The George Michael dance mix block party rolled into TD Banknorth Garden a little late on Sunday night. Tickets for George Michael said “8pm prompt” but as the man himself explained, he never goes on before 8:30 to make sure no one misses a minute. Weather delayed his flight into Boston and the show didn’t start until almost 9:30. He came out on stage and did a long, energetic mash-up of Fastlove and I’m Your Man. From there, the show was one non-stop megamix of George Michael’s best songs.

His voice is superb. The production was flawless. His band was stacked vertically on what looked like an enormous spice rack, flanked on both sides by huge screens. In the middle, shaped like a waterfall, was a giant ceiling to stage screen. The screens played a montage of music video footage, light shows and other visuals, including a strip tease from Dita von Teese. Dressed in a black suit, Michael jumped, jived and wailed through his set, occasionally joined at the front of the stage by his back-up singers (6 of them) and other members of his band.

The setlist was straight from his hits album TwentyFive, marking his twenty-fifth recording year. Some songs which really weren’t hits in the states, and he padded the set with a handful of tracks from his breakout solo album Faith. It was all gloriously retro. During Too Funky, Michael resurrected the music video for that song featuring models from that era, including an 18-year-old Tyra Banks.

George Michael was surprisingly gregarious and personable when he talked to the audience. He said, “I know being a George Michael fan hasn’t always been easy” but promised that by the end of the show, “it’s going to get a lot easier.” He explained the footage of Amsterdam taken 10 years ago before singing a soulful rendition of Roxanne.

After the intermission, the set changes between songs started to drag a bit but Michael himself imbued his good spirits into the audience. He asked, “Do you forgive me?” for being late. He introduced Flawless saying it was his gayest album but it also proved to be the moment when the concert’s energy kicked into overdrive. He concluded with two sprawling singalong encores, Careless Whisper and Freedom.

At the end of the night, Michael did something pretty unique for an artist. While the band continued to play Freedom, the production credits rolled across the screen, listing the band, the crew and other people involved in the tour.

George Michael setlist
Waiting (reprise)
Fastlove/I’m Your Man
Father Figure
Hard Day
Everything She Wants
One More Try
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
An Easier Affair
Too Funky
Star People
Intermission/ John and Elvis are Dead
Faith
Spinning the Wheel
Feeling Good
Roxanne
Kissing a Fool
Amazing
Flawless (Go to the City)
Outside
Encore 1
Careless Whisper
Encore 2
Freedom 90