Justin Bieber fans celebrated an incredible journey in Pittsburgh on Wednesday night, a 90-minute spectacle packed with raw emotion, intense vocals and endless dancing.
Bieber's Purpose World Tour enjoyed a sellout crowd at Consol Energy Center, and the 22-year-old pop superstar had the entire audience on its feet with each song, performing favorites from his most recent album and classics from his more innocent days.
Chants and cheers resonated across the arena, but Bieber hardly cracked a smile as he cycled through a wardrobe filled with ripped jeans and oversized tees.
He opened the show inside a glass box, delivering the solemn plea “Mark My Words” before segueing into the upbeat EDM collaboration “Where Are U Now,” giving a glimpse of what was in store for the rest of the evening.
He was accompanied by a five-piece band and a team of dancers most of the show, but stood alone during an acoustic rendition of “Love Yourself” — the most heartfelt performance of the night. Fans lit up their phones and sang to every word as Bieber strummed along to his most vulnerable set.
When he decided to revisit work from the past, the crowd of mostly women went crazy for throwbacks, particularly “Boyfriend” and “Baby.”
But it wasn't until later on, after a couple of backflips and an impressive drum solo, that he turned the entire stage into a pool, and merged into crowd favorite “Sorry,” a powerful encore that ended the night in a shower of rain.
All in all, Bieber's return to Pittsburgh was another crowd-pleasing performance. He proved once again why he's more than capable of being an adult sensation.
