Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Thousands of Screaming Fans Love Timberlake's Fresno Return
gvw_david_taub
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 5 years ago on
March 14, 2019

Share

Justin Timberlake brought it to the Save Mart Center Wednesday night.

And the capacity crowd, including many thirtysomething women on a girl’s night out, enjoyed what he brought.

Photo of GV Wire's David Taub

Opinion

David Taub

Timberlake danced. He sang. He even played the piano and guitar and pressed buttons on a synthesizer machine.

A Full Effort?

But, did he bring it all?

Thousands of screaming fans can’t be wrong, but something seemed … off.

Timberlake’s show was a make-good for missing a date last December, scratched because of bruised vocal cords. He last played in Fresno in 2007.

I get it that as a pop singer, the concert will feature pre-recorded background vocals blasting from the sound system. But, did Timberlake have to be so obvious about it? Justin’s voice echoed in the background whether his mic was near his lips, or if his lips even moved.

And the wardrobe. Shouldn’t JT wear a suit and tie and singing “Suit & Tie?” He only made one wardrobe change during the show, with both outfits a simple t-shirt, jeans, jacket combo.

(GV Wire/Jamie Ouverson)

Instead of being a man of fashion, he looked like an everyday mall rat.

Primo Stage

The “Man of the Woods Tour” featured a walkway stage snaking all the way from the front of the arena to the back. Timberlake and his entourage of dancers, and musicians performed a majority of songs along the tree-lined rampways.

The setup included no seats on the floor, just standing room only, with actual bars along the stage in the VIP section. Of course, JT danced on top of those bars delighting the VIP crowd eager to get closer to the icon.

(GV Wire/Jamie Ouverson)

Timberlake showed he was more than just a singer/dancer by strumming the guitar for a bluesy “Drink You Away.”

Afterward, JT and the crew retreated backstage for wardrobe changes. In the meantime, the audience saw an artsy video about relationships, in which a cohesive storyline in the mini-movie was absent.

The show’s second half began with a skit simulating a campfire, with Timberlake playing “Until the End of Time” on his guitar.

The remainder of the show was mostly dancing, with JT leading the choreography.

(GV Wire/Jamie Ouverson)

The 38-year old played his hits, closing the show with “Can’t Stop the Feeling!”

DON'T MISS

Man Sets Himself on Fire Outside Trump Hush Money Trial Court

DON'T MISS

McDonald’s Ice Cream Machines Are So Unreliable They’re a Meme. They Might Also Be a Climate Solution.

DON'T MISS

Real Estate Experts Talk Fresno’s Economic Future. Are Tough Times Ahead?

DON'T MISS

Unlocking the Secrets to Fresno State’s Superb Baseball Season

DON'T MISS

‘This Is How to Improve Reading Proficiency. We Just Have Execute It’: FUSD Board President

DON'T MISS

Does Dyer Support (or Endorse) Bredefeld for Supervisor?

DON'T MISS

Get a 3D First Look at Merced’s High-Speed Rail Station Design

DON'T MISS

California Court to Decide on Transgender Ballot Measure Wording

DON'T MISS

Rare House Vote Sees Ukraine, Israel Aid Advance as Democrats Join Republicans

DON'T MISS

Full Jury and 6 Alternates Seated in Trump’s Hush Money Trial

UP NEXT

How 4/20 Grew From Humble Roots to Marijuana’s High Holiday

UP NEXT

Taylor Swift Drops 15 New Songs on Double Album, ‘The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology’

UP NEXT

Savannah Bananas Dominate Social Media, Sell Out Stadiums Nationwide Including Fresno

UP NEXT

Big Names in Rap, Christian Music, and Comedy Headline Must-See Weekend Entertainment

UP NEXT

Will State AG Rob Bonta Jump Into 2026 Race for CA Governor?

UP NEXT

Local Leaders Must Put Their Shoulders Into Making Fresno ‘Education City USA’

UP NEXT

Carbon Capture Isn’t Nearly as ‘Green’ as Fossil Fuel Promoters Make It Sound

UP NEXT

CA’s High Construction Costs Limit Housing. A Supreme Court Decision Might Help

UP NEXT

What Winnie the Pooh and Mickey Mouse Can Tell Us About the Public Domain and Remix Culture

UP NEXT

A Fresno Edition of Monopoly? That’s Capitalism at Work, Baby!

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

Unlocking the Secrets to Fresno State’s Superb Baseball Season

12 hours ago

‘This Is How to Improve Reading Proficiency. We Just Have Execute It’: FUSD Board President

12 hours ago

Does Dyer Support (or Endorse) Bredefeld for Supervisor?

13 hours ago

Get a 3D First Look at Merced’s High-Speed Rail Station Design

14 hours ago

California Court to Decide on Transgender Ballot Measure Wording

14 hours ago

Rare House Vote Sees Ukraine, Israel Aid Advance as Democrats Join Republicans

16 hours ago

Full Jury and 6 Alternates Seated in Trump’s Hush Money Trial

16 hours ago

Wired Wednesday: How High Will the Price of Gold & Silver Go?

Video /

17 hours ago

How 4/20 Grew From Humble Roots to Marijuana’s High Holiday

17 hours ago

Taylor Swift Drops 15 New Songs on Double Album, ‘The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology’

17 hours ago

Man Sets Himself on Fire Outside Trump Hush Money Trial Court

NEW YORK — Police officials said they were reviewing whether to restrict access to a public park outside the courthouse where former Preside...

10 hours ago

10 hours ago

Man Sets Himself on Fire Outside Trump Hush Money Trial Court

10 hours ago

McDonald’s Ice Cream Machines Are So Unreliable They’re a Meme. They Might Also Be a Climate Solution.

11 hours ago

Real Estate Experts Talk Fresno’s Economic Future. Are Tough Times Ahead?

12 hours ago

Unlocking the Secrets to Fresno State’s Superb Baseball Season

12 hours ago

‘This Is How to Improve Reading Proficiency. We Just Have Execute It’: FUSD Board President

13 hours ago

Does Dyer Support (or Endorse) Bredefeld for Supervisor?

14 hours ago

Get a 3D First Look at Merced’s High-Speed Rail Station Design

14 hours ago

California Court to Decide on Transgender Ballot Measure Wording

MENU

CONNECT WITH US

Search

Send this to a friend