It was clear during the first date of Destiny’s Child’s new U.S. tour
Saturday night at the Savvis Center this was the final curtain.Singer Beyonce, as her performance further demonstrated, outgrew her group once she proved herself a solo attraction. She’s the fiercest thing in heels, mixing just the right blend of beauty, bombast, and sheer boldness to remain one of pop music’s natural wonders. Reuniting with Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams for this tour feels more like a finishing up of business before they go onto other projects. The tour also gives an added push to the group’s last CD, ``Destiny Fulfilled,’’ which has moved 3 million copies.
The two-hour show, though questionably paced and lacking in sentiment, was consistently entertaining and gave fans everything they could want from a Destiny’s Child concert. That included more Beyonce solos than anyone, a flurry of costume changes, billowing hair, wiry hip-hop dancers, and every Destiny Child hit imaginable, save for the absent "Emotion."
The trio, backed by a band rendered near invisible with its near backstage positioning, rose from beneath the stage for opening song "Say My Name," then sprinted through a rapid succession of older hits such as "Independent Women," "Bug A Boo," "Bills, Bills, Bills," "Bootylicious," and "Jumpin, Jumpin."
Things moved so quickly some of these hits were treated like mere blips, but the pace thankfully slowed later. Clearer vocals came through with solo highlights and "Destiny Fulfilled" songs such as the gospel-fueled "Through With Love," the crunk-lite of "Solider" with its American flag backdrop, and the bump-n-grind of "Cater 2 U," when the three women pulled three young men from the crowd to tease.
Rowland dueted with surprise guest Nelly on their "Dilemma," and his appearance sent fans into screaming fits. But Rowland came through most strongly on "Bad Habit." Williams brought vocals to the forefront no one could've known she had for gospel song "Do You Know."
But songs such as the reggae bump of "Baby Boy" (clearly inspired in part by Alvin Ailey's "Revelations," and credited as such), the shake and shimmy of "Crazy in Love" (no Jay-Z) and "Naughty Girl," and showy torch song "Dangerously in Love" reminded concert-goers Beyonce was boss.
Encore song "Lose My Breath" featured the singers frolicking under an on-stage waterfall in their T-shirts and jeans. There were no real farewells or goodbyes as the curtains closed for the last time and that's probably just as well. Surely they'll never be too far out of sight.
Mario, continuing his bid to steal some of Usher's fire, put in a strong bid to do so on "How Could You" and "Let Me Love You." He also acknowledged his label mate, the late Luther Vandross, with a bit of "A House is Not a Home."
Raspy-voiced singer Amerie had problems getting her voice to project at times, though projection wasn't a problem for her drummer. Still, she offered a decent set with thumping singles "1 Thing" and "Touch," played out in concert as big dance productions. Older songs "Why Don't We Fall in Love" and "Talkin' to Me" felt deprived of energy. Opening act Tyra has a small presence but her big voice managed to fill the big venue on "Country Boy" and "Ooh Wee."