new gem ‘Why You Wanna Fight?,’ or underrated gems such as ‘Perm’ and ‘Please Me,’ each and every track was performed as if it were the biggest hit of his career.

Bruno Mars Proves Why He Is a Live Maestro

Beyond the music, the sheer breadth of the GRAMMY winner’s skill set as a live maestro was breathtaking to witness. His honey-coated vocals glided between syrup-soaked serenades and powerful projection that blew the proverbial roof off the stadium. All the while, he never missed a beat with the slick choreography he has become renowned for.

A force as a soloist, Mars treated the masses to more magic via Silk Sonic, his duo with Anderson .Paak. Performing the lion’s share of their album, ‘An Evening with Silk Sonic,’ the pair had the stadium in a church-like chorus by the time they reached the fitting climax, ‘Leave the Door Open.’

A thrill throughout, the show’s final act brought with it a fiery onslaught of hit after seismic hit, including ‘Die With a Smile,’ ‘Marry You,’ ‘Locked Out of Heaven,’ ‘Grenade,’ and ‘Uptown Funk.’

To watch Bruno Mars is to watch a master at work. With his latest live adventure, he’s not only The Romantic, but he’s one of the greatest to grace the stage.

That Grape Juice Rating:
☆☆☆☆☆
5/5

[Photo Credit: Daniel Ramon]