103.9 FM WDKX
Rochester, NY
Your #1 Radio for R&B
On air:
Afternoon Drive with
Atu
Listen Online
103.9 WDKX Live Stream
REQUEST A SONG!
Request A Song
If there was any doubt that the National Football League and its sponsors know how to throw a party, it was dispelled Jan. 31 at Glendale's Jobing.com Arena.
The league turned the arena into Glendale's largest dance club to host appearances by Mary J. Blige, Maroon 5 and Ne-Yo to open the two-night Pepsi Smash Super Bowl Bash concert series.
Organizers managed to give a somewhat intimate feel to a venue that held about 10,000 rock and R&B fans for this event.
A stage framed by bead-like lights had a portion that reached out into a standing-room floor area occupied by fans, who danced and waved light sticks. Snowflake-shaped lights hung from the ceiling and huge helium-filled balloons floated near the stage.
An array of video screens showed the artists as well as fast-paced NFL highlights, a good match for the night's energetic music.
The set-up even had a VIP area, where hundreds of fans connected to Pepsi and the NFL could mingle, dine on free food and get a drink. (It was a swanky idea worthy of the NFL, but it might not have made the "regular folks," most of whom paid a reasonable $40 per ticket, feel so great.)
But good vibes were everywhere, with fans pumped about Super Bowl XLII headed next door, at University of Phoenix Stadium, and good music in the air.
Blige closed things out with a set that made the case that she is the latest queen of soul and R&B. Backed by a tight, five-piece band and two singers, she had much of the crowd up and dancing much of the time.
Blige, who talked about seeing her share of ups and downs in her personal life, poured her emotions into every song. Highlights from Blige's set included the funky Love No Limit, the soaring Hurt Again, the emotional Take Me As I Am and the poignant Roses. A cover of U2's One also struck a chord with the crowd.
Dropping in on Blige during her set was rising hip-hop star Ne-Yo, who took a solo turn on his hit .
NFL stars Amani Toomer of the New York Giants and Adam Vinatieri of the Indianapolis Colts also stopped by.
"Mary J. Blige is the real thing," Vinatieri said.
And he was right.
