Chris Brown heats up the stage in Houston. Photo by Sean Thomas
The Toyota center was the latest stop on R&B superstar Chris Brown’s 11:11 tour and featured over 40 songs across his entire discography with a performance spanning just over two hours long. The tour kicked off in June and had come to Houston seven months after the release of his 11th studio album and the tours namesake, “11:11”.
Fans packed the arena and watched as the massive LED screen behind the stage counted down to zero and then emerged Chris Brown on a platform. A single beam of light highlighted the R&B singer and filling the stage beneath him were ominous masked people with red eyes.
The platform lowered and Chris Brown made his way across the stage as fire and sparks went off, “Angel Numbers / Ten Toes” cued, and the night had officially begun in Houston.
The set was divided into four acts: Fire, Water, Air, and Earth. The massive screen behind the stage coincided with the theme of the acts by projecting mesmerizing visuals that immersed the crowd in Brown’s world. Each act had an intermission with DJ Fresh playing a mix of party classics and some of Brown’s hits that wouldn’t make the setlist but that Fresh felt the crowd knew best.
The fans were poised after the opening performances from Roc Nation artist Maeta and Florida’s Muni Long set the stage for what was to come.
Muni Long was the second opener for Chris Brown.
Photo by Sean Thomas
Act 1 got the night off to a fiery start and featured tracks such as “Heat”, “Go Girlfriend”, and “Summer Too Hot” to go with the theme of the act. The act brought intensity and as you could imagine, a lot of fire on stage.
“Houston how y’all doing so far?” The singer asked as the first act came to a close. He descended under the stage and would return in a new outfit. Brown slowed it down for the crowd with the Water act. Kicking things off with the leadoff track from his most recent LP “Bruce Lee.”
Fan favorite and hit song “Only” was also featured in this Act and was where fans saw Brown hoisted into the air on a harness and lifted to the other side of the venue with three of his dancers. The four were now on a much smaller, rotating and tilting platform that was more intimate with the fans.
Breezy would eventually make his way back to the main stage the same way he left, dancing through the air. He landed and recessed back under the stage to usher in Act 3.
DJ Fresh served as intermission entertainment, continuing to keep the crowd engaged through songs and calling out on-screen dancers. Signs showing love to the Virginia singer were displayed all over the sea of people.
Chris Brown brought his signature dancing to the Toyota Center.
Photo by Sean Thomas
“How my ladies feeling so far you good? Let’s slow it down for y’all one time.” Brown called out as he returned to the stage, and he began to sing “into a diamond-embezzled microphone that was now hanging from the rafters. Brown performed “Back to Sleep” and “Very Special” before returning to his hand-held mic.
“Ladies I need y’all’s help with this one.” He said as “No Air” began to play, sending the crowd into a roar. They knew every word and Breezy let them take over. This closed out Act 3 and Brown made his way back under for one last outfit change for the final set of songs.
He returned singing and dancing inside a clear glass box and after he left it, two more appeared and his backup dancers were inside this time. “Natural Disaster” kicked off the final Act. The screen behind them showed visuals of what seemed to be war and chaos as “Call me Everyday” and “Sensational” were performed.
Chris Brown brings the 11:11 tour to Houston.
Photo by Sean Thomas
Immediately the board showed the four acts with a circle of songs underneath each. The game was a “Wheel of Fortune” style random song selector and Brown said this would decide the next three songs.
Fan favorite “Poppin’” was first up, followed by “Deuces” and “Say Goodbye” and the crowd was thrilled with each song they were given.
The night was capped off with “Grass Ain’t Greener” and Breezy expressed his gratitude for the fans.
“This is what matters most to me” he said before thanking the fans and the city.
Set List
Angel Numbers/Ten Toes
Run Away
That’s on You
Heat
Party/Soak City
Go Girlfriend
Ayo/Beat It
Freak
Summer Too Hot/Can’t Stop Won’t Stop
Go Crazy
New Flame
Indigo
Only/Wrist
Take You Down
Wet the Bed/IDGAF
Feel Something/Under the Influence
Pills and Automobiles
Press Me
She Ain’t You
Play No Games/Strip
Need a Friend
Back to Sleep
Very Special
Come Together/Don’t Judge/Residuals
No Air
Natural Disaster/HMM
Call Me Everyday
Sensational
No Guidance
Deuces/No BS/Poppin
Loyal
Grass Ain’t Greener
