RECAP: Bruno Mars in fine voice to launch Vancouver run | Fans descend on the merch tables

It’s like a new group just sprouted up in the middle of the concert. Brilliant way to showcase the duo and some of its favourite tracks.

Slick like Vegas.

Anderson .Paak is behind the kit and Bruno is strapped to his strat and it’s a full-force Silk Sonic intro.

Bruno and .Paak are on top of a three-tiered riser and the other musicians are across the front of the stage for a version of 777 that hits the jackpot.

We have a flying saucer projection, laser beams and strobes.

Must be time for a Silk Sonic Blast Off.

Sung by the Hooligans’ keyboardist, this bit of psychedelic soul comes with a montage of the group’s videos and a dose of P-funk flair.

We have our first flame bursts for the fully Santana-esque Something Serious, complete with slamming some serious wah-wah guitar shredding and a percussion solo. Oba!

“This isn’t sweat, these are tears people,” he says before rolling out a vintage red Cadillac convertible to sit on while dropping some Marvin Gaye.

Lets get it on indeed.

Bruno is in fine voice tonight.

But the backup singers must be shouted out.

Those multi-part harmonies are angelic.

Plus — lighting designer full props.

Perm is something of a show-stopper before the time comes to drop Why You Wanna Fight?

It’s funny to watch the band scrambling for water and towels as Bruno chats.

Dancing hard and blowing a trombone is not a standard job description on a hiring board for musicians.

We are at a full dozen players now and everyone has rubber hips. Bet this band tours with a massage therapist and a physio.

Suddenly, the show stops so Bruno can shout out the angel in the crowd.

Cue Angel Baby Cam.

And a series of camera ready fans are projected for everyone to groove with.

Silly and slick at the same time.

This is a very, very well-oiled experience.

Treasure is a study in vintage funk performance. From the fluid choreography to the robot voice choruses, everything is consciously designed for maximum impact.

“Hello Vancouver, night number one,” get a hearty howl from the house. And Bruno shouts out his warm-up acts. Classy.

Three songs in and we have our first bit of pyrotechnic flair. But the 10-piece backing band is already exploding.Oh My Soul indeed.

The seventies multi-frame disco flash camera play on the screens around the stage is fabulous.

The sound system suddenly kicks in with Nothin’ On You and people know this means the Mars landing is only a few bars away.

The Romantic Dedications getting posted in between sets have made it abundantly clear that Bruno has a lot of fans who have romantic leanings for the artist, for Red Deer, for their bestie, for all things Filipino and there’s no shortage of marriage proposals.