{"id":447609,"date":"2026-08-29T23:44:13","date_gmt":"2026-08-29T23:44:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/447609\/"},"modified":"2026-08-29T23:44:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-29T23:44:13","slug":"review-chris-brown-usher-rb-tour-hits-levis-stadium-in-santa-clara","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/447609\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Chris Brown, Usher R&B Tour hits Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara"},"content":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s a bizarre moment early on during Chris Brown<\/a> and Usher\u2019s<\/a> joint R&B Tour<\/a> when the former is shown as a kind of cybernetic organism being created in a futuristic lab setting. This cyborg Chris Brown<\/a> then appears to be uploaded with all the talent and ability of both Michael Jackson and Prince, basically setting this entertainer up to the be the sci-fi 21st century equivalent to both of those icons.<\/p>\n

Of course, that leaves us with so many questions, first and foremost among them being:<\/p>\n

Ego much?<\/p>\n

Perhaps what Brown<\/a> should have been uploading, however, was the talent and ability of his co-headliner, who definitely delivered the more impressive half of the equation \u2014 in terms of vocals, songbook, stage charisma and, of course, dance moves \u2014 as The R&B Tour arrived at Levi\u2019s Stadium on Friday (Aug. 28).<\/p>\n

Yet competing on the same level of Usher<\/a> \u2014 one of the most gifted and multitalented performers of recent decades \u2014 is a lot to ask of, well, anyone. Still, overall, the two men were able to craft an enjoyable \u2014 and very generous \u2014 set that nicely combined both of their voices and songbooks over the course of 50-plus songs and more than 2\u00bd hours.<\/p>\n

The concert drew a capacity crowd of some 50,000 fans on Friday, with two more big dates \u2014 Saturday (Aug. 29) and Tuesday (Sept. 1) \u2014 scheduled to follow. That could add up to approximately 150,000 people turning out to the home of the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara to see The R&B Tour \u2014 which, of course, stands for the type of music being played, but also for the last names of Usher Raymond and Chris Brown.<\/p>\n

That type of a massive turnout, seen only for the likes of Taylor Swift, BTS and a small handful of other top attractions, is a true testament to the lasting impact that Usher and Brown\u2019s music has on fans. It can also be taken as a further sign of the renewal of interest and fascination with all things aughts, which was the decade that Brown made his debut and Usher experienced his greatest chart success.<\/p>\n

\"ChrisChris Brown, who performed at Nissan Stadium on July 25, brought the R&B Tour to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Aug. 28 for the first of three Bay Area shows. (Jason Kempin\/Getty Images)\u00a0<\/p>\n

As the lights dimmed at right around 8:20 p.m. \u2014 one hour and 20 minutes after the printed showtime \u2014 Chris Brown took the stage first and got the house rocking with \u201cParty.\u201d Moments later, Usher made his appearance \u2014 vacuuming up pretty much all of the star power over to his side of the stage as he joined in on the number. Brown then retreated to the sidelines, leaving his co-pilot to fly solo for the first segment of the night.<\/p>\n

Usher pumped up the excitement with the funky pairing of \u201cYeah\u201d and \u201cCaught Up\u201d as he worked a massive stage that was strangely reminiscent of what fans had just seen Latin pop superstar Karol G<\/a> perform on one week earlier at the same stadium. Notably, both platforms included three catwalks that shot out in different directions from the mainstage, only to then eventually meet up again and thus create two different pits where fans could get up-close views of the action.<\/p>\n

Both entertainers spent a lot of time working the tip of the catwalks, which put them at approximately mid-field, But they\u2019d venture back to the mainstage whenever they needed play up the show\u2019s rotating storylines taking place in strip clubs, bedrooms and other sexed-up settings.<\/p>\n

