Last night I attended a Nick Jonas concert at the Hilton Anatole hotel in downtown Dallas. And I’ll admit, I was a little skeptical at first.

A classic Top 40 artist who dominates young teenage girls’ iPods as well as the radio waves isn’t always something I’m excited to go see. All that being said, I was immediately proven wrong.

In a hotel ballroom, the event was a more close-up setting in which I was able to really listen to the music, and I caught myself vibing to every song that was played. While I’m not exactly a connoisseur of this style of music, it was a great show that kept me entertained throughout.

For me personally, the highlight of the show was the surprise cover of Outkast’s “Roses.” I remember standing near the stage and hearing the opening keys to a song I didn’t expect to be in a Nick Jonas show. I thought to myself, “Is this what I think it is?” A few second later he burst out with the classic opening, “Caroliiiine” and I was blown away with his unexpected take on the song.

With impressive vocals as well as a talented band behind him, Nick Jonas made the song all his own and was able to produce something as equally impressive as the original. His spin on it involved a lot more vocal ability than the original and, not to knock Andre 3000, he absolutely killed it. There were moments where I didn’t even recognize the song aside from the words and it made an impression on me that immediately elevated my enjoyment of the show.

Aside from the impressive cover, what helped make the show a success was Jonas’ ability to work with the crowd and keep the masses of teenage girls entertained. Strutting across the stage and holding hands with those in the front, he commanded the stage and made entirely sure it was his spotlight.

It worked to his advantage, as throughout the concert, there was never a dull moment. At times he would walk over and pick up a phone from someone in the front row and proceed to take a selfie or video of the band, all while singing and playing along to his own music. The control he seemed to possess over the crowd was amazing and the fact that it was all while maintaining composure and an intense set list made it all the more impressive.

Honestly, I probably never would have just gone to a Nick Jonas concert to see the show. I don’t think it’s something I would have sought out or worked to get tickets to. But after the performance last night, even in just a small venue, I might have to change my mind.