Rapper Pitbull put on a memorable performance at the MassMutual Center on Friday night
This April 26, 2012 file photo shows rapper Pitbull smiling after accepting the award for the Song of the Year by a male performer during the Latin Billboard Awards. SPRINGFIELD _ MGM Springfield dipped its toes into the lukewarm waters of the local concert scene on Friday night, promoting a show with rapper / pop star Pitbull at the MassMutual Center. The event felt an awful lot like a political rally, with “Vote Yes” signs and as many casino supporters as concert-goers filling the aisles.
That is, until Pitbull took the stage.
Arguably one of the world’s most recognizable pop stars, the bilingual, multi-genre, ultra-talented rapper put on one of the most dynamic performances the downtown stage has seen in years, perhaps going back to the venue’s heyday when the legends of the rock genre were regulars on Main Street.
Front to back, side to side, Pitbull turned the confines of the MassMutual Center into a fully-engaged house party and kept the momentum moving forward throughout a 75 minute set. If you weren’t a fan going in, there is a good chance you were a fan going out.
Pitbull was pulled to Springfield off of his current tour with Ke$ha. While he didn’t bring the singer with him to the City of Homes, he brought everything else. Pitbull was augmented by the full-blare production of a live, seven-piece band, back-up dancers, and a video and laser extravaganza.
The event began with the dimly-lit dance track act Justice Crew, followed by the DJ act Jump Smokers who put a charge in the crowd with remixes of LMFAO’s “Party Rock Anthem” and Katy Perry’s “Firework.”
Before the headliner took the stage, MGM executives Mike Mathis and Kelley Tucky commandeered the microphone to remind residents of the July 16 vote to approve a casino in Springfield.
Pitbull’s set began with “Hey Baby” and continued to build with a sound and fury that engulfed “I Like,” “International Love,” and “Dance Again,” which featured a video appearance and soundtrack of Jennifer Lopez.
Pitbull was able to deftly weave his famous duets (Christian Aguilera, J-Lo, Marc Anthony) into the show through recorded tracks while hammering away on his own live vocals ( he worked hard enough to have a hoarse delivery by set’s end) to present a world-class performance.
The highlight of those duets may have been his take on “Get it Started” which featured a video appearance from Shakira.
The songs went from English to Spanish, the genres from rock (Guns’N’Roses’ “Sweet Child o’ Mine) to salsa and samplings of the Beastie Boys’ “(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party).”
So did MGM Springfield make a splash?
The glass-half-empty types will suggest that not selling out (small pockets of empty seats scattered here and there) despite a huge name and a generous outlay of comp tickets to youth groups and local servicemen is a cue that MGM Springfield should consider the very real fact that “if you build it”... they still might not come.
But if this was to be a living, breathing example of what a casino could bring to the city from an “event” standpoint, MGM Springfield can certainly point to this night as a success.
However, Pitbull dropping staccato Latin raps over Christina Aguilera beautifully singing “Feel the Moment” against the backdrop of Aha’s 80s hit “Take On Me,” literally taking on several cultures, eras, and genres at once (all of which are relevant in our fair city) raises the specter of yet another question for the entity that has committed to presenting multiple shows at the venue as part of a casino project;
How are they going to top this?