Crítica «FutureSex/LoveShow»: Omaha

Swooning fans in sync with pop star
Thumping beats, sweaty bodies, laser lights and fog machines turned the Qwest Center Omaha into Club Timberlake for one night only.

Justin TimberlakePop superstar Justin Timberlake whipped a crowd of 13,000 fans into a Beatles-like frenzy Thursday with a twohour-plus performance that was highly entertaining and, at times, exhausting to watch.

The female-heavy crowd unleashed one of the loudest, longest screams this reviewer has ever heard as the 26-year-old singer emerged onstage, opening with the thumping «FutureSex/LoveSound» from his latest album.

The shrieking, grooving and hyperventilating hardly let up as Timberlake unleashed his soulful falsetto and Michael Jackson-inspired dance moves on his adoring audience.

A sea of cell phones filled the air as fans snapped photos or let friends at home listen in on the show, Timberlake’s first Omaha appearance since his 1999 concert with boy band ‘N Sync.

All eyes were on the charismatic entertainer as he slid, spun and strutted across the tri-level stage in the center of the arena floor. Instead of huge video screens to broadcast the action for fans in the nosebleed seats, gauzy screens offering graphics and concert footage were raised and lowered during the show.

There was plenty of ear candy to go along with the eye candy.

Accompanied by more than a dozen dancers, singers and musicians, the four-time Grammy winner rocked the house with a fusion of funk, soul, hip-hop and rock.

Clad in a dapper dark suit and tie and white sneakers, Timberlake performed several past hits from his 2002 album, «Justified», including «Señorita» and «Rock Your Body»

New songs from 2006’s «FutureSex/LoveSounds» included «My Love», «Until the End of Time», «Summer Love» and «Damn Girl». The latter included some X-rated dirty dancing.

Proving he can do more than carry a tune and bust some moves, Timberlake showcased his musical abilities numerous times throughout the night. He strummed an acoustic guitar on a couple of numbers and played piano during «What Goes Around . . . Comes Around». For the funky «Sexy Ladies» he resurrected that cheesy ’80s instrument – the keytar.

Timberlake took a well-deserved breather during a brief intermission, when superstar rapper-producer Timbaland treated fans to a 20-minute DJ set. Timbaland spun a medley of beats from well-known hits he’s worked on, including Missy Elliot’s «Work It», Nelly Furtado’s «Promiscuous» and Aaliyah’s «Are You That Somebody».

Wearing a black fedora, Timberlake re-emerged amid deafening screams for a second set, which included a fantastic «Love Stoned», as well as a pair of his biggest hits: «Cry Me a River» and the insanely catchy crowd favorite, «SexyBack».

Early in the set, Timberlake told the crowd it was «unacceptable» that his return to Omaha took so long. «I’m going to find a way to make it up to you», he said.

Mission accomplished.