Mars to land in Albany
Bruno Mars will be coming to the Times Union Center in Albany on July 20 of this summer as a part of his 2014 Moonshine Jungle Tour.
Mars will be headlining the show with special guest Aloe Blacc.
The two-time Grammy award winner has found success in his three year music career. His first album, “Doo Wops & Hooligans,” reached number three on the Billboard charts. Then “Unorthodox Jukebox,” released in 2012, topped the charts.
Mars stirred mixed reactions amongst the Hudson Valley community with his performance at the Super Bowl halftime show this year.
“I enjoy Bruno Mars but it still wasn’t enough to make me watch him on the Super Bowl halftime show,” said human services major Breasia Parker.
“He’s an old dog learning new tricks and begging to be the next King of Pop,” said student Ramone Jetter.
Jetter finds distinct similarities between Mars and the late “King of Pop,” Michael Jackson.
“Aside from the leg split, the stuff that [Bruno Mars] does like the leg movements is like looking at a reincarnation of Michael Jackson,” Jetter said.
“I know a lot of people, including myself, who like Bruno Mars. But it’s still not enough to spend money on seeing him perform live,” said Parker.
“It’s enough to hear him on the radio and seeing him live just does not seem worth it,” said Parker.
Jon Delong, an individual studies major and vocalist of local punk band, Nine Votes Short, was also unfamiliar with Bruno Mars prior to Super Bowl XLVIII.
“Until I saw the show, I didn’t know who the f*** this guy was,” said Delong. “[Bruno Mars] gets onstage and he’s drumming and it’s cool, but still not even close to the [Red Hot] Chili Peppers of course.”
Bruno Mars shared the stage at Super Bowl XLVIII alongside veteran punk rock group, The Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Some students had their own notions on Mars before the Super Bowl halftime show.
“I straight up hate Bruno Mars. He’s like any pop star that never branches out and only does his thing for the money,” said Auto Mechanic major, Ryan Wilmot.
“I still favor the [Red Hot] Chili Peppers. Bruno Mars seemed pretty real but it wasn’t time for him to have his own halftime show” said Delong.
While some were bored by the game and distracted by fireworks, Bruno Mars has been successful in getting people talking about him.
“At least it wasn’t worse than Madonna,” said Delong.
Tickets for Mars’ performance at the Times Union Center went on sale on Feb. 8 and are available on http://www.ticketmaster.com.