Organizers definitely spared no expense on the show, which included massive set designs, plenty of pyro, and other special effects. Yet, they probably managed to save a few bucks on Usher\u2019s wardrobe, since he was shirtless most of the time. But that was kind of the theme for the night, one most definitely underscored by the women who worked the stripper poles onstage as Usher walked about in his leather biker outfit, jacket unzipped to show his chiseled chest and stomach, and crooned \u201cBad Girl.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"UsherUsher performs at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Aug. 28, 2026 (Jim Harrington, Bay Area News Group).\u00a0<\/p>\n

After Usher hit solo song No. 5, it was time for Cyborg Chris Brown to fuel up on Prince and MJ power and conduct his own mini-set that kicked off with \u201cPoppin\u201d and also included \u201cWall to Wall,\u201d \u201cDeuces\u201d and \u201cLoyal.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cY\u2019all came to have fun tonight?\u201d Brown asked this Friday night party crowd. \u201c(Expletive), me, too. Let\u2019s get it.\u201d<\/p>\n

And that\u2019s how the night would continue over the next two hours or so, with Brown and Usher trading places in the solo spotlight with the occasional superstar meet-up on the likes of \u201cBack to Sleep\u201d and \u201cIt Depends.\u201d<\/p>\n

There were also a few breaks in the action, which were filled by short performances by fellow R&B acts Eric Bellinger (who has worked with Usher and Brown), Tank (who apparently shops at the same place for shirts as Usher) and Mario (who had just celebrated his 40th birthday one day earlier) as well as music from DJ Fresh (who also spun a pre-show set that, at times, felt like it might never end).<\/p>\n

\"ChrisChris Brown brought his co-headlining R&B Tour with Usher to Levi’s Stadium on Aug. 28. It was the first of three shows at the Santa Clara venue by the two R&B superstars. (Jason Kempin\/Getty Images)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Usher\u2019s talent shone brightly throughout the night \u2014 nearly as bright as the glittery suit he wore during a segment set in an old-school supper-club dubbed \u201cRaymond\u2019s.\u201d His vocal delivery was spot on as he moved through dance routines on top of the club\u2019s black grand piano and elsewhere on the stage while cuddling up to such bedroom jams as \u201cTrading Places\u201d and \u201cLovers and Friends.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fans were still fanning themselves off from Usher\u2019s \u201cBurn\u201d \u2014 which featured the most dramatic pyro display of the night \u2014 when Brown took the stage and tried to generate his own spark with the likes of \u201cHeat\u201d and \u201cWarm Embrace.\u201d He showed off some impressive dance moves and his vocal work was about on par with what one could reasonably expect \u2014 never spectacular, but certainly easy enough on the ears.<\/p>\n

\"ChrisChris Brown, who performed at Nissan Stadium in Nashville on July 25, brought his hits and stellar stage movies to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara for the first of tree shows on Aug. 28. (Jason Kempin\/Getty Images)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Usher returned in a bedroom setting, rolling out of the sheets he had just shared with a beautiful woman. Then he walked across the room and then began his morning routine, just like we all do, effortlessly executing some pull-ups before nicely crooning \u201cSeduction.\u201d Not surprisingly, the scene ended up with the star falling back into the sheets with the beautiful woman.<\/p>\n

Yup. Just another day.<\/p>\n

The drama remained strong throughout the latter stages of the show, as Usher appeared wearing a crown and sitting on a throne to sing \u201cOMG\u201d and then Brown taking the whole shebang to another level as he was swung by cables high above the crowd and all around the stadium to \u201cAyo.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fans loved every bit of the show. And, given the gargantuan box office receipts, we wouldn\u2019t be surprised if these same fans get the chance to see The R&B Tour 2 in the not-too-distant future.<\/p>\n

\"UsherUsher performs Aug. 28, 2026 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara (Jim Harrington, Bay Area News Group).\u00a0<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s The R&B Tour setlist<\/p>\n

