UR Experience Tour
{{Short description|2014–15 concert tour by Usher}}
{{Infobox concert
|concert_tour_name = UR Experience
|image = Promotional poster for The UR Experience Tour.jpg
|image_size = 220px
|image_caption = Promotional poster for the tour
|artist = Usher
|start_date = {{Start date|2014|11|01}}
|end_date = {{End date|2015|03|26}}
|number_of_legs = 2
|number_of_shows = 45
|last_tour = OMG Tour
(2010–11)
|this_tour = UR Experience
(2014–15)
|next_tour = Usher: Past Present Future
(2024–25)
}}
The UR Experience was the fifth concert tour by American artist Usher. Visiting North America and Europe, the tour played over 40 concerts in 2014 and 2015.{{Cite web|url=http://www.axs.com/usher-announces-the-ur-experience-tour-18422|last1=Bisson |first1=Joann|title=Usher announces "The UR Experience Tour"|date=September 3, 2014|website=AXS News|publisher=Anschutz Entertainment Group|access-date=May 19, 2016}}
Background
The tour was announced on September 2, 2014.{{cite press release |author= |title=USHER Announces The UR Experience |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/usher-announces-the-ur-experience-273585521.html |location=Los Angeles |publisher=Live Nation Entertainment |agency=PR Newswire |date=September 2, 2014 |access-date=May 4, 2017}}
"With 'The UR Experience', I want to give my fans an ever-changing live show full of surprises and special guests", says Usher. "I am really excited to be with my fans and give them an Usher experience like they've never seen or heard before."{{cite web |url=http://1033ampradio.cbslocal.com/2014/09/02/usher-td-garden-tour/ |title=Usher is Coming to the TD Garden! |last1=Jackson |first1=Alisha |date=September 2, 2014 |website=WODS |publisher=CBS Radio |access-date=May 4, 2017}}
To promote the tour, Raymond released a 30-second black and white video of him training, dancing and preparing for the upcoming tour.
Prior to the tour Usher began working with fashion designer Kerby Jean-Raymond{{Cite web|url=http://www.upscalehype.com/2014/09/usher-wears-pyer-moss-biker-jacket-and-balenciaga-arena-sneakers-for-2014-iheartradio-music-festival/|title=Usher Wears Pyer Moss Biker Jacket and Balenciaga Arena Sneakers for 2014 iHeartRadio Music Festival|work=UpscaleHype|access-date=May 19, 2016|date=September 20, 2014}} For the tour, they created a custom Pyer Moss bike jacket that he wore over a mess shirt with black cargo pants. Completing the outfit he wore Martin Margiela chain embellished red suede sneakers.{{Cite web|url=http://www.upscalehype.com/2014/11/usher-wears-pyer-moss-biker-jacket-and-maison-martin-margiela-chain-sneakers-on-tour/|title=Usher Wears Pyer Moss Custom Biker Jacket and Maison Martin Margiela Chain Sneakers on Tour|work=UpscaleHype|access-date=May 19, 2016|date=November 8, 2014}}
The November 30, 2014 concert, held at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; was livestreamed via Yahoo Live!.{{cite web |url=https://www.yahoo.com/music/blogs/live-nation/usher--the-ur-experience--date-to-livestream-on-yahoo-214350595.html |title=Usher's 'The UR Experience' Concert to Stream on Yahoo Live Nov. 30 |last1=Johnson, Jr. |first1=Billy |date=November 19, 2014 |website=Yahoo! Music |publisher=Yahoo! |access-date=May 4, 2017}}
Critical reception
The tour was met with positive reviews.
