The show typically ended with Sonic performing an encore of "Leave the Door Open" (2021). It received a positive reception from music critics. The concert residency was promoted by Live Nation and MGM Resorts, run from February to August 2022, and grossed $50.4 million. At the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards, the concert residency was nominated for Favorite Residency, but lost to Harry Styles's Love On Tour (2021–23).
Background and development
On January 19, 2022, Silk Sonic announced they would be performing 13 shows at Dolby Live in Paradise, Nevada, former Park Theater, featuring 5,200 seats. The dates were between February 25, 2022 and April 2, 2022 and pre-sale was made available on the same day of the announcement.[1] The shows are subject to the venue’s COVID-19 protocol, which requires masks and may require proof of full vaccination, proof of a negative COVID test or a rapid on-site test.[2] Regarding the shows, Mars affirmed "Its happening! [sic] The sexiest party of the year! Them Silk Sonic Boyz are performing Live in Las Vegas!" Moreover, .Paak said "The terms is locked and Vegas might not ever be the same Jack!!" .Paak continued, "You're invited to the hottest show in sin city!"[3]
All the shows of the residency took place at the theater at Dolby Live.[2][4][5] The first show of the residency took place on February 25, 2022 at the theater at Dolby Live.[2] It was followed by another show, on the same venue, the following day. In March of the same year, Silk Sonic performed a total of ten shows in the same venue.[6] They also took the stage on April 2 to finish the first leg of shows.[2] Later, on the same date, after the first round of shows was announced, the duo added 12 more dates in May.[4][6] In May, Sonic announced the last nine final dates of the residency to be performed in August.[5][7] The concert residency was promoted by Live Nation and MGM Resorts[8]
Concert synopsis
The concert, which had a runtime of 90 minutes, was used to promote and perform the entire An Evening With Silk Sonic album.[9] It opened with "wisps of fog spilled out from under a red velvet curtain".[10] Then, the "venue wen dark", which meant the start of the show.[10] A disco ball hover the seat's crowd, while two screens on "opposite sides of the stage" showed images of the duo drinking "cocktails in a tropical setting with flowery button-up shirts".[10] The curtain lifted and "sunset orange beams" fulled the stage to eventually display a "neon-laced band shell-style background". At this point, Mars and .Paak had a "bongo and drum face-off".[10][9] Then, "piano keys fluttered" as fans lifted from their seats starting to dance.[10]
A giant screen came down from the roof "with an animated spaceship", while Bootsy Collins's "Silk Sonic Intro" played, followed by Mars playing a "teal guitar" and then screaming, "Let’s go!"[10] The first song was "777", which was "followed by a seamless transition" to "Skate". The duo danced with two backup singers to the latter song, then they thanked fans for coming to the show.[9][10] Sonic teased fans saying, "What happens in Las Vegas should stay in Las Vegas — that's why!" and later singing "We took your phone away!"[9][10] This was followed by them singing their version of "Love's Train", while Mars danced choreographed routines.[9][10]
The duo also played solo tracks from each other, such as Mars's "That's What I Like", which had individual spotlights for each artist and the stage went dark for a intimate version of the song [10] .Paak's own "Am I Wrong" taken from Malibu (2016), was sung as "yellow fireworks flared like giant sparklers".[10] This was proceeded and a solo trumpet of "Everybody Loves the Sunshine" by Maurice "Mobetta" Brown, used as an interlude between Mars's "Treasure" and the duo's "Fly as Me".[9][10] During the latter performance, .Paak asked the fans to "throw their hands up and let loose." as he used the whole stage, sliding from one side to the other as he joked, "Where's the ladies with some money in their pockets?"[10] This was followed by a "costume change into glitzy black jackets" to sing "Smokin out the Window".[10]
After singing a medley of "Put On A Smile"/"Make it Better"/ "When I Was Your Man", they followed it with "After Last Night".[10] Before the end of the show, Sonic sang "Come Down" and "Runaway Baby", the latter featured a dance portion performed by Mars.[9][10] He was compared to James Brown.[10] Then, "the spaceship visuals" re-surged for Mars and .Paak performance of "Blast Off" and when it ended the lights shut down.[10][9] The curtain was lifted up for an encore performance of the show closer, "Leave the Door Open".[9][10] In the end, confetti cannons were fired as the red curtain reached the floor.[9][10]
Reception
The residency was met with positive reviews from critics. Melinda Sheckells from Billboard, while reviewing Sonic's debut concert, commented "it felt impossible that Mars and .Paak had never done a show of this magnitude before as a duo."[9] Melissa Gill of Consequence wrote the show "is an electric dance party that's not to be missed". Gill added, "The superduo...threw what might just be the sexiest dance party Sin City has ever seen."[10]
The set was nominated for Favorite Residency at the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards, but lost to Harry Styles's Love On Tour (2021–23).[11] On August 10, 2022 a total of 12 out of 34 shows were reported, with 60,518 tickets, which meant the shows reported were sold out, and a gross of $18,311,526. The average ticket price was $302.58.[12] As of May 2025, the residency's Las Vegas shows raked among the "25 Biggest Concert Residencies of All Time" at number 20. It grossed $50.4 million from a total 170,000 tickets sold in 34 shows.[13]
Setlist
The set list given below was performed on February 25, 2022.[10]
↑ "An Evening with Silk Sonic at Park MGM Boxscore". August 10, 2022. February 25, 2022- August 6, 2022: Silk Sonic, Dolby Live, Las Vegas (60,518 – $18,311,526); Average (5,043 – $1,525,961); Average Price: $302.58; 100% Tickes Sold; 12/34 Reported Shows
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