Just like the last-minute rush to get eclipse glasses on Monday, there was a noticeable wave of people on the web Tuesday desperately seeking Bruno Mars tickets.

Entry into his sold-out show at PPG Paints Arena, Uptown, turned out to be pricier and harder to get than the glasses, ranging from $120 for the cheap seats to more than $1,000 to get near the girl holding the clever “I've Never Seen Mars This Close” sign. And that’s Pittsburgh.

Fans looking for a super high-energy dance-pop show certainly got their money’s worth from the immensely talented pop/R&B sensation. His second trip to Pittsburgh, touring behind yet another hit album in the chart-topping “24K Magic,” was much different from the one here four years ago during the Moonshine Jungle Tour. That one looked liked an intimate Apollo Theater-style show dropped into an arena.

This one was big, bright, primary colors on a stage resembling a game show set, tricked out with pyro, sparklers and lasers. It had sonics to match, with a booming digital sound that was best experienced with a little ear protection.

Sean Gentille/ Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Bruno Sammartino meets tiny, nickname-stealing singer

Only pic I took from @BrunoMars tonight was of the trippy lasers bc I'm EDM as fucc bro pic.twitter.com/y8ziGRR0fj

— H◎ΓΓΞL (@thtshit_creigh) August 23, 2017

What remains unchanged is that this is a still a team game for Mars, who arrived with his band the Hooligans in matching baseball-style shirts. They moved in step as a group, the red-shirted singer amidst three horn players, a backup singer, guitarist and bassist. Along with his silky voice, Mars has slick Michael moves, to which he adds a comic touch.

The 24K Magic Tour is to be taken literally, as the 32-year-old star from Hawaii top-loaded the 16-song set with eight of the nine songs from the album, which harks back to ‘90s boy-band R&B and new jack swing. They were interrupted only by his disco hit “Treasure.”

The concept was less “don’t believe me, just watch,” and more “jump on in!” “Can we party tonight?” he asked the young, enthusiastic crowd. “Maybe tonight you can put your phones down and we can have some f---ing fun.”

During “Perm,” part of a run of bangers, he gave fans a reprieve on the phone rule. “Stop the show,” he said. “Look at them. They can't help it.” He and the boys sat down in a group. “If you want to get a photo, this is your shot right here. Put this on your Instagram!” he said as they all wiggled around.

@BrunoMars you we're phenomenal tonight in Pittsburgh!!! You and your band put on one heck of a show!! pic.twitter.com/h4ELRFDRhx

— Karen Schlaegle (@karens8027) August 23, 2017

He flashed some of his lead guitar chops on “Calling All My Lovelies,” offered a dance lesson on “That's What I Like” and turned up the sexual energy on “Straight Up & Down” (replacing “Gorilla” in that vein). The latter also was a rare moment in the first half of the show where his voice had a chance to shine separate from the band. He closed out the “24K Magic” section on a riser with gold lighting and purple lasers on “Versace on the Floor.”

With that, it was greatest hits time, starting with “Marry You,” highlighted by another guitar solo and some soft-shoe dancing in the dark. Determined to keep the house lit, Mars sped up “Grenade” and opted for vocal flash rather than intimacy on the ballads “When I Was Your Man” and “Just the Way You Are.”

For the climax, the Hooligans got almost as funky as that Earth, Wind & Fire show in the same building a few weeks ago doing “Locked Out of Heaven” (with a gold confetti blast) and the unstoppable “Uptown Funk.”

If MJ, Prince and James Brown are the 24K gold standard for what he’s trying to do, Bruno Mars is well on his way toward that karat.

@BrunoMars is that dude!!! Just put on the best show I've ever seen!!! #Pittsburgh #PPGPaintsArena #24KMagicWorldTour

— Drew Denham (@Ju2tDrewIt) August 23, 2017

Scott Mervis: smervis@post-gazette.com. Twitter: @scottmervis_pg.

First Published: August 23, 2017, 5:21 a.m.