Adam Lambert shines brightest on 'American Idol' tour
Andy Downing
Quote :
Adam Lambert might have finished as runner-up on "American Idol" this past season, but the Idols Live tour, which took place Wednesday at a packed Allstate Arena, belonged almost solely to the 27-year-old California native.
Lambert entered the arena to the strains of Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love," drawing some of the night's loudest cheers as he slithered around his microphone stand like a particularly seductive cobra. Decked out in fingerless black gloves, a knee-length, faux-lizard jacket (complete with shoulder spikes) and tight leather pants, Lambert looked like a cross between David Bowie in "Labyrinth" and a grungy extra from John Carpenter's "Escape From New York." Despite his obvious celebrity, the singer appeared most comfortable portraying the outsider; songs touched on venturing alone into the cosmos ("Starlight," "Life On Mars") and feeling out of place right here on Earth (an eerie "Mad World").
While Lambert's emergence is a clear boon to the Idol brand—the series hasn't developed a true breakout star since Carrie Underwood—it made for an anticlimactic close to the three-hour event. Sure, Idol champ Kris Allen brought an All-American charm to light-soul takes on Kanye West ("Heartless") and the Killers ("All These Things That I've Done"), but he lacked Lambert's dynamic stage presence and stylistic range.
The rest of the evening was, to put it politely, a mixed bag. Danny Gokey mangled "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" and channeled a drunk at a wedding as he attempted an awkward tango on "Maria Maria." CQ Allison Iraheta prowled the stage like a feral cat and howled like a banshee on a trio of mostly-excellent rock songs. Megan Joy, her platinum blonde hair piled into a towering faux-hawk, wouldn't even have impressed the notoriously forgiving Paula Abdul with her off-key warbling.
Logistically, the show was much improved from recent years. Idols weren't required to shill for corporate sponsors from the stage (advertisements were instead crammed into the 20-minute intermission/commercial break) and there were no costumed toaster pastries wandering the venue and intermittently firing t-shirt cannons. Now if only producers would do something about those cringe-worthy group numbers.
American Idol launched its Top 10 finalists into cities all over America, and on Sept. 2, the performers landed in Rosemont for the American Idols Live concert tour.
A countdown performance, beginning with 10th place contestant Michael Sarver, heightened the anticipation of an audience already brimming with excitement. As I prepared for Season 8's best, I pondered whether I should have picked up a cheap pair of ear plugs.
Act I: Sarver opened the show with "I Just Want a Girl" by Gavin DeGraw. The Texas native delivered an upbeat performance; adequately warming up the crowd, Southern style. Megan Joy appeared next in a pretty-in-pink mini dress, short blond curls and a sassy swagger. She performed "Put Your Records On," by Corrine Bailey Rae and "Tears Dry on Their Own" by Amy Winehouse. Both songs suited her style, even if they appeared to be a little out of her vocal range.
Scott MacIntyre produced solid vocals in a Bruce Hornsby-ish sort of way with "Bend and Break," and Lil Rounds took a big chance with songs by Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys and Beyonce. A tall order vocally and stylistically, but Rounds came through with a bold, in-your-face groove that generated the first rouse of the evening.
Sixth place performer Anoop Desai slowed things down with a classic version of "You Were Always on My Mind," then powered up with Bobby Brown's "My Prerogative." Enter Matt Giraud, who threw down with a party of his own. "Hard to Handle," the first song in his set, featured a fierce piano solo that made me thankful I wasn't manufactured by Steinway Corp. He followed that with a soulful rendition of the classic "Georgia on My Mind."
Act II: Allison Iraheta emerged against a flaming backdrop that coordinated with her fire-red hair, and dove right into Pink's "Rock Star." She then morphed into the voice and soul of Janice Joplin for "Cry Baby." Iraheta, affectionately nicknamed "fire pants" by her co-Idols, reminded us why she finished in the Top 4.
Danny Gokey, a sentimental fan favorite, performed an exuberant version of "PYT (Pretty Young Thing)" by Michael Jackson, along with three other songs. Giraud and Iraheta, however, were the only two performers who succeeded in getting the audience out of their chairs.
But that didn't last long...
When the sound of a techno-heartbeat began to reverberate through the building, a spontaneous outburst of excitement triggered thousands to jump to their feet.
Second place finisher Adam Lambert was in the house, and the mere mention of his name, or the flashing image of his face on the teletron, sent the audience into a glitter-induced frenzy. Seizing the moment, Lambert began his 30 minute set with Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love," and finished with a Bowie medley. His flawless vocals and seductive delivery left no doubt that he understands the full magnitude of his talent and appeal. In this entertaining army of Idols, Lambert has established himself as the Commander In Chief.
While other performers become stars, Lambert has the potential to achieve Super Nova status. Once he becomes liberated from "American Idol," he's projected to appear on another Top 10 list very quickly. Note to Billboard -- make some room.
Lambert's album debuts on November 24, one week after the release of Kris Allen's record.
The last solo performance of the evening belonged to Allen, who took center stage for "Heartless" by Kanye West/The Fray. Donning a flannel shirt, jeans, and an acoustic guitar, he served up first-rate performances of "Ain't No Sunshine," "Bright Lights" and "Hey Jude." The difference in the intensity level and stylistic contrast to Lambert's performance, however, did not go unnoticed.
The Top 10 idols concluded the show with an ensemble version of "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey, and a chorus of Steam's "Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye").
Summing up the night, Lambert twittered his thoughts about Chicago's audience immediately after the show. "Chicago! Thank you for all the noise! Nice and rowdy!"
Home 
Latest images 
Subject: Rosemont : 2:9:09. 
