Future Now: The Tour at Barclays Center
Looking back at the early careers of Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas may be an obvious introduction to the two artists, but if those careers were completely overlooked it would be remiss, because the duo have done the near impossible: Seamlessly, and very publicly, transitioning over from childhood stars to full-fledge entertainers in their twenty-somethings (bringing along with them a raw and very real sexuality, class, and style, embracing the now and bracing for the future). As the pair embarks on this leg of their journey, they invite us along with them on Future Now: The Tour (this past Friday stopping off at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center).
The tour itself has already been making major waves across the country, with a slew of heavy-hitting guests and a powerful statement in North Carolina (where the pair cancelled a leg of their tour in protest of the Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act). As part of the larger 2016 Honda Civic Tour, Lovato brings with her Confident (2015, Island/Safehouse), her fifth studio album, and Jonas with him Last Year Was Complicated (2016, Island/Safehouse), his third studio album. Together Lovato and Jonas put on a no frills show, focusing their attention instead on their incredibly powerful voices, versatile lyrics and rhythms, and the almost insatiable energy of the packed stadium.
Jonas, in his own right, may have stolen part of the show with his smooth theatrics and sheer charm (playing hits like “Jealous” and “Champagne Problems”). Lovato, on the other hand, may have seduced the audience with interjections of impossibly high notes and sultry moves (playing her newest single “Body Say” mixed with hits like “Confident”). The coup de grâce of the evening, outside of special guest duets with Desiigner and Jamie Foxx, was a duet between Lovato and Jonas of “Closer” (off Jonas’ latest album, with the female vocals originally being supplied by Tove Lo). As an ensemble, Lovato and Jonas slay and the tour is one that is not to be missed by any fan of pop art—it meshes and melds an array of music and musicians that is almost unparalleled by all other tours in 2016.
Future Now: The Tour continues through September in the US. Be sure to check out Demi Lovato at demilovato.comand on iTunes, as well as Nick Jonas at nickjonas.com and on iTunes.