Britney's Back!

This is a bull-shit free review!

Britney Spears descended from the sky at the New Orleans Arena on Tuesday night to rightfully reclaim her role as the Princess of Pop. And Perez was lucky enough to be there!

One of the reasons we decided to come to New Orleans was because we weren't sure if she'd make it through to the middle of April, when her Circus tour is scheduled to hit Los Angeles. Heck, we weren't even sure she could pull off opening night.

And she did! Quite well. Much better than we had expected!

Here's how it all went down: The Pussycat Dolls went on at 8:00 P.M. sharp and put on an energetic 40-minute set of hits. Robin Antin, the group's founder, told us that they had just one day and only two hours on stage to reconfigure their arena show to be in-the-round, as is the case with Britney's 3-stage circus.

Backstage we ran into K-Fat and Spears' newly rehired assistant, Felicia Culotta. There was no sense of chaos or panic behind the scenes before Britney went on, which surprised us.

There was a pre-show of featuring clowns, martial arts and acrobatics, and Britney went on at approximately 9:20 P.M, playing for about an hour and a half.

A video featuring none other than yours truly, Perez, opened the show, and - we are pleased to say - it was very warmly received!

Spears descended from the roof on an apparatus and kicked things off with the appropriately-themed Circus.

Now, let's get our biggest gripe/problem with the show out of the way. Yes, she lipsynchs during the entire concert. There is no live singing. None!.

However, it's a Britney Spears show. You expect that!

Even though you expect it, though, it would be nice if at least a handful of the almost 20 song set were live. But, that's not gonna happen.

In exchange for the miming, you do get Spears doing what she does best, dancing. And she's got the moves again!

We were a bit underwhelmed by her live TV appearances performing Womanizer. She seemed drugged and lethargic. She'd walk around from point A to point B, just walking - without much if any confidence.

Well, we are pleased to say that Britney has her confidence back! And she seemed to be having a great time throughout the whole show. You could tell by the huge smile that appeared on her face throughout the evening.

She didn't say much. In fact, she didn't speak at all to the audience until after the very last song! We do wish she would have said something earlier, but she didn't have to. She spoke through her body and that infectious smile.

When you see Britney smile, you can't help but smile back!

Her only words the whole night were, "Thank you New Orleans, I love u guys. Did y'all have a good time? Thank you so much," said after the final encore, Womanizer.

The show is a non-stop assault on the eyes, a visual extravaganza. And there is a LOT that Britney does. To her credit, she pulled it off! She did it!

She danced like she hasn't dance in a very long time. And, one of the best parts of the evening is that Spears seemed to be clear-headed. She did not appear heavily-sedated or lethargic at all. She was on point!
It being the very first sho

w of the tour, you could tell she was wasn't 100% tight with the choreography yet, but she was more than just going through the motions. She was feeling it and into it!

We had never seen a show in-the-round before and it was a thrilling experience. There is no bad seat in the house! And director Jamie King did an exquisite job of filling the space and being inventive.

The show was fun and fresh and dazzling! There were definitely many move "moving pieces" than in Madonna's recent Sticky & Sweet tour, which King also directed.

There were a few missteps on the production, a misguided heavy metal segment and some empty space with two background vocalists that could be filled or tightened after Spears sings the ballad Everytime.

But, those moments were definitely very few and far between. If you are a Britney fan - or someone who appreciates a big spectacle - then you will love the show. King did an amazing job of giving the concert a true Circus-like feel, incorporating magic, aerialists, clowns and lots of razzle dazzle.

The most jaw-dropping moment of the show was when Spears performed Breath On Me accompanied by two aerialists, who turned their bodies into a bed and sent Britney flying into the sky with them! But, not just that, she totally was fearless in the air and did some amazing moves in the sky!

Other highlights included the super-playful If You Seek Amy - with boys and hammers - and an amped up version of …Baby One More Time.

From flying sets, smoke, wind, pyro, this concert has it all. But it's biggest asset is definitely Spears herself.

There is something amazing about Britney that people are always rooting for her. We genuinely want to see her succeed. We've seen her grow up in front of our eyes, and we love her - shortcomings and all. She may not be perfect, but she that's okay. She's our Britney.

And she's back, bitches!

