LOS ANGELES — On Thursday night, the latest crop of "American Idol" superstars returned to the city that helped make them famous as the American Idols Live! tour descended upon L.A.'s Staples Center.
It was my first opportunity to get to see the infamous tour — it always hits the NYC area when we're super busy with Video Music Awards stuff — and it did not disappoint.
First of all, the energy in the room was dizzying. Before the show even began, the crowd erupted anytime L.A.'s own Adam Lambert popped up onscreen in never-ending monitor loops advertising Ford, Coke and Disney World. (It wouldn't be "Idol" without the product placement!)
The nearly three-hour concert kicked off exactly the way you'd want it to — with a full band jamming to the show's addictively cheesy theme song. Even better? The video graphics that went along with the overture made you feel like you were inside the opening credits. Fans have seen that androgynous robot hold up a microphone at least 500 times. The "Idol" tour lets you feel like you are the genitalia-free robot. I shouted executive producer Cecile Frot-Coutaz's name just to make it even more authentic.
The first half of the show is made up of short sets from the "bottom six" of the top 10. But what might sound like a marathon of "meh" on paper actually ended up being a string of surprises! Michael Sarver kicked off the show with infectious enthusiasm and an unexpected disco R&B shuffle. (Ever wondered what Ne-Yo's "Closer" would sound like being sung by a jovial white guy with a twang? It's better than you think.)
And while I wouldn't say Megan Joy looked comfortable onstage (accidentally crashing her mug into a microphone stand didn't help), at least she sounded better than she ever did on "Idol." Final "caw caws" included! Even Samantha Ronson and Lindsay Lohan agreed — the celebs were apparently two of the many fans in attendance, and they have the tweets to prove it!
Matt Giraud and Scott MacIntyre, the two piano men of season eight, didn't disappoint, particularly with a sequence during the group number that concluded act one. We all knew Matt had potential thanks to his Hollywood week "Georgia on My Mind" performance, and while his "Idol" journey was mired in "Who am I?" identity crises, Matt has found his footing big-time. His confidence was up 500 percent, his falsetto was strong, and his set featured more runs than Montezuma's revenge. The weak spot in his set list was, not surprisingly, a Fray song he bombed on the show. Don't get me wrong, his tour performance was miles better than the "Idol" abomination, but for a guy who is finally figuring out his own swagger, it was disappointing to hear Matt ape Fray frontman Isaac Slade's annoying Kermit the Frog stylings instead of showcasing his own vocal twists.
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