Jon Paroles from The New York Times wrote: "He has established himself as one of R&B's supreme performers and craftsmen, following through on what he learned from Michael Jackson in particular."{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/10/arts/music/usher-shows-superhuman-precision-at-madison-square-garden.html|last1=Paroles |first1=Jon|title=With Signature Moves, R&B Romeo Takes a Turn as Casanova|date=November 10, 2014|access-date=May 19, 2016|work=The New York Times}}
Ashley Lee of The Hollywood Reporter wrote: "His routines were sharp, effortless and even playful at times, and he didn't need to rely on constant gyrating to entertain. Usher also shined vocally when he took the time to do so: bouncing his gold mic stand during 'Caught Up', hitting the top of his range on 'Climax', adding extra runs to 'U Remind Me', impressively closing 'Burn' a cappella."{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/usher-ur-experience-concert-review-747647|title=Usher UR Experience Concert Review at Madison Square Garden: Leans on Nostalgia and Second-Nature Moves|last1=Lee |first1=Ashley|date=November 8, 2014|access-date=May 19, 2016|work=The Hollywood Reporter}}
Robbyn Mitchell of the Tampa Bay Times wrote: "Usher reminded fans constantly that they've been supporting him for 20 years in the music industry -- an unfathomable stat whenever he paused to smile his charming schoolboy girl".{{Cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/review-usher-crushes-a-dynamic-crowd-pleasing-performance-at-tampas-amalie/2210270/|last1=Mitchell |first1=Robbyn|title=Review: Usher crushes a dynamic, crowd-pleasing performance at Tampa's Amalie Arena|work=Tampa Bay Times|publisher=Times Publishing Company|access-date=May 19, 2016|date=December 15, 2014}}
A.R. Shaw from Rolling Out commented: "With new age R&B acts such Chris Brown and Justin Bieber building their presence in music, some may forget Usher's overall impact on the genre. But the 'UR Experience Tour' proves, again, that Usher's legendary status remains intact.".{{cite web|url=http://rollingout.com/2014/12/11/usher-highlights-atl-hip-hop-culture-ur-experience-tour-atlanta/|title=Concert review: Usher highlights Atlanta's culture at the 'UR Experience Tour'|work=Rolling Out|access-date=May 19, 2016|date=December 11, 2014|last1=Shaw |first1=A.R.}}
Gerrick D. Kennedy of the Los Angeles Times wrote: "An Usher show has long been an exhilarating affair packed with high-octane choreography held together by sleek, masterful showmanship."{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-usher-brings-hits-but-not-much-new-music-to-staples-center-20141124-story.html|title=Usher brings hits, but not much new to Staples Center|date=November 24, 2014|access-date=May 19, 2016|work=Los Angeles Times|last1=Kennedy |first1=Gerrick D.}}
François Marchand of The Vancouver Sun states, "Usher can embody the cybernetic physicality of a MJ and the pure funk swagger of a JB (as on party jam Twisted — 'Hit me one more time!'), and you can applaud an artist who doesn't rely so much on tape playback and shows just how much blood and sweat he leaves out there on the stage."{{cite web|url=https://vancouversun.com/review+usher+dances+around+long+delayed+album+vancouver/10421116/story.html|title=Review: Usher dances around long-delayed UR album in Vancouver|first=François|last=Marchand|work=The Vancouver Sun|publisher=Postmedia Network|access-date=May 19, 2016|date=November 28, 2014}}
David Smyth from the London Evening Standard gave the performance in London 4 out of 5 stars. He said: "Usher himself was quite the mover and shaker, invoking his idol Michael Jackson as he slid and shimmied about the stage in gold trainers. During one triumphant spell, including 'Twisted' and 'Caught Up', his band became an old-style soul revue, horns blasting while the lights blazed. There were snippets of Stevie Wonder and, more surprisingly, Eric Clapton."{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/music/usher-ur-experience-tour-o2-arena-music-review-the-spectacle-couldn-t-be-faulted-10138121.html|title=Usher, UR Experience Tour, O2 Arena – music review: 'The spectacle couldn't be faulted'|date=March 27, 2015|access-date=May 19, 2016|work=London Evening Standard|last1=Smyth |first1=David}}
Opening acts
- DJ Cassidy {{small|(North America)}}{{cite web |url=http://www.vibe.com/2015/01/dj-cassidys-bts-usher-tour-paradise-recap-vid/ |title=Premiere: DJ Cassidy's Behind The Scenes Recap Of Usher's UR Experience Tour |date=January 28, 2015 |website=Vibe |access-date=May 4, 2017}}
- August Alsina {{small|(North America)}}{{cite web |url=http://www.rap-up.com/2014/09/26/august-alsina-recovers-ahead-of-usher-tour/ |title=August Alsina Recovers Ahead of Usher Tour |date=September 26, 2014 |website=Rap-Up |access-date=May 4, 2017}}
- Nico & Vinz {{small|(Europe)}}{{cite web |url=http://www.vibe.com/2014/09/nico-vinz-joins-usher-european-portion-ur-experience-tour/ |title=Nico & Vinz Joins Usher On European Portion of 'UR Experience' Tour |last1=Augustin |first1=Camille |date=September 30, 2014 |website=Vibe |access-date=May 4, 2017}}
Setlist
The following setlist was obtained from the concert held on November 1, 2014; at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It does not present all concerts for the duration of the tour.{{cite web |url=http://www.vintagevinylnews.com/2014/11/set-list-usher-opens-his-ur-experience.html |title=Set List: Usher Opens His UR Experience in Montreal |author= |date=November 2, 2014 |website=Vintage Vinyl News |access-date=May 4, 2017}}
- "My Way"
- "OMG"
- "Love in This Club"
- "You Make Me Wanna..."