We can't wait to see the show again in Atlanta and Miami and see it get better and better.

Perez, your faithful and honest critic, over and out!

Source: Perez Hilton

Britney Spears Kicks Off Circus Tour

The following italicized article is from www.celebrity-gossip.net:

Making her much awaited debut on the Circus tour, Britney Spears took to the stage at the New Orleans Arena on Tuesday night (March 3).

The “Gimme More” singer dazzled with fresh dance routines and displays as she performed songs off her latest album, as well as some of her classics.

“This is a full-out, full-blown Britney Spears show,” her manager Larry Rudolph tells. “It is everything everybody would expect from her and more.”

Talking about how Britney looked as she prepped for the stage, Baton Rouge DJ Libby Davis said, “Her body is definitely back. We could see her arm and leg muscles from where we were sitting. In typical Britney fashion, the costumes were pretty scanty. It was Cirque du Soleil meets Moulin Rouge.”

See more pics here!

Source: Celebrity Gossip

Britney's Circus Takes Off in New Orleans

The following italicized article is from www.eonline.com:

Britney Spears is back and, the good news is, she's stronger than yesterday.

The Circus Starring Britney Spears kicked off tonight at New Orleans Arena, where her adoring hometown fans—and members of the media—lined up for hours beforehand to get their hands on tour memorabilia and otherwise prove their loyalty to the fiercely comebacking pop star.

And the 27-year-old songstress didn't seem to disappoint, as evidenced by the concertgoers who Twittered away every moment of the show.

In addition to all the bells and whistles promised by her manager, magician, stylist, makeup artist, random folks, etc., Spears' desire to do good and make up for lost time was palpable, and that alone would have made for a thrilling experience.

Opening act the Pussycat Dolls got things rolling, whetting the audience's appetite for the sexy spectacle that was to follow.

A little more than an hour later, Spears descended from the ceiling and dove into "Piece of Me," off of 2007's Blackout.

The night's 16-song set list included "Radar," "Boys," a "Gimme More" remix, "Everytime," "Me Against the Music" backed by Bollywood-inspired dancers, "Do Somethin'," the more than suggestive "Touch of My Hand" and the pleasantly controversial "If U Seek Amy," made all the more carnivalesque when Britney wielded a big pink hammer and gave her dancers the whack-a-mole treatment.

And, as promised, earlier in the evening Britney was cut in half. (Though the question remains: Is she whole again?)

The greatest hits came toward the end, when Brit and her dancers polished of "Slave 4 U," "Toxic" and "...Baby One More Time" to close the show. "Womanizer" was tonight's encore selection.

Amid a shower of sparks, Britney then thanked the audience and wished them a good night.

Source: E! Online

It's Britney – One More Time!

The following italicized article is from www.people.com:

Britney Spears descended from the New Orleans Arena ceiling and back into fans' hearts Tuesday night, restarting her career after years of tabloid tumult with a bump-and-grind performance on a Big Top stage.

"Ahhh Britney!" gushed one concert-goer via a Twitter message posted on Spears's Web site, which live-blogged the show in words and cell-phone photos.

As the pop star launched her first tour in five years, the 16-song set began with Spears, 27, being lowered from the rafters in a cage and breaking into the single "Circus," followed by "Piece of Me" and Radar" with stripper-pole dancing.

"Oh my god, she looks amazing," said Joshua Matassa, 23, from New Orleans. "And the show's a spectacle – it really looks like a three-ring circus."

Later in the show, fire shot out of the middle of the stage during "Slave," and the nearly sold-out 19,000-seat arena broke out into an explosion of screams as Spears performed "Toxic" and "Baby One More Time" back-to-back.

The performance marked a dramatic return to form for Spears, who's been rehearsing for the 32-city tour, and placed aside – for now – the issues that derailed her personal and professional lives: the messy divorce from Kevin Federline, losing custody of her children, and the self-acknowledged breakdown that followed.

Instead, Tuesday was a night of celebration and a chance for Spears, who hails from Kentwood, about 100 miles away, to bask in the glow of hometown fans.

