RECAP: USHER'S 'PAST PRESENT FUTURE TOUR' IN VANCOUVER - NIGHT 1

Last night at Rogers Arena, Vancouver got the first taste of Usher's "Past Present Future" tour, an immersive, boundary-pushing showcase of his career. This was the 44th stop on his extensive North American tour and the first of two back-to-back nights in the city. The crowd was clearly prepared for a night of nostalgia and spectacle, based on the endless concert merch spotted in the venue, and Usher did not disappoint.

Photos by Tage Stenner / Backspin Canada

The tour, originally slated to kick off in August in Atlanta, faced delays due to a neck injury Usher sustained during rehearsals. But the show that finally launched in Washington, D.C., on August 20, has already become a legendary experience, with Usher taking his fans through nearly 30 years of R&B hits.

The energy in Rogers Arena was electric as the countdown to Usher’s entrance began. The towering LED cubes on stage flickered to life, pulsating with images of Usher, who appeared almost in digital form, before a robotic voice welcomed fans to an experience spanning his past, present, and future. Then, the arena went dark, and fans were left in anticipation.

Usher’s entrance was nothing short of cinematic. Taking the stage, clad in an all-black ensemble—a shimmering coat and a fedora—he strode onto the stage as smoke billowed around him, casting him in a cone of light that felt like rainfall. He opened with a short version of “Coming Home” and a fan favourite “Hey Daddy (Daddy’s Home),” which got the fans into the show instantly.

As he yelled, “Vancouver! The first of two sold-out nights!” the crowd erupted. Usher commanded the stage with his dynamic choreography and undeniable charisma, melding nostalgia with the slick production value his fans have come to expect.

The LED cubed stage designed wasn’t just used as a screen; it was a portal to Usher’s past. At one point, the year “1993” flashed, showing a remarkably lifelike rendition of 14-year-old Usher dancing to his debut single, “Call Me A Mack,” while the real Usher stood nearby, visibly moved. The crowd watched in awe as he revisited his early hits, including “Think of You” and “Can U Get Wit It,” against a backdrop of throwback footage from that era.

For the romantics in the crowd, his performance of “Nice and Slow” didn’t disappoint. Usher’s antics—slipping his hand down his pants and later lifting his shirt to reveal his well maintained torso—added just the right amount of heat. As he sang, "U Got It Bad" without a shirt and worked through “Climax,” he was fully immersed in the music, offering fans a raw connection to the performer they’ve loved for years.

Throughout the night, the cube on stage served as a massive set-piece, featuring a penthouse-style floor on top and a lower section where screens lifted like garage doors, revealing spaces that alternated between a cozy room, a strip club, and a dance performance area.

Before things got more intimate with Usher moving through the crowd, the stage transformed into a jazz club. Usher and his band performed at center stage while it rotated 360 degrees, creating an immersive experience for the audience.

As the 46-year-old R&B superstar crooned his soulful 2010 hit, “There Goes My Baby,” he descended from the main stage, high-fiving and hugging fans along the lower-level railing as he made his way to a makeshift bar near the back of the floor section. There, he picked up a bowl filled with cherries and engaged the crowd, asking, “How many married couples we got in the house tonight? How many single lovers? And how many people are actually married, but acting single tonight?”

While weaving through the audience, Usher briefly sang to a male security guard, making the entire arena laugh as the guard nervously chuckled along. Then, he handed the mic to a fan, who hit an unexpectedly high (and funny) note, prompting Usher to joke, “I didn’t even know you could sing that high!” adding to the laughter. Offering her a cherry, Usher then playfully asked a man who stepped up in his face, “Oh, this is your wife?” and proceeded to give them cherries to share.

Reaching the VIP section, which he dubbed the “G-spot,” Usher mixed drinks at the bar, topping the ice with cherries. The scene got even more playful as he lowered cherry after cherry into the mouths of enthusiastic fans, many of whom waggled their tongues in anticipation. He also threw fake money around to the sound of Sexyy Red’s music, keeping the energy fun and lively.

Even after all that excitement, the night wasn’t over. After Usher hit the “G-spot” stage, he slowly made his way back to the main stage, performing a few more songs before wrapping up the show on a high note with his hits “Yeah!” and “Without You.” This concert had a bit of everything, making it an enjoyable experience from start to finish.

As he prepares to bless the stage in Vancouver one more time before heading to Seattle, fans across North America and soon Europe are ready for the same experience Vancouver just witnessed. Usher has found a way to blend his history with modern spectacle, delivering a show that feels as timeless as his music.