Scenes from Britney’s ‘Circus’ concert at Philips
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Friday, March 06, 2009
Britney Spears’ “Circus” came to town Thursday night at Philips Arena.
And at points, the spectacle threatened to shut down attendees’ overloaded senses.
Brant Sanderlin/bsanderlin@ajc.com
Britney Spears was in full control of her act, her performance and her image at Philips Arena on Thursday night.
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First and foremost, there was the people-watching (the pop star’s fans in sold-out crowd arrived dressed in everything from her Catholic school girl video outfit to her awards show snake charming session).
Over at the performer’s merchandise booth, concertgoers formed a line that snaked through the massive arena, awaiting the opportunity to purchase $40 “Circus” T-shirts, $15 coffee mugs, a $150 gold and black velour tracksuit, a $20 “Oops, I Did It Again” onesie for infants and our personal fave, the $20 “Circus” thong.
Inside the arena, fans shrieked as tour sponsor, Virgin Mobile flashed fan texts up on the venue’s massive Jumbotrons (fans were invited to send Spears missives via a special texting number). Sample messages included:
“Scream If You Luv Britney!!!” and “Will U Marry Me Meg or Sarah?”
At 9 p.m. sharp, the lights went out, deafening screaming commenced and the three-ring big top built into the center of the arena, where the Atlanta Thrashers normally play ice hockey, came to life. A circular video screen rose up out of the floor and jugglers, aerialists, clowns and unicyclists arrived to dazzle the crowd.
At 9:20, the star herself finally materialized on stage in a sexy red and gold ringmaster outfit to perform the title track to her comeback album.
By the third song, Spears was already in her undergarments, which would become a recurring theme throughout the evening.
Throughout the 90-minute extravaganza, the singer somehow remembered a crazy amount of choreography while dashing across the stage’s “three rings” so all fans got an equal look at her trimmed down physique.
A small army of dancers and illusionists accompanied her throughout. At one point, during a surreal tribute to Houdini, Spears straddled a bicycle-riding male dancer (who bore an uncanny resemblance to former hubby and back-up dancer Kevin Federline) and positioned her hand in a place that, well, would result in a sexual harassment suit in the regular workplace.
At 9:53, the singer finally spoke to the crowd for the first time: “It’s awesome to be here,” she cooed as the crowd shrieked and screamed.
While she donned a headpiece microphone throughout, Spears’ vocals had been pre-recorded.
She ended the show performing her biggest hits, including “Slave 4 U,” “Baby One More Time” and “Toxic.”
For the finale, Spears appeared in a blue cop uniform (albeit with leather boots and black go-go shorts) to perform her latest hit, “Womanizer,” as leather-accented, bare-chested men gyrated around her.
Or as one breathless, exiting concertgoer succinctly put it: “Well, now I have my Halloween costume all picked out!”