Source: People

LIVE BLOGGING At "Circus" Tour: New Orleans

8:58pm: she's really excited!!! dancing away telling us goodbye! Have a good night! -britneylive

8:57pm: She just thanked the crowds... Taking her final bow. - Julie M

8:56pm: Curtain of sparks... gorgeous!!! - Julie M via twitterPic from britneylive

8:52pm: Dressed as a cop with a baton! ~Julie M

8:49pm: WOMANIZER!!! -Julie M

8:48pm: Waiting for the encore... everyone is chanting "Britney! Britney!" again!

8:44pm: Baby One more Time!!! Remix! -Julie M

8:43pm: Her energy is so high! -britneylive

8:40pm: Toxic... the arena went crazy!!! - Julie M

8:39pm: I don't want this to end :( I feel like it's getting close :( -britneylive

8:35pm: Dancers solos! -Julie M

8:33pm: slaveeeeee newww dance, way cool! Remix! -britneylive

8:34pm: FIRE!!!

8:30pm: You can really tell she is having fun! -Julie M

8:28: Do something!!!!! Power tools... sparks!! -britneylive

8:23pm: MAN SWING!!!

8:22pm: She is getting blindfolded..Touch of My Hand..she's on a couch.. getting on two guys and flying into the air. - Julie M

8:20 pm She looks fierce!!! Going up in frames!!!! Frames rotating around to - Britneylive

8:18pm: Britney's Hotline is on now

8:12pm: Gettttt nakeddddd. -britneylive

8:09pm: She is wearing the outfit with the tassels singing Freakshow. Julie M

8:06pm: Britneylive

8:05pm: We are moving into Freakshow/Peepshow. -Julie M

8:02pm: singing everytime while sitting on a giant umbrella suspended above stage. She sounds great!! ~Singlemomindebt via twitter Pic from Britneylive

7:56pm: Me Against the Music... Bollywood Style. Julie M

7:55pm: During if u seek amy, she went around with a giant pink wack-a-mole hammer & hit the dancers & they fell under the stage. -Singlemomindebt

7:49pm: If U Seek Amy!!! -Julie M

7:47: Britneylive

7:46pm: Boyssss... bikes and green jacket! SINGING LIVE!!! -Britneylive

7:42pm: Magic time... Ooh ooh baby! Hot dress!!! getting cut in half! -britneylive

7:39pm: Ninjas performing to a Gimme More remix -Julie M

7:37pm: The pole dance is radar!!! Her dancing is wayyy back!!! ~BritneyLive

7:35pm: Radar!

7:32pm: In the cage!!!! Piece of me!!!!!! Fierce dancing!!!!- BritneyLive

7:30pm: show started.... Decended from ceiling sitting in some sort of circle singing circus ...dancing up a storm. - Singlemomindebt

7:28pm: To all the critics she looks amazing and is very much singing live! She sounds amazing!!-Julie M

7:27pm: ahhh britney!

7:23pm: The curtain is going up! Here we go! - filmmaker311

7:22pm: Everyone chanting Britney...ready for her to start ! - Singlemomindebt

7:21pm: Circus performers taking their bows! -Julie M

7:12pm: We have ninjas now! - filmmaker311

7:11pm: theres clowns lol- ~ Alex

7:07pm: Show just started ... watching men twirl a metal fence/gate... Part of the circus act before Brit comes on.... - Singlemomindebt

7:07pm: OMG!!! they're doing circus tricks on the stages!!! Like a preshow!!! - BritneyLive

7:00pm: They just turned down the lights - Julie M

6:55pm: Curtain call - Will N

6:55pm - Julie M

6:55pm: Here we go! About to start! -Julie M

6:48pm: Dancers just entered the underneath of the stage. -Julie M via Twitter

6:47PM: They are setting up the stage for Britney -Julie M

6:39pm: The Pussycat dolls were amazing! So much sparkle!! - Will N

6.38pm: The Pussycat Dolls just left the stage!

6:37pm: The Pussycat Doll are singing "When I Grow Up"

6:16pm: is memorizing Pussycat Dolls dances as they perform. Ahh, this concert is amazing! - Brittny J

6:15pm: The Pussycat Dolls look and sound amazing! -Julie M

Source: BritneySpears.com

Cheers From Britney Spears' Kin

The following italicized article is from www.nydailynews.com:

Britney Spears can finally breathe easy: Her shows rocks. At least, her friends and family think so.

A nervous Spears, whose “Circus” tour kicks off Tuesday night at the New Orleans Arena, performed 20 tracks for some 30 loved ones Saturday night in NOLA.

“Britney was really tense up until the show,” an insider tells us, “but she got such positive feedback that she’s a lot more confident about her performance.”

On hand to offer their support was the whole Spears clan, including Brit’s divorced parents, Lynn and Jamie, sis Jamie-Lynn, who toted her baby girl Maddie, and Brit’s own children, Sean Preston and Jayden James. “Jamie and Lynn don’t get along at all, but they behaved,” says our insider. “They’re really rooting for Britney and wanted to make the evening all about her.”

All the encouragement is apparently helping: Brit appears to be back in fighting form for her first tour since 2004’s “Onyx Hotel,” “totally killing it” as she sang and danced to hits like “Womanizer,” “Circus,” “I’m a Slave 4 U” and “Toxic.”

According to tour insiders, Britney may be getting even more support — and this time it’ll be onstage. “The rumor going around is that Madonna is going to join Brit onstage for at least two tour dates,” says our source. “And that would be totally fierce.”

Madge may not have been on hand for Saturday’s trial performance, but that didn’t stop Brit and her posse from enjoying an after-show dinner at pal Rodney Morrison’s estate, where Southern comfort foods like steak, baked fish, corn on the cob and rice were served. During the feast, Britney regaled guests with tales of her sons’ affection for the film “Space Chimps,” as well as discussing her hard-core exercise routine and pride in her newly toned tummy.

Although he wasn’t on hand to join in that evening’s festivities, Kevin Federline made an unexpected arrival in New Orleans over the weekend. Britney’s baby daddy will take care of his boys while his ex finally gets her groove back.

Source: NY Post

Fan: Britney's Rehearsal Show Was Amazing

The following italicized article is from www.people.com:

One of the few fans to see Britney Spears's dress rehearsal of her Circus show at the New Orleans Arena Monday night tells PEOPLE that the pop star did not disappoint.

"She really delivered," said Libby Davis, 27, of Baton Rouge radio station WFMF, which gave away tickets to the late-night rehearsal. "There were only 150 people there, but she put on a great show."

As for how Spears looks, Davis says, "Her body is definitely back. We could see her arm and leg muscles from where we were sitting. In typical Britney fashion, the costumes were pretty scanty. It was Cirque du Soleil meets Moulin Rouge."

Davis's group waited through the first dress rehearsal for family and friends, which they could hear but not see. Once inside, "Everybody was chanting, 'Britney, Britney, Britney,' screaming, 'We support you, Britney,' " says Davis. "She put on the entire show as if it were a full house. She catered to us," adds Davis. "She even stopped during 'Womanizer' because she realized we couldn't see her. She said, 'Let's do it over.' "

Manager Weighs In

Spears's manager, Larry Rudolph, told Ryan Seacrest on his KIIS-FM radio show Tuesday that fans should have high expectations for the tour, which is sponsored by Virgin Mobile.

"This is a full-out, full-blown Britney Spears show," he says. "It is everything everybody would expect from her and more."

In terms of how her life on the road has changed with motherhood, Rudolph says Spears benefits from having sons Preston, 3, and Jayden, 2, with her. "[They] give her amazing inspiration and amazing strength."

Leading up to Tuesday's kick off concert Rudolph says Spears will sleep late, have breakfast in the early afternoon and arrive at the Arena about 4 p.m. where she'll get into hair and makeup. "And then, the performance," he says.

Davis feels lucky to have been able to see the intimate preview – even though the show happened so late that she didn't get home until 3:30 Tuesday morning.

"It was insane," she says. "But it was worth it."

Source: People

Britney Sings 'Circus' Live!

Source: MSNBC

Jamie Spears -- Britney Is Hard Work

The following italicized article is from www.tmz.com:

Jamie Spears says taking care of Britney is more than a full time job, and that's why the court is giving him $16,000 a month.

In a declaration to the conservatorship commissioner filed Friday, Jamie wrote that he engages in 200-400 communications every day to coordinate all things Brit -- not including Fanta orders. Jamie says he's overseeing Britney's tour that kicks off tonight, and must coordinate Brit's "medical, health, business, costuming, personal, security, household staff, and legal matters (touching upon entertainment, music, family law litigation, the resolution of numerous disputes, and the ongoing litigation and conservatorship matters."

