Justin Timberlake, Shawn Mendes, Lynyrd Skynyrd (?!!) Bring Down The House At iHeartRadio Music Festival's Second Night In Vegas

iHeartRadio Music Festival (photos by Joel Denver)

After a greeting from host RYAN SEACREST, JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE got things off to a suitably spectacular start at the second night of the iHEARTRADIO MUSIC FESTIVAL at LAS VEGAS' T-MOBILE ARENA, proving his skills as the pre-eminent song-and-dance man of his generation. 

Slinking out on-stage in front of his big band after being introduced by 5 SECONDS OF SUMMER, TIMBERLAKE recalled his recent SUPER BOWL halftime performance, opening with "Filthy" ("VEGAS, shake your corporate ass!"). A master showman, he proved his status as one of the world's greatest all-around entertainers, moving effortlesslsy through 2006's psychedelic "Lovestoned (I Think She Knows)," proving he's MICHAEL JACKSON's logical successor on "SexyBack," as well as the gospel-funk of "Man in the Woods."  Only TIMBERLAKE could follow the exquisite falsetto of "Higher Higher" with a spirited call-and-response on "Senorita." After a dynamic one-two punch of classics "Cry Me a River," his post-BRITNEY break-up song, and love song "Mirrors," he donned an acoustic guitar for a duet with SHAWN MENDES, who'd have his own solo set later that evening -- SIMON & GARFUNKEL-style -- on "What Goes Around Comes Around," from his "FutureSex/LoveSounds" album.  The finale, "Say Something," found him scatting, "Baby I'm looking for something I can't have." Is there anything he can't do?  The uplifting finale, "Can't Stop the Feeling," got the crowd on its feet, making like parishioners at a Baptist church. 

CARRIE UNDERWOOD took the stage next. The one-time AMERICAN IDOL winner was in top form as a story-teller, singing the tales of a pair of abused young women who take matters in their own hands in "Church Bells" and "Blown Away," before launching into the title track from her new album, "Cry Pretty," the proverbial show-stopper, and, along with "Last Name," proof she's every bit a rock 'n' roller at heart as a country singer.  "My baby was kicking during that one," the pregnant star joked, before introducing "Love Wins," her new single and heartfelt plea for compassion, hope and understanding. "Love is the only thing worth fighting for." UNDERWOOD returned to her 2005 debut album for the signature "Before He Cheats," the original of her revenge sagas.

SHAWN MENDES was up next, opening with the yearning "There's Nothin' Holding Me Back," which represents his maturation as a rocker, showing off all the winsome charm of vintage BUDDY HOLLY.  "Lost In Japan" proved the kid has some real skills as a crooner, too, an effective falsetto delivered with a jazzy, airy flair. Also, give him this: he still sings "Stitches" like he means it. Delivering the autobiographical "In My Blood," he connects on a personal basis with his audience through a wounded vulnerability that stretches back to tragic teen idols like JAMES DEAN. And he gets extrra points for a sultry medley of KINGS OF LEON's "Use Somebody" into his own "Treat You Better" that was as smooth as a radio DJ segue, even tapping a DIRE STRAITS-ish jam as a musical reference point.

LUKE BRYAN was on hand ostensibly representing the country world, but the GEORGIA hunk is a rock star, plain and simple. But does that give him carte blanche to sing, "Country Girl Shake It For Me" in the #MeToo era?  Just asking. Didn't seem to bother anyone in the audience, though, as he proceded to demonstrate that good-old-boy charm and ability to spin a hooky chorus  in "Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset." As if to settle the debate once and for all, he tackled the title track to his most recent album, "What Makes You Country," but it sure sounded like rock 'n' roll to me. By the time he got to "Most People Are Good" and the uplifting "Play It Again," it was clear BRYAN was on the side of moms, apple pie and the AMERICAN flag. He could well be the SPRINGSTEEN of the SOUTHEAST.

From her appearances on THE VOICE and soon with her own talk show, KELLY CLARKSON has become a personality in her own right, and she uses that to maximum advantage. She's become quite the soulful singer, and she belts out the opening number, "Love So Soft," with a fervor that's a nod to her TEXAS roots. "My Life Would Suck Without You" proves she's got an earthy sense of humor, much like her U.K. counterpart ADELE.  The ARETHA FRANKLIN tribute, "Respect,' a song she first sang on AMERICAN IDOL, was a highlight before KELLY took it first old school with "Since U Been Gone," then new school with the funky, uptempo "Heat," her most recent single, before closing with the obligatory up-lifter, "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)."  

LYNYRD SKYNYRD was next, making the final rounds before calling it quits, guitarist GARY ROSSINGTON, of course the last remaining member, with JOHNNY VAN ZANT, RONNIE's younger brother, and longtime sidekick RICKEY MEDLOWE also still part of the group. By the time they got around to playing classics like "Simple Man" (dedicated by JOHNNY to "our troops"), "Sweet Home Alabama" and the inevitable, 20-minute-long "Free Bird," they'd opened up a southern roadhouse juke joint in the middle of the desert, complete with a three-man guitar army and endless solos,  confetti filling the stage, millennials wondering what the hell they just saw. It brought the house down. May iHEARTRADIO always have a place at the table for good old rock 'n' roll.

Like PANIC! AT THE DISCO the night before, IMAGINE DRAGONS took total advantage of their hometown status to put on a crowd-pleasing set, opening with their patented tribal percussion beat on "Radioactive." Proud hometown boy DAN REYNOLDS seemed emboldened by his LGBTQ activism, reaching out to his minions with compassion, WAYNE SERMON wailing on a guitar solo. The latest single, "Natural," which they played next, came across as angry and ominous, like a band on a mission. "Thunder" demonstrates what makes the DRAGONS such Top 40 contenders. combining hip-hop beats with rock guitars and pop hooks, which explains why they're one of the few rock acts to crossover. The punchy, new "Zero" sounded like a bouncy, promising new direction. Their theme songs might as well be their final two numbers of the night, "Whatever It Takes" and "Believer," because IMAGINE DRAGONS, one of the hardest-working bands in show biz, certainly have been rewarded for their faith in themselves. 

Hip-hop prodigy LOGIC is ready to take the next step to superstardom, and this set might well have proven the vehicle, with the machine-gun rat-a-tat toasting of "44 More" ("Sold more albums my first week than HARRY STYLES and KATY PERRY/If that ain't a sign of the times, then I don't know") the "peace, love and positivity" of "Everybody" and the award-winning anti-suicide song, "I-800-273-8255." RYAN TEDDER joined him on-stage for "One Day," their most recent collaboration, before he offered "some apologetic hip-hop" in the form of the battle-ready, tongue-twisted toasting of "Everybody Dies," the new single from his upcoming album, "Young SINATRA IV." The show came to an end with "Everyday," LOGIC's track with MARSHMELLO. "Today is my day," he proclaimed.  It was his night, too.

« see more Net News