Idols entertain Pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH — The American Idols Live Tour rolled into town early Monday morning, giving the Idols a day off to see a Pirates game, go kayaking on the Monongahela and generally wander around Pittsburgh.
Refreshed and raring to go, they performed Tuesday night to a Mellon Arena packed with shrieking fans.
The stage was simple, allowing the 10 performers to absorb the spotlight without much flashy distraction.
Their appearances ran in reverse order of TV’s “American Idol” contest, so soulful teddy bear Chikezie went first. By the last tune of his three-song set the audience was on its feet.
Next came Ramiele Malubay, whose singing was pitchy and lackluster. