To say it has been a whirlwind week in Chicago this week would be an understatement. With nearly a week of Democratic National Convention events taking the spotlight, Missy Elliott’s extravaganza featuring long time collaborators Timbaland, Ciara and Busta Rhymes offered a welcome way to unwind with a pair of sold-out shows at Allstate Arena in Rosemont on Thursday and Friday nights.
It was also a bit of an emotional roller coaster with each of the opening artists taking a moment from their set to acknowledge the other performers, particularly the impact that Missy has had on their lives and lamenting that their trek was complete. Busta admitted to canceling his own tour, offering no apologies while noting that he’s been waiting twenty one years to tour with Missy and didn’t think twice about it. To say this tour was “much anticipated” doesn’t do justice. Missy Elliott had never had a U.S. headline tour, and it has been two decades since she was on the road, opening for Beyoncé in 2004. To see her perform required finding one of her rare one-off performances at random festivals across the globe.
Donning a new (and elaborate) costume every few songs, while brief dance performances segued the evening through its various chapters without any sense of a lull. Missy did not miss a beat as she romped through more than two dozen songs in a span of about 75 minutes. Production was Broadway level for the headline performance, featuring multiple display panels that articulated in various formations for each song, numerous dancers in complementary attire and the requisite pyro and risers. From the opening “Throw It Back” that brought the entire arena to its feet, they never had an opportunity to sit as she bounced through her catalog of hits. “Gossip Folks” saw Missy board a UFO-inspired platform that took her above the crowd with a pair of her dancers, keeping with the “Out of this World” theme. The energy was through the roof as she worked through favorites “Get Ur Freak On,” “One Minute Man” and “Hot Boyz” mid set.
The lone downside to the event was the audio, with the bass-heavy beats plaguing every artist's set. It was difficult to hear Timbaland, Ciara or Busta over the redundant thump that resonated and literally vibrated the arena. Fortunately, the mix for Missy Elliott’s set was more balanced and we could finally hear her guests when they joined her in succession to close the night. Timbaland appeared for “Up Jumps Da Boogie,” followed by Busta Rhymes for his song “Touch It” before Ciara came out for the finale on “Lose Control.” Fans obliged as they did just that, gyrating and throwing ‘bows with whatever energy they had left. Please Missy, let’s do this again in a few years.