(According to our notes and information from Billboard. Note some selections were only snippets of the full songs)
1. \u201cParty\u201d (Usher, Brown)
2. \u201cYeah\u201d (Usher)
3. \u201cCaught Up\u201d (Usher)
4. \u201cU Don\u2019t Have to Call\u201d (Usher)
5. \u201cLove In This Club\u201d (Usher)
6. \u201cBad Girl\u201d (Usher)
7. \u201cPoppin\u201d (Brown)
8. \u201cWall to Wall\u201d (Brown)
9. \u201cDeuces\u201d (Brown)
10. \u201cLoyal\u201d (Brown)
11. \u201cGo Crazy\u201d (Brown)
12. \u201cLook at Me Now\u201d (Brown)
13. \u201cFor the Moment\u201d (Brown_
14. \u201cRun It\u201d (Brown)
15. \u201cSuperstar\u201d (Usher)
16. \u201cU Remind Me\u201d (Usher_
17. \u201cMy Way\u201d (Usher)
18. \u201cU Make Me Wanna\u201d (Usher)
19. \u201cMy Boo\u201d (Usher)
20. \u201cTrading Places\u201d (Usher)
21. \u201cLovers & Friends\u201d (Usher)
22. \u201cBurn\u201d (Usher)
23. \u201cResiduals\u201d (Brown)
24. \u201cIt\u2019s Not You It\u2019s Me (Brown)
25. \u201cFallin’\u201d (Brown)
26. \u201cHeat\u201d (Brown)
27. \u201cWarm Embrace\u201d (Brown)
28. \u201cSomething in the Water\u201d (Brown)
29. \u201cPrivacy\u201d (Brown)
30. \u201cYo\u201d (Brown)
31. \u201cAin\u2019t No Way\u201d (Brown)
32. \u201cSay Goodbye\u201d (Brown)
33. \u201cDon\u2019t Judge Me\u201d (Brown)
34. \u201cShe Ain\u2019t You\u201d (Brown)
35. \u201cUnder the Influence\u201d (Brown)
36. \u201cSeduction\u201d (Usher)
37. \u201cBack to Sleep\u201d (Brown, Usher)
38. \u201cFeel Something\u201d (Brown)
39. \u201cNice & Slow\u201d (Usher)
40. \u201cIt Depends\u201d (Usher, Brown)
41. \u201cThere Goes My Baby\u201d (Usher)
42. \u201cWet the Bed\u201d (Brown)
43. \u201cTake You Down\u201d (Brown)
44. \u201cOMG\u201d (Usher)
45. \u201cGood Kisser\u201d (Usher)
46. \u201cNo Limit\u201d (Usher)
47. \u201cClimax\u201d (Usher)
48. \u201cConfessions\u201d (Usher)
49. \u201cSuperstar\u201d (Usher)
50. \u201cAyo\u201d (Brown)
51. \u201cObvious\u201d (Brown)
52. \u201cKiss Kiss\u201d (Brown)
53. \u201cWith You\u201d (Brown)
54. \u201cForever\u201d (Brown)
55. \u201cNo Guidance\u201d (Brown)
56. \u201cNew Flame\u201d (Usher\/Brown)
Note: There were also between-set songs performed by Eric Bellinger, Tank and Mario as well as music from DJ Fresh.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"There\u2019s a bizarre moment early on during Chris Brown and Usher\u2019s joint R&B Tour when the former is…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":447610,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[184,7,2644,1533,181,25438,330,3743,8257,88,90,89,197,198,94685,200,420],"class_list":["post-447609","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-san-jose","tag-bay-area","tag-california","tag-concerts","tag-keywee","tag-latest-headlines","tag-levis-stadium","tag-music","tag-nightlife","tag-pop-music","tag-san-jose","tag-san-jose-headlines","tag-san-jose-news","tag-santa-clara","tag-santa-clara-county","tag-social-alert","tag-south-bay","tag-things-to-do"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/447609","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=447609"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/447609\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/447610"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=447609"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=447609"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=447609"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}