- "Video Sequence" {{small|(contains elements of "Lil Freak")}}
- "Nice & Slow"
- "U Remind Me"
- "Twisted"
- "Caught Up"
- "She Came to Give it to You"
- "Video Sequence" {{small|(contains elements of "Dot Com")}}
- "Climax"
- "Seduction"
- "That's What It's Made For"
- "Confessions Part I" / "Confessions Part II"
- "Instrumental Sequence"
- "Burn"
- "There Goes My Baby"
- "U Got It Bad"
- "Superstar"
- "Video Sequence"
- "Bad Girl"
- "Good Kisser"
- "U Don't Have to Call"
- "DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love"
- "Yeah!"
- "Video Sequence"
- "Without You"
Tour dates
=Box office score data=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! style="width:225px;"| Venue ! style="width:150px;"| City ! style="width:150px;"| Tickets sold / available ! style="width:150px;"| Gross revenue |
| Mohegan Sun Arena
|Uncasville |6,238 / 7,103 (88%) |
| Staples Center
|Los Angeles |12,544 / 12,544 (100%) |
| Toyota Center
|Houston |9,442 / 9,706 (97%) |
| Philips Arena
|Atlanta |11,765 / 11,765 (100%) |
| Amway Center
|Orlando |6,444 / 10,994 (59%) |
| Amalie Arena
|Tampa |5,186 / 8,800 (59%) |
| O2 World Hamburg
|Hamburg |11,386 / 13,473 (84%) |
| Sportpaleis
|Antwerp |9,409 / 15,031 (63%) |
| Hallenstadion
|Zürich |9,224 / 13,000 (71%) |
| SSE Hydro
|Glasgow |3,830 / 4,094 (93%) |
| Manchester Arena
|Manchester |8,493 / 10,000 (85%) |
| The O2 Arena
|London |15,477 / 16,062 (96%) |
| colspan="2"|TOTAL
|109,438 / 132,572 (82%) |$8,573,875 |
Personnel
- Lead Artist
- Lead Vocals/Guitar/Drums/Percussion: Usher Raymond
- The Funk Rock Orchestra
- Guitar/Keyboards/MD: Natural
- Drums/Percussion: Aaron Spears
- Percussion/DJ/MPC/Sampling/String Programmer/Hype Man: Iz Avila
- Keyboards/Organ/Synthesizer/MD: Buddy Strong
- Keyboards/Keybass/Keytar/MD: Valdez Brantley
- Additional Musicians
- Bass Guitar/Playback Engineer: Andre "Dre" Bowman (on certain dates)
- Horns: Rashawn (Trumpet), Rob (Sax), Sean (Trumpet), and Kevin (Trombone)
- Vocalists
- Backing vocalists: Kristal Lyndriette, Gene Noble and Neka Brown
- Dancers
- Choreographer: Jamaica Craft
- Dancers: QuitaBee, Eyal Pipo Layani, Kento Mori, Josh Smith, Jessica Digi (Europe only), Yusuke Nakai, Marc Marvelous, Ashley Everett, Antonio Hudnell and Naeemah McCowan
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Usher}}
Category:Usher (musician) concert tours
Category:Concert tours of the United States
Category:Concert tours of Canada
Category:Concert tours of the United Kingdom
Category:Concert tours of Ireland
Category:Concert tours of Switzerland
Category:Concert tours of Denmark
Category:Concert tours of Austria
Category:Concert tours of Sweden
Category:Concert tours of Germany
Category:Concert tours of France