Akon is back on the road and better than ever- the prolific singer sold out The Van Buren in Phoenix this week with a stunning set of hit after hit all night long. The Konvict Muzik hitmaker emerged with a live band, resplendent in his white fur coat and head to toe sequins.
His sound has always fluctuated between gangster anthems and R&B bops and both ends of the musical spectrum were well-represented with his choice of setlist. The first section of the set was all the heavy lifting of the “Gangsta Bop” while the second portion of the night (complete with costume change) took the audience down the road of Akon features- including a turn with the “Bartender” and dance anthem “Belly Dancer”.
As the list of songs stretched on and on (Akon performed an incredible 34 tracks), the audience wasn’t willing to let the evening end. Akon jumped onto the barricade to be even closer to his chosen family and even brought out new signing AMIRROR towards the latter half of the performance.
For a Sunday night, the room was shaking with an energy that wouldn’t be out of place on a Friday and, as Akon himself said, the night may have been over but the party was just beginning.
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Story and photos by Olivia Khiel