R&B/Pop sensation Joanna “JoJo” Levesque made a stop at the Roseland Theater this past week in Portland, OR. The show marked the eighth stop of her 19-date run across North America as part of her highly anticipated, sold-out “Too Much to Say Tour,” which kicked off last month in Nashville, TN. Primarily supporting her most recent effort, NGL, she brought along special guest and up-and-coming artist, Emmy Meli to get the evening started.
While Levesque may be popularized for her breakout hits in the early 2000s that could have millennials in a chokehold at the first chord, the Mad Love songstress has proved in recent years that evolution is critical and has made a mark for herself in the present-day R&B genre, exploring more mature themes, explicit material (as featured on her 2020 release Good to Know, for example), and establishing a sound that remains true to Levesque of this day and age. That said, she managed to hit all the right marks during her second Pacific Northwest date, leaving the audience chanting for more. Levesque has managed to keep a tight and loyal fanbase over the years, despite turbulent moments such as record label disputes, legal proceedings, and eventually starting her own imprint called Clover Music (within Warner Music Group).
Kicking off the night strong with a new release, “off again,” Levesque appeared on a high-rise platform stage-right, donning a skin-tight, black leather ensemble paired with a personalized belt buckle that featured the initials “NGL” — in representation of her most recent EP, which she released in January. As quickly as she showcased her fresh material for the opening numbers, she dove right into the throwback hit, “Baby It’s You.” “Who’s ready to take it back to 2004?” she requested of the crowd.
Over the course of the night, Levesque delivered a setlist that comprised fan-favorites, newly released bops, and silky smooth rendition covers from artists such as Drake (“Marvins Room”), SZA (“Love Galore”), and Teddy Swims (“Lose Control.”) Notable numbers included “Like That,” “Gold,” “Ready to Love,” and “Start Over.” There was no shortage of crowd participation either, as witnessed by the lucky fan that had the opportunity to join the “Dissolve” penner on-stage for an SWV cover of “Weak” (also featured on her debut self-titled album). The latter half of the set, of course, included the seminal classics “Leave (Get Out)” and “Too Little, Too Late,” which received a thunderous response. Levesque closed out her set with “Porcelain” and an acapella rendition of “Never Say Goodbye.”
For those hoping to catch the “Too Much to Say Tour” and revel in all the millennial nostalgia it has to offer, it will continue its trek across the U.S. and Canada, before wrapping up in New York, NY on March 29. For more information, visit www.iamjojoofficial.com/tmtstour.
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GALLERY: JOJO AT ROSELAND THEATER IN PORTLAND, OREGON (March 9, 2025)
