Destiny's Child employs robot computers from the future. How else could their
extravagant show go down without a hitch? Jumbotrons, a rotating stage, a set
with spring-loaded trapdoors, and, yes, a 50-foot waterfall appeared from behind
shining curtains when Destiny's Child performed at Mohegan Sun Arena Wednesday
night. In a word, craziness.Forget about the dangers of dancing in high heels. This show had more automated hydraulics than the most tricked-out ride in Queens, and without some serious choreography and timing, a performer might meet her doom under a piece of unfolding spiral staircase or a giant black light.
At this point in the game, the farewell tour of Destiny's Child is really “The Beyonce Knowles Show.” Knowles' career has, as it was destined to under the management of her doting father, skyrocketed far beyond that of her band mates. Wednesday's show did feature several solo performances from Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, but the audience didn't seem very interested.
While the arena was quite full — largely female, with some very excited men peppering the crowd — most of the crowd seemed indifferent to any song they couldn't sing along to. And when members of Destiny's Child tried to get the audience to sing something other than the songs that have been played incessantly over the radio and television, they were visibly disappointed with the response. There were moments of ear-splitting screaming, and a gag where the ladies brought three lucky men up on stage for a lap dance that drew raucous cheering from all directions, but overall the stamina of the crowd paled in comparison to that of the performers.
The group performed all the hits, along with a few medleys and dance breakdowns, punctuating the songs with interactions with the crowd. When they played “Soldier,” Knowles hollered, “Are there any soldiers out there?” The pitiful response was something between amusing and poignant as the jumbotrons played images of American flags billowing in the wind.
Pop idolatry is a relatively brief thing, thanks to the constant production of the music-business factories, and Destiny's Child seems to be retiring just in time, before it starts really being passé. It doesn't seem like Kelly or Michelle will follow in Beyonce's footsteps toward a solo career that stays alive by working with the hottest producer or rapper of the moment, and they'll probably never rise to greater glory on the record charts.
But Destiny's Child still put on a darn good show. They didn't seem to be lip syncing much (if at all), and they played with a great live band that rocked despite the unforgiving acoustics of the arena, which can be very muddy when things are too loud and bass heavy. All three members have great voices, and with several costume changes and some impressive dance routines, the trio struck a good balance between musical quality and over-the-top stage antics — the mark of performers who are as committed to singing well as they are to selling the live show.