A few months ago American Express sent me an email offering a presale for tickets to the Jay-Z BP3 Tour. While normally my AMEX causes me pain (hello, large balance) this was an email I was thrilled to receive! I bought tickets immediately and scribbled the show into my datebook.
On Thursday night I went to Boston Garden literally jumping for joy at the thought of Jay-Z performing so many of my favorite anthems live. For about 6 months straight in high school I listened to nothing but his MTV Unplugged album. You can asked anyone who drove with me. Truth.
The show opened with Trey Songz (who I actually had no idea was on the tour). The second he hit the stage the arena erupted with female screams. The sound was piercing. In the fall Trey released his new album "Ready" (which I have, thanks to one very cute JDate boy) and he did several of the best songs: Black Roses, Invented Sex, Neighbors Know My Name, and he closed with the party anthem Say Ahh. During this final number he decided to slowly and seductively rip his shirt off, sending the entire place into a screaming fit (Ok, maybe I screamed too).
On the ticket, it said "Jay-Z featuring Young Jeezy" so we assumed Jeezy was coming on next. Wrong! There was a countdown on the screen and when it hit zero Jay-Z emerged from underneath the stage and opened with Run this Town at which point the entire stadium stood, danced and sang along to every word.
Jay did about 6 more songs and then came out Jeezy. He performed his set in the middle! Tricky. If you aren't familiar, Jeezy sings Soul Survivor and Go Getta.
When he was through, Jay came back on and did another set, and when the show was supposed to end he said, "Boston, your energy is sick. Do you mind if I keep going?" He then performed a 45 minute encore of all his old school songs - Money Ain't a Thing, 99 Problems, Big Pimpin, Hard Knock Life and more.
The coolest part of the show was at the very end of the encore, Jay singled out people in the crowd who had been singing and dancing the whole show. He had the camera man put them on the screen, and he thanked them individually. He would say, "You, in the turquoise sweater, I saw you singing every word. You know all the words to my songs. I appreciate you. Thank you." I mean, talk about humble! He ended by pointing out two young men he met earlier in the evening through Make A Wish Foundation. He dedicated his final song to them, Young Forever.
The show was absolutely incredible. Three great artists, all high energy and the set was incredible! Amazing images on the screen, great lighting, just perfect. My favorite moment was when Jay and Trey did the duet of Heart of the City, which is my favorite Jay song.
If the BP3 Tour is coming to your city, BUY TICKETS. This was one of the best live shows I have seen in my entire concert-going life. Beyonce, damn girl.
