Timberlake’s pop hits take root in Garden
Some people love the Super Bowl halftime show. Others love the commercials. Few understand, as Justin Timberlake does, the halftime show is a commercial.
Timberlake’s Super Bowl spectacle advertised tracks off his new album, “Man of the Woods,” which came out two days before the game. But he chiefly teased one of 2018’s biggest tours — the trek stopped at TD Garden Wednesday night.
The performance echoed the vibe JT’s halftime extravaganza elicited: You can’t dwell on the problems of modern life with six dancers, a 15-piece band, constant lasers, rotating video screens and massive pop hits assaulting your senses.
His new album debut single, “Filthy,” stumbled in its attempt to bring both sexy and big arena hooks back. But as a concert opener, it dynamited an avalanche of energy. Timberlake and the Tennessee Kids, his mighty band, crashed right through the throwback Bee Gees reverie of “Midnight Summer Jam,” “LoveStoned” and “Sexy-Back,” with 10,000 ecstatically shouting, “Take it to the bridge!”
By the time the crowd caught their breath, they could take in the sprawling set. Beyond the main stage, a catwalk wound through fake trees and real bars (with fans seated with drinks behind them) to two separate platforms near center court that served as side stages. Not since U2’s 2015 Garden stop has the space been used so creatively. Pushing the woods theme, Timberlake and band did half a dozen songs around a campfire (real flames) on one platform.
The magic and magnetism of JT, his backers and set almost distracted from the fact that too many of his new songs aren’t great. “Flannel” still sounds like a silly sea shanty, and the downhome doo-wop of the album’s title track is a hard sell in an arena. Luckily, the man has hits.
Such songs as “Senorita” and “Rock Your Body,” written before a lot of fans at Wednesday night’s show were born, still charm with those expected Top 40 changes. “Suit & Tie” wowed the audience. The full house loved “Mirrors” so much, he dropped the mic and let the crowd finish the whole last chorus a cappella.
Despite his charisma — which may be unparalleled in pop today — the man’s art is starting to feel dated. (Consider the paint-by-numbers hit “Can’t Stop the Feeling!”) Compared to Lorde, who played the Garden Tuesday night, Timberlake feels a bit like a relic of bro culture. Of course, if you don’t care about art or if you’re in need of pure escapism, Timberlake will enthusiastically captain your voyage for two hours.