Jamie says he works 60 - 70 hours a week to keep things afloat.

Source: TMZ

Big Comeback In Big Easy

The following italicized article is from www.nydailynews.com:

It's show time, y'all!

Britney's back and the whole world is watching.

Still on daddy's tight leash, and after months of hard work getting her voice and bangin' body back, everyone's favorite popwreck hits the stage in New Orleans Tuesday night for the opening of her 44-concert make-or-break tour.

There's a lot at stake for the singer after her years in the wilderness of the bizarre.

"From the moment tickets went on sale, buzz was strong this wasn't going to be a tour that failed," said Gary Bongiovanni, editor in chief of concert tracker Pollstar. "A lot of shows are sold out or close to it."

He, like others in the music industry, call the pop star's recovery "remarkable."

Spears, 27, is riding a wave of goodwill. Her latest single "Circus" hit No. 1 on the Top 40 radio charts last Friday, according to research firm Radio & Records.

That comes after her now-platinum album "Circus" debuted at No. 1, making Spears the first female ever to have five No. 1 album debuts.

"She's been able to slowly put her personal life back together," said Sharon Dastur, program director at Z-100 in New York.

"I think we saw that with the pictures of her with her kids at Christmas. She's back to normal, has a successful album out and people want to be part of the ride," she said.

"The anticipation for this show is more than we've seen in a really long time," Dastur added.

Just ask mega-fan Doug Rodick, who paid $150 for his ticket and will pile into rented limo busses Tuesday night with 20 pals, including the entire staff of the Headset salon where he works as a hairdresser in New Orleans.

"I got a text message from a friend at 6:30 this morning announcing she (Britney) made it into town. We're hearing she has a fleet of circus animals on tour with her," said a breathless Rodick, 30. "I just hope she doesn't crack up and miss the show."

Rodick was crushed when Spears cancelled her 2004 concert at the New Orleans Arena, where her "Circus" starts.

"She said she had a knee injury, but we all knew it was Kevin Federline," he said, dismissing Spears' ex-husband as a distraction. "She's a great entertainer. I don't expect her to be musically that great, but I expect a great show. She'll dance and sing and shake her ass off."

Brit's recent success is a far cry from her public meltdown in 2007, when she shaved her head in public, attacked a paparazzo's car with an umbrella and checked in and out of rehab. She hit rock bottom a year later when she was twice hauled off for involuntary psychiatric evaluation.

The mother of two has been improving ever since dad Jamie Spears took control of her affairs in a strict, court-ordered conservatorship last year.

Spears is scheduled to play the Nassau Coliseum March 11 and 23 and the Prudential Center in Newark on March 13 and 14.

Source: NY Post

Surprise!!!!

We're in New Orleans!!!!!!!

You guessed it, Perezzers is here for the kick-off of Britney Spears' new Circus tour tonight and we are going to be the first to give you a proper review of the show as soon as as it's over!!

We weren't going to come, but we literally decided at the last minute yesterday that we had to be here. Perez is part of the show, after all!

We're so excited!!!!!!!!

Source: Perez Hilton

Larry Calling Ryan Seacrest In A Few Hours

Ryan Seacrest has just updated his Twitter page and confirmed that Britney's manager, Larry Rudolph, will call in to Kiss FM within the next few hours.

Ya don't wanna miss it!

EXCLUSIVE: Tour Merchandise Preview

BritneySpears.com is giving you an exclusive look at some of the merchandise from the 'The Circus Starring Britney Spears Tour.' There will be over 40 products for sale on the tour - velour sweat suits, burn out tees, embroidered track jackets, embroidered hats, top hats and much, much more!

These are two shirts that will be exclusive to the 'Circus' tour - that means you can only get them at Britney's concert, so don't miss out when you are at the show!

See more here!

Source: BritneySpears.com

Mediabase Chart Update

Britney's new single 'If U Seek Amy' is currently at #32 on Mediabase with 1282 spins and 16.4 est. million listeners!

Click here to vore for 'If U Seek Amy' on your local radio station!

Source: Break The Ice