As Seen on TV: American Idols Live at D.C.'s Verizon Center
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IF YOU WATCHED "American Idol" this year, you know that the TV singing competition came down to a one-on-one between two guys: Kris Allen and Adam Lambert. Both brought, as competition judge Randy Jackson might say, mad skills (, dawg,) to the proceedings, but only one could be crowned the winner.
It was Allen. And if you think many of Lambert's fans don't still insist their guy got shafted, just do a Google search or two. Or read the comments that poured in after Express' interview with Allen was published earlier this week. There's passion there. And maybe just a hint of crazy for flavor.
So, one might ask, what happens when you put both men on a stage and let the fans vote with their voices? That's exactly what was on the menu at the American Idols Live show Tuesday night at the Verizon Center.
The shocking results: People, um, kinda like both of them. And for good reason. But there was a lot to enjoy in an evening that drew in an audience from tweens to bluehairs and everything in between.
The Idols stage show is, unsurprisingly, a lot like the "Idol" broadcast — but only if you remove the judges, delete Ryan Seacrest (try not to smile gleefully as you do it), pump up the volume and give the contestants another month's worth of on-stage seasoning. What you get is a show that's not only more vibrant than the TV show, but — for all its obvious and necessary staging — more indicative of the contestants' personalities.
The current crop of American Idols performed to a near-capacity crowd last night at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. The 2 ½ hour show worked because each member of the top ten performed songs from the genres that suit them best.
Michael Sarver kicked off the evening with songs by Gavin DeGraw and Ne-Yo. Staying true to his roughneck roots, Sarver shared the following words of wisdom with the crowd, "sitting down at an American Idol concert is like bringing water to a party." As was true with each Idol, Sarver sounded better live than on television. He appeared to be a personable guy and often connected with the crowd by smiling and waving.
"He's the New Age Elvis!" gushed Marie Burgess of Bowie, after she and her mother saw the gyrating, lip-curling Adam Lambert perform Tuesday night when the American Idol Live tour made a stop at Verizon Center. This Story
Sure, Lambert, 27, lost the "Idol" title to the clean-cut Kris Allen, 24, but that hardly deterred the moms, daughters, tweens and everyone else who shrieked with dog-whistle-pitched delight when Lambert emerged onstage. In a ruffly, studded, knee-length blue tailcoat (later cast off to reveal a rhinestone-studded vest over a bare chest -- the man loves a good costume change or three), Lambert looked like the spiky-haired, black-nail-polished love child of Eddie Izzard and Prince.
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