Justin Timberlake: Pop star’s concert makes best of overwrought, outdoorsy release

With his flannel shirts and tree-themed set design, Justin Timberlake was a Walden Pond wannabe during his electrifying two-hour set Monday night at Nationwide Arena.

Promoting his latest release “Man of the Woods”, the 37-year-old was no detached and distant Thoreau, but a colorful force who more than proved his right to remain an A-list pop star more than 20 years after getting his start in boy band NSYNC.

The Man Of The Woods Tour, Columbus, OH, EE.UU. +32 images

A few minutes after 9 p.m., a blinding light emanated from one end of the stage configuration, illuminating the massive bandstand holding 14 vocalists and musicians.

It shined across the snaking black catwalk that ran the length of the room, along which was situated a built-in bar where VIP attendees could buy booze and six glittering faux trees. Later in the set, see-through screens descended from the ceiling, onto which were projected calming scenes of forests, mountains and poppy fields.

After a few minutes of mysterious instrumental music, Timberlake emerged in the aforementioned flannel shirt, plus orange sneakers and a denim jacket.

He popped and locked with his six skilled backup dancers to “Filthy”, the electro-funk opener off of “Man of the Woods” before bouncing down to the round stage in the center of the room for second album track “Midnight Summer Jam”, which sounded pretty much like its name implies it should.

With a name mashing together two natural terms, maybe it was kismet that Timberlake released an outdoorsy album. Regardless of his reasoning, the result departed from the R&B/neo-soul of his first three records to encompass hints of bluegrass and country.

While “Man of the Woods” often felt overwrought, Timberlake massaged its weakest parts — drum machines over acoustic guitar, for instance — for the live show. The singer’s careful choreography and use of a live band rather than relying on backing tracks softened weaker songs (funky “Montana”) and elevated strong moments.

These included the spectacular “Mirrors”, from Timberlake’s 2013 “The 20/20 Experience” (not to be confused with “The 20/20 Experience – 2 of 2”, released later that year) and “LoveStoned/I Think She Knows”, off his 2006 sophomore release “FutureSex/LoveSounds”.

The first allowed him to flex his warm tenor and crystalline falsetto, despite the sludgy vocal mix plaguing the first half of the show. The second showcased his controlled dance steps.

An interlude in the middle — with Timberlake in a different flannel shirt — gathered several musicians, dancers and singers around a real(!) fire to sing acoustic covers, including Lauryn Hill’s “Ex-Factor” and John Denver’s “Thank God I’m a Country Boy”.

Timberlake kept his stage banter to a minimum, preferring to move his feet rather than his mouth.

After two hours with barely a break, he mustered a final burst of energy for his most popular song“,Can’t Stop the Feeling”. The tune, from 2016 animated movie “Trolls”, is one that parents of young children might prefer out of their heads forever, but it sent Monday’s cheerful crowd dancing into the chilly night.

The Shadowboxers, a six-piece pop group signed to Timberlake’s development label Villa 40, opened the evening with a synchronized set of singable summer songs.

The Columbus Dispatch