For the first time in over a decade, Alicia Keys performed in Detroit proper. (Last year’s Alicia + Keys World Tour did bring the singer to Southeast Michigan at Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill – in Sterling Heights – but prior to that, you have to go back to 2013 for the last time she played the Motor City.) This time around, the tour dubbed “Keys to the Summer” showcased Keys on a 360-degree stage, providing an “in the round” experience in Little Caesars Arena. Check out the top five highlights from the show:
Credit: Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Alicia Keys
A Fitting Beginning
Set opener “Fallin’” – Keys’ debut single – served as a fitting start with dramatic flourish. As the arena lights dimmed, the singer paced through the crowd before ascending to the stage, situated in the center of the arena floor. She dialed up the crowd’s energy right away with the propulsive beat of “New Day” and a clap-along on “Love Looks Better.”
Credit: Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Alicia Keys
No Bad Seat in the House
The 360-degree stage setup proved to be an ingenious way to engage all sides of the crowd. In addition to the central stage piece (which also slowly rotated Keys’ dazzling piano), a runway fully bisected the floor of the arena, giving fans all throughout the space a great view. The lighting and lasers also provided top-notch visuals – particularly for how the runway’s staircase piece lit up to match the “Why you bring me up / Just to bring me down?” line in “Come for Me” and the red color palette for “Girl on Fire.”
Credit: Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Alicia Keys
Strong Backing
Keys’ backing band and dancer helped elevate the live renditions, as well. Keys’ vocal interplay with her backup singer stood out on cuts like “New Day” and “Love Looks Better.” And the chunky bassline added additional oomph to “Karma,” while “Teenage Love Affair” was buoyed by its bouncing riffs. It was Keys’ dancer who stole the show with mid-set highlight “My Boo,” though. Together, they got the crowd swaying their arms in unison with their sultry moves to the fan-favorite Usher duet.
Credit: Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Alicia Keys
Vocal Spotlight
The middle of the set showcased the sheer power of just Keys on the piano, atop the staircase set piece. “The energy is magnificent in here tonight, Detroit,” she remarked as she returned to the stage. The highlight of this segment was a jaunty cover of Prince’s “”How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore?”, with Keys leading a call and response and securing a huge round of applause while holding powerful sustained notes at the song’s coda.
Credit: Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Alicia Keys
All The Hits to End the Night
The final phase of the concert enthralled the crowd with the sheer volume of iconic hits. Keys showed off her powerhouse vocals with “Girl on Fire” and turned Little Caesars Arena into a huge party from the opening beat of “Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down,” paired perfectly with imagery of NYC. She kept the dancing going with a pulsing cover of Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” and the throbbing beat of “In Common.”
The final one-two combo saved the best for last. “Take your phones out, sing with me if you know the words,” Keys commanded ahead of the penultimate track, “No One.” She was greeted by a sea of illuminated flashlights bobbing throughout the arena as her voice soared.
Dispelling the need for the artifice of moving offstage before an encore, Keys simply asked: “Should we do one more, Detroit?”
The crowd responded with a huge roar, and Keys jumped right into the set closer “If I Ain’t Got You.” In an awe-inspiring moment, the crowd – unprompted – simply took over the first chorus in a huge singalong that reverberated throughout the entire arena. Keys then took a turn, providing one last showcase for her tremendous vocals.
