Storied like the inspiring message that procedes it, a flower blooms from its stems and a star emerges and slowly rises. Which is exactly what the slow rise to the top has been for R&B/Soul sensation, Jhené Aiko, over the last 13-plus year’s as the main face of the new generation of great contemporary R&B and the greatest healing artist ever. That is one of her generations best performer’s. Proven so yet again before a sold out crowd for her performance at the United Center on the first day of Summer on Chicago’s Westside on Thursday, June 20th for the Chicago stop of her current headlining, The Magic Hour Tour.
The show opening Star Wars and/or storied movie style with a short message onscreen before with her backing band already playing onstage. Jhené emerged from a blooming flower and walking down the steps of the stage then went into her very memorable Def Jam debut single, 3:16AM with the crowd screaming as she entered the stage and they sang along. Before she went into another one of her very memorable hit records, Stay Ready (What a Life), that had the crowd still singing along as crystals were shown onscreen and crystal backdrops were all over the stage. A spotlight would then be shown down on Jhené as she went into a very memorable performance of, Oblivion (Creation). That really showed off her very amazing, yet underappreciated great vocals.
Jhené then going for one of several outfit changes as a message about the concept of love was voiced onscreen. With her then coming out and swaying along the stage as she performed her memorable hit record, While We’re Young, as the crowd continued to so seamlessly single along. With both Jhené and the crowd then so seamlessly going into a cover of Tyga, Jhené and the late Pop Smoke’s perfect Summertime record, Sunshine. As a sunshine background played onscreen. The perfect Summer mood for the first day of Summer would continue as Jhené went into a very amazing performance of, Summer 2020 (Interlude).
The mood would completely change from sunny to dealing with wrong relationships you don’t need to. As Jhené went into what is still two of her most memorable songs, Triggered (freestyle) and The Worst. That the crowd knew every word to and loudly sang along to with her, as she swayed back and forth. The reddish fire like background onscreen really playing into those vibes too.
One of the highlights of the night that I didn’t expect and I am sure many others didn’t coming from Jhené. Is when she changed into a sparkling red dress and came out to a jazz club like backdrop with just her keyboard player, as she went into a stellar jazz like rendition of another one of her hit records, None of Your Concern. That me loving some jazz myself really enjoyed her switching up to do something like that.
During another one of her outfit changes the band continued to play as a display of her was onscreen and her Ab-Soul featured, One Way St. was played. Jhené then coming out in a very beautifully elegant two-piece white dress with the top shaped like a cross. As she really got the crowd singing and swaying along with her to her always timeless, Happiness Over Everything (H.O.E.) record. Before going into, The Pressure and having some backing dancers come on for her very stellar performance of her H.E.R. featured hit record, B.S. Also changing the lyrics of, “Touch down in my hometown.” To, “Touch down in Chicago.” That got a really roaring ovation from the Chicago based crowd.
Another one of the biggest highlights of the night is after Jhené performed her very explicitly playful and freaky, P*$$Y Fairy (OTW) she went into her remixed version of the song, On the Way, with her sister Mila J. Even bringing Mila out as a surprise guest to perform her verse, that had almost everyone in the crowd going absolutely nuts. As they sang along and then continued to sing along as Mila performed her own hit records, Kickin’ Back and her Ty Dolla $ign featured collaboration, My Main.
After all the energy that her and her sister had, Jhené then really slowed things down. As she went to sit down by her sound bowels that she played to perform her very spiritually sound, alive & well (gratitude mantra). Then going for another outfit change into a beautifully shimmering all white shimmering dress as she came back out with a sunshine backdrop onscreen. Speaking about how important it is that even though we, “Are all going through some sh*t. At least we woke up today. Yes. That is a reason to smile. We can always put our attention on the good things and find the smile. Even in all of the madness.” Then going into a very stellar positively great performance of, W.A.Y.S. Before asking everyone to put there lights on their phones on and to wave back and forth. As Jhené swaying back and forth again went into a very memorably smooth laidback performance of Eternal Sunshine. That everyone in the crowd so beautifully sang along with her, while also waving their hands back and forth with their lights on. Then so seamlessly going into her Childish Gambino featured forever timeless hit, Bed Peace. Waving her hands back and forth and moving around the stage. As she so beautifully sang the memorable lyrics that everyone sang along to. Then closing out her entire set and the night with a very stellar performance of, Magic Hour. Which was only appropriate to close the show with such a positively peaceful and amazing song that the tour is named after. Jhené closing out by saying how important peace, grace and love that all her fans have shown her over the year’s very important to her being able to remain relevant to continue to do what she does. To deliver such continually great music and performances for all of them.