Justin Bieber Brings ‘Justice’ to Toronto at Sold-Out Hometown Show: Concert Review
variety.comKaren Bliss At the first of Justin Bieber’s three “hometown” concerts on Friday, fans found photocopied signs under their seats at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena that read “WELCOME HOME” above a simple sketch of the Toronto cityscape.
However, few did — instead, the 14,627 fans at the “Justice” tour show, rescheduled from last year, spent most of the show on their feet, screaming when they weren’t singing along, a much more demonstrative way of delivering the same message.The first mask-optional concert at the venue (most did not wear one) — since all restrictions have now been lifted in Ontario even as coronavirus levels in wastewater are on the rise — was like old times, pre-pandemic beer spilling included, lip-pouting selfies, and girls trying to sweet-talk or sneak past security to a closer spot.
While the other two sold-out shows aren’t until June, the homecoming vibe was deep. Scotiabank Arena is home to Bieber’s beloved Toronto Maple Leafs, and the singer, now 28 and married, grew up in Stratford, Ont., about 90 miles away, not just playing guitar, drums and piano, but hockey too (take it from a Canadian: he’s pretty damn good).
Last week, he got to unveil a dream-come-true, a reversible professional hockey jersey, with the Leafs’ blue logo on one side and his Drew House brand’s yellow reimagining on the other.
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