Bruno Mars
NRG Stadium
April 22, 2026
A few months ago, I remarked to a friend that I found it hard to believe Harry Styles was playing 30 nights at Madison Square Garden later this year. Sorry, not just playing, but had *sold out* 30 shows at the Garden. That friend — who is much more knowledgeable about trending heartthrobs — assured me this was perfectly understandable.
What does this have to do with Bruno Mars? Not much. Except he’s not playing MSG* for “The Romantic Tour,” which made its one and only Houston stop last night. It just made me consider — while looking around a sold-out NRG Stadium during the show — that pop culture may have passed me by.
For sure, NRG (or Reliant, whatever) is the natural progression for the Mars. His first H-Town concert was at Warehouse Live (RIP) back in 2010. And he’s has been a consistent radio/streaming presence ever since the release of Doo-Wops & Hooligans almost 16 years ago. In the decade and change since, he’s established himself as a reliably comfortable hang.
“Nostalgic” is one word for his mix of doo-wop, pop, funk, and whatever other genre he feels like experimenting with. “Derivative” is another, but I wouldn’t go that far. Mars does soul (“Dance With Me”), funk (“Uptown Funk”), hip-hop/R&B (“That’s What I Like”) and others with ease. With above average musical chops and a powerful voice, he’s a musical chameleon. Albeit one some say changes musical colors a little too easily.
DJ Pee .Wee (Anderson .Paak’s alter ego in a Prince Valiant wig) got things started. He goofed with the crowd and spun a fairly cross-generational selection (Tears for Fears! Dads represent!). He was followed by Leon Thomas (who my daughter informed me was the only Black actor on Victorious). His set was much more straightforward rock and roll, though he had to fight through a bass-heavy mix.
Both Pee .Wee and Thomas’s set also convinced me that Bruno Mars opening acts must have a minimum requirement for how many times they have to tell the crowd to make some noise.
Then it was time for the main event. One could say Mars’s decision to start the show with three songs from The Romantic was more of a whimper than a bang. Especially in the case of opener “Risk It All,” a mostly acoustic piece. A tender moment, under ordinary circumstances, rendered somewhat ineffective by the piercing screams of thousands of fans.
“Cha Cha Cha,” a Latin-tinged dance number that (d)evolves into pure disco, fit the mood better. “On My Soul,” kicked things into a higher gear, and then the Grandmaster Flash homage “24K Magic.” From that point, the crowd may as well have been eating from his hand. Mars and the Hooligans, his 12-piece band played 24 songs (or 22 and 2 medleys).
And last night’s show was “all about love,” according to Mars. From dedicating “God Was Showing Off” to “all the beautiful ladies” to the slow jams during the Silk Sonic mini set, Mars as Smoove B was in full effect. And he’s not afraid to deploy the cheese. firing up the “Angel Baby Cam” for select ladies at the barricade. Never mind the Sears portrait studio cloud effects.
The first half of the show closed out with the first Love Man medley (“Oh Girl,” “I Miss You,” etc.), a rousing “That’s What I Like,” and a positively Santana-esque “Something Serious.” The latter was also the first time Mars showed his guitar chops, and Carlos would’ve been proud.
Mars was then joined by .Paak for a mini set of songs from their collaboration as retro outfit Silk Sonic. Starting with the UFO-heavy “Blast Off” and a video introduction by none other than Bootsy Collins, the ’70s vibes were heavy. From the cheesy Vegas backdrop for “777” to the Philly soul stylings of “Leave the Door Open.”
It was an interesting interlude, and Anderson .Paak brings some fun energy, but several selections dragged. “Smokin Out the Window,” especially. But also their No. 1, “Leave the Door Open,” which Mars unconvincingly said they were playing “just for us” (the set list for this tour hasn’t changed).
“Marry You” brought us back to the Mars show (and confetti), followed by another mellow medley. This one, which featured crowd favorites like “Die With a Smile” and “When I Was Your Man,” goosed the crowd up some more. The only (momentarily) confusing part was leaving it up to the audience to sing to an instrumental version of “Versace on the Floor.”
You fools! It was so Mars could make his final costume change and launch a triptych that would impress Peter Paul Rubens. “Locked Out of Heaven” (his Police riff), “Just the Way You Are,” and “Uptown Funk,” a Mark Ronson song that he might as well surrender to Mars like Neville Chamberlain giving up the Sudetenland.
Watching him last night, it was striking to think how far Mars has come from that tiny Warehouse Live stage. “The Romantic Tour” — with its staggering light rigs, kitschy videos, and pyrotechnics — brought to mind last year’s Tyler, the Creator show. Not in terms of content or originality, but because it may well be one of this year’s most memorable shows.
*He’s playing four sold-out dates at MetLife Stadium.
Personal Bias: I got the high score in my house for “24K Magic” on Just Dance for PS4.
The Crowd: Thought I’d made a mistake and showed up on Battle Red Day.
Overheard In The Crowd: SCREEEEEECH
Random Notebook Dump: “Man, I hope that confetti isn’t flammable.”
SET LIST
Risk It All
Cha Cha Cha
On My Soul
24K Magic
Treasure
God Was Showing Off
I Just Might
Perm
Why You Wanna Fight?
Oh Girl / I Miss You / You Are Everything / I Want to Be Your Man
That’s What I Like
Something Serious
Silk Sonic
Blast Off
Silk Sonic Intro
777
Fly as Me
Smokin Out the Window
Leave the Door Open
Marry You
Die With a Smile / It Will Rain / Talking to the Moon / When I Was Your Man / Versace on the Floor
Locked Out of Heaven
Just the Way You Are
Uptown Funk
ENCORE
Dance With Me
