American Idol Tour – Portland OR 7/11/08

The season 7 tour show was great entertainment. This year the show went back to being a mini-concert for each performer. There were only two group numbers.

The stage was pretty simple and not much of a variance from other seasons.

I was amazed at the range of ages attending the concert from the very young to the very young at heart (which of course I include myself in).

There was a ridiculous host, Gary who was trying to get the crowds excited before the show started. We have some poor people dressed up as Pop-Tarts and he was walking on the floor trying to being fun, which he wasn’t. I was just happy when he shut up and the lights went down.
The performers sang in the order of their elimination, i.e. 10 up to the winner.

Mr. Chikezie Eze was up first. There was great energy in his performance but by the third number he was having some severe breath issues. It was sometimes hard to hear him over the crowd but he sounded really good and has learned some good skills. The songs he performed were “So High”, “Caught Up”, and “I Believe to My Soul”. His wardrobe was really good and appropriate.

Ramiele Malubay was next. She opened with a choreographed number and trust me she still cannot move very well. Her outfit was hot but damn it her hair was still covering her eyes. She opened with “I Want you Back” by the Jackson 5. It was okay. She had some pitch problems. She performed two other songs but I don’t recall the titles but one was a Taylor Dayne song and one was a Rhianna number. Overall she managed to get the crowd energized and the teen girls next to me were jamming with her. If she sticks to pop and avoids over singing she could have a pretty good career.

Michael Johns really got the crowd screaming and jamming. His performance was effortless. Michael was really eliminated too soon. He opened with “We are the Champions”, moved on to “Dream On”. This was a killer song and performance because he got to do the entire song and it was truly awesome. He did joke it was the song he was eliminated with. His final number was “It’s so wrong”.

Kristy Lee Cook can country rock. She really surprised me. I had to laugh she was wearing one of the outfits she wore on the show, the very tight white pants and the very glittery silver top. Kristy has learned some moves. She was singing her heart out and she was excellent. She was playing to the audience and truly having fun. She was a pleasure to watch. I don’t want to be crude but she has one very sexy body and a great ass. Who knew she could perform so well? Her set ended with “God Bless America” which I could have done without but I can’t have everything.

My favorite Carly Smithson was up next and oh my heavens I was melting. She has lost some weight, toned up and her hair was a bit longer and fuller. This woman has some great pipes and she took command of the stage and put on one hell of a performance. She opened with “Bring Me to Life”, moved on to “Crazy on you, and finished with “I Drove all Night”. She rocked the house. I was screaming at the top of my lungs showing my appreciation.

Brooke White came rising up through the stage sitting behind a piano and opened with “Let It Be”. I don’t think you can create magic twice in a row but she came close. It was nice to hear her do the entire number. Brooke moved away from the piano for her second number and engaged with the audience with “1234” and she was barefoot by the way. She ended her set with “Yellow” and it was okay but nothing special and don’t get me started on the stupid visuals on the big screen behind her.

We then had a big plug for “Idol Gives Back” and our first group number with the 6 performers who had just been on the stage. They actually did U2 proud but oh it was a shameless, shameless plug.

During the intermission there was a stupid Guitar Hero competition and then Gary found two kids who had an air guitar competition. Give me a break! Luckily the lights went out and the second half started.

This naturally meant Jason Castro was on the stage. There were lots of screaming women around me screaming for Jason naturally I had to start yelling boo and get off the stage. I am surprised I was lynched but I enjoyed myself while doing it. Oh my how surprising there is Jason sitting on a stool on the stage with some really ugly red sneakers, smiling and he had his eyes closed. Has he learned nothing? He had his ukulele and started with “Over the Rainbow”, gag me. I hated it when he did it on the show and I really hated the entire song. The second song was “Crazy” and his performance was very good. He still had his eyes closed. He finished with “Daydreamer”. I was happy when his set opened because it meant Syesha was about to hit the stage.

Syesha Mercado certainly brought up the heat in more ways than one. The woman was looking scalding hot and her outfit was totally flashy and entertaining along with her killer shoes. I was totally impressed by both her singing ability and performance skills. She has come out of her shell and there is no turning off her shining light. Syesha opened with “Umbrella”, then “If I Ain’t Got You”, and had her moment with a truly killer version of “Listen”; it was so powerful and controlled. It was like watching a volcano erupt, who knew she had it in her. She had the audience eating out of her hands and the standing ovation and thunderous applause was very moving. Syesha kicked ass and left no prisoners.

Let us say the ear splitting screaming that began as Mr. David Archuleta came rising up out of the floor of the stage behind the piano with the fog mist was amusing. I was pleasantly surprised by David he had great confidence and his voice was in strong form. He opened with Angels and he has relaxed, his eyes were opened for all most his entire performance which totally helped him connect. David A was having fun and you could tell. David also sang “Stand by Me” and “Apologize”. I enjoyed his entire set more than I thought I would. He is becoming a little showman.

It was time for our new American Idol to hit the stage. David Cook also seemed very much at ease on the stage and he can really perform. It was a very hot set. David opened with “Hello” and hearing the entire song was awesome. His second number was “Time of My Life” followed by “Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing” and he finished with “My Hero”. America which includes me of course totally got the right winner. David C is going to have a kick ass career.

After the usual sitting in the dark as the audience stamped their feet and shouted. David returned with his encore number which happened to be “Billie Jean”. Another kick ass performance and hearing the entire song was priceless.

There was one final encore number; yes it was a group song. They sang “Please Don’t Stop The Music” and it was the perfect ending to a great concert.

This was one of my favorite American Idol Concert events. Now it is over until January. Season 8 auditions start on July 18th so I have something to look forward to in 2009.

Until later...