Eric Bellinger Brings The Heat And Melts Hearts In Charlotte

The Obsession Tour Sells Out The Underground

What happens when you combine the silky smoothness of Luther Vandross with the old-school sex appeal of Marvin Gaye and a splash of the modern vibes of Usher? Well, it may just be the one and only Eric Bellinger. That’s right, Eric is the complete package with all the right moves and all the right sounds. The Grammy Award-winning songwriter and Grammy Nominated artist is in the upper echelon of today’s R&B artists with 2021’s New Lights album putting him into a category all of his own. He’s been one of the most sought-after songwriters in music, earning a Grammy for his work with Chris Brown, and is currently out on the road bringing The Obsession Tour to a city near you. Saturday evening the tour stopped right here in the Queen City for a night of dancing and romancing that we will not soon forget. 

The crowd began arriving early and was a mix of young women out for a girl’s night out and couples out for their Saturday date night. The music was hot and the drinks were cold and people were vibing as the night began to heat up. I arrived at The Underground just in time to catch Trevor Jackson’s set. The lights dimmed and a young woman near me was squealing in anticipation.  As Jackson and his band took their spots on the stage, the fans roared their appreciation and cellphones lit up the venue as everyone was trying to capture a few seconds of the star on video. 

Jackson is probably just as well known for his acting career as his music with an extended resume of films and television with his most recent role portraying the character of Aaron Jackson on the hit show Grown-ish. But tonight was all about the music as Jackson made his way to center stage, throwing his arms out to the fans in the front and seemingly singing just for them. His vocals were on point and his band was tight as he breezed through a solid set of songs including songs from 2021’s The Love Letter. It’s clear that Jackson’s talent knows no bounds as whatever he does seems to turn to gold and the audience ate up every second of his time on stage. He was impressive as hell and I have no doubt that whatever he does next will be nothing short of amazing. 

After a short break, it was time for the main event of the evening. The stage at the Underground is fairly small but the crew managed to set up a set of three illuminated door frames at the rear of the stage. Bellinger makes his appearance clad in an Eric Bellinger jacket, opened in the front to reveal his chiseled physique accompanied by a baseball cap and mirrored sunglasses.  I think a few younger fans up front may have swooned or whatever the modern-day equivalent of that is as Eric began to capture us all under his spell. 

It’s no secret that Eric is a top-notch songwriter but it’s another to hear his songs performed live and in person. Getting caught up in the story as he weaves his tale, was truly thrilling and the crowd was showing their appreciation at every step. The venue was a sea of cell phones as Eric got everybody jumping and popping. It was a great mix of danceable numbers and smooth-as-silk love songs that not only showcased his sensual vocals but his rhythmic moves too. For one lucky young lady named Kayla, it would be a night she would never forget as Eric sang her “Happy Birthday” making it most likely one of the happiest of her life. 

As I was exiting the venue, I couldn’t help but think of all the great R&B singers that I’ve gotten to see over the years and I was glad to be able to add Eric Bellinger to that list. His music touches both the heart and soul and there really is nothing better than that. I know the fans would agree with me as I overheard a few fans saying things like “He looked right at me when he sang that” and “My heart melted when he looked at me.”

The show was over far too soon but for those in attendance, it would be a night they would never forget. There are plenty of dates left on The Obsession Tour, but they are selling out fast so be sure to grab your tickets now. 

Click Here for the Full Gallery of the Evening!

If you happened to capture any shots of the night, feel free to tag us on social media at Shutter 16 Magazine and throw in #Shutter16 and #TwitFromThePit for the world to see.

Click Here for Tickets and Tour Information!

https://www.ericbellinger.com/

https://www.officialtrevorjackson.com/

TOUR DATES

Mar. 1, 2023
Philadelphia, PA

Mar. 2, 2023
Silver Spring, MD

Mar. 3, 2023
New York City, NY

Mar. 5, 2023
New Haven, CT

Mar. 9, 2023
Allston, MA

Mar. 14, 2023
Grand Rapids, MI

Mar. 15, 2023
Indianapolis, IN

Mar. 17, 2023
Detroit, MI

Mar. 18, 2023
Chicago, IL

Mar. 19, 2023
Minneapolis, MN

Mar. 22, 2023
Omaha, NE

Mar. 23, 2023
Kansas City, MO

Mar. 25, 2023
Denver, CO

Mar. 26, 2023
Salt Lake City, UT

Mar. 30, 2023
Costa Mesa, CA

Mar. 31, 2023
San Diego, CA

Apr. 1, 2023
Las Vegas, NV