Sometimes you have to step back a few paces to get a good running start.

That's what Usher did this month when he cancelled his first three shows in Atlanta due to over-practicing for his first world tour in eight years.

"For my 30-plus year career, 100% of my blood, sweat and tears has gone into putting on the best performance and creating a memorable experience for my fans," Usher told his 13 million Instagram followers to break the bad news of the ATL cancellations.

"You’re still going to get a bit of the past, some of the present and a unique look into the future on the rescheduled date but you’ll also be getting 100% of me. The last thing I want to ever do is disappoint you, the fans who have been eagerly waiting for this tour to start," he wrote.

While those dates were moved to the end of the North American leg in December, that meant Washington D.C., Chocolate City, would be the lucky viewers of the debut of the Past, Present Future Tour.

And if anyone can tell you how it went, this lady could:

Usher performed nearly 50 songs on opening night at the Capitol One Arena and cut the set down to a lean 43 the following evening.

The 45-year-old Grammy winner and newlywed doled out hits and deep cuts from his 30 years in entertainment.

How many stars can play 10 songs from one album in concert and have a list this long of selections from other LPs?

After performing 100 consecutive sold out Vegas gigs, a feat he completed in December of last year to cap his residencies at Caesar's and MGM; Usher wowed the world in February with a 13-minute Super Bowl performance of 14 songs; and in June received a lifetime achievement honor at the BET Awards.

From now through December he will be on the road doing high-energy two hour gigs where Confessions will be heavily featured, but there is so much more to Raymond Usher IV than that ole thang.

Let's talk about the covers.

When your setlist is in the 40s, three-to-four dozen songs in a night, is it really important to cover two of the most popular - but controversial - R&B artists of the day?

At the DC shows, Usher covered a couple of songs by both Chris Brown and Puff Daddy.

At this stage of his career, Usher should feel free to perform any song he wants, and Chris Brown still sells lots of records but, is it necessary?

Are there really no better songs to show off your dance moves to?

But more risky has gotta be covering Puffy. Did he think with that jacked body no one is paying attention? But because so many of his songs are quick little snippets, when he played "I Need A Girl (Part One)," a tune he live debuted on the Tonight Show 22 years ago, he segued to "My Boo" before the Diddy part began.

But the cover that brought the house down was when Sugar Bear from the legendary D.C. go-go funk band E.U. Naturally they gave the crowd their big hit "Da Butt."

Another D.C. favorite who Usher shared the spotlight with was Olubowale Victor Akintimehin aka Wale, who did "Matrimony" and "No Hands" together to the absolute delight of the night #2 crowd.

Another perfect special guest was Raheem DeVaughn who delivered a soulful version of "You" as Usher grooved along in a ridiculously long red fur(?) coat.

If you look up vibes in the dictionary, this moment of night #2 comes up.

If you're wondering to yourself, "but did Usher throw on a matching three piece glittering dazzled suit and roller skate around to 'Love in this Club'?"

The answer would be, has Usher ever disappointed you? Like even once?

His neck is fully healed, he's chiseled like one of those statues in Caesars, and he's giving more entertainment than most audiences are probably worthy of.

His Past Present Future tour heads up the east coast with dates in Philly, Toronto, and four nights in Brooklyn. Stops include four nights at the new Intuit Dome in LA, and three-night engagements in Chicago, Atlanta, and Houston. And two night stands in several other U.S. cities.

Get your tickets on Usher's website

USHER: PAST PRESENT FUTURE 2024 DATES

Fri Aug 23 - Baltimore, MD - CFG Bank Arena
Sat Aug 24 - Baltimore, MD - CFG Bank Arena
Tue Aug 27 - Boston, MA - TD Garden
Wed Aug 28 - Boston, MA - TD Garden
Fri Aug 30 - Philadelphia, PA - Wells Fargo Center
Sat Aug 31 - Philadelphia, PA - Wells Fargo Center
Mon Sep 02 - Toronto, ON - Scotiabank Arena
Tue Sep 03 - Toronto, ON - Scotiabank Arena
Fri Sep 06 - Brooklyn, NY - Barclays Center
Sat Sep 07 - Brooklyn, NY - Barclays Center
Mon Sep 09 - Brooklyn, NY - Barclays Center
Tue Sep 10 - Brooklyn, NY - Barclays Center
Thu Sep 12 - Detroit, MI - Little Caesars Arena
Fri Sep 13 - Detroit, MI - Little Caesars Arena
Tue Sep 17 - Denver, CO - Ball Arena
Wed Sep 18 - Denver, CO - Ball Arena
Sat Sep 21 - Los Angeles, CA - Intuit Dome
Sun Sep 22 - Los Angeles, CA - Intuit Dome
Tue Sep 24 - Los Angeles, CA - Intuit Dome
Wed Sep 25 - Los Angeles, CA - Intuit Dome
Sat Sep 28 - Oakland, CA - Oakland Arena
Sun Sep 29 - Oakland, CA - Oakland Arena
Thu Oct 03 - Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
Fri Oct 04 - Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
Sat Oct 05 - Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
Mon Oct 07 - Austin, TX - Moody Center ATX
Tue Oct 08 - Austin, TX - Moody Center ATX
Fri Oct 11 - Miami, FL - Kaseya Center
Sat Oct 12 - Miami, FL - Kaseya Center
Mon Oct 14 - Miami, FL - Kaseya Center
Thu Oct 17 - Atlanta, GA - State Farm Arena
Fri Oct 18 - Atlanta, GA - State Farm Arena
Sun Oct 20 - Atlanta, GA - State Farm Arena
Tue Oct 22 - Charlotte, NC - Spectrum Center
Wed Oct 23 - Charlotte, NC - Spectrum Center
Fri Oct 25 - St Louis, MO - Enterprise Center
Sat Oct 26 - St Louis, MO - Enterprise Center
Mon Oct 28 - Chicago, IL - United Center
Tue Oct 29  - Chicago, IL - United Center
Tue Oct 31  - Chicago, IL - United Center
Sat Nov 02 - Minneapolis, MN - Target Center
Sun Nov 03 - Minneapolis, MN - Target Center
Thu Nov 07 - Vancouver, BC - Rogers Arena
Fri Nov 08 - Vancouver, BC - Rogers Arena
Sun Nov 10 - Seattle, WA - Climate Pledge Arena
Mon Nov 11 - Seattle, WA - Climate Pledge Arena
Fri Nov 15 - Las Vegas, NV - T-Mobile Arena
Sat Nov 16 - Las Vegas, NV - T-Mobile Arena
Mon Nov 18 - Anaheim, CA - Honda Center
Tue Nov 19 - Anaheim, CA - Honda Center
Sat Nov 23 - Phoenix, AZ - Footprint Center
Sun Nov 24 - Phoenix, AZ - Footprint Center
Wed Nov 27 - Houston, TX - Toyota Center
Fri Nov 29 - Houston, TX - Toyota Center
Sat Nov 30 - Houston, TX - Toyota Center
Mon Dec 09 — Atlanta, GA — State Farm Arena
Tue Dec 10 — Atlanta, GA — State Farm Arena
Thu Dec 12 — Atlanta, GA — State Farm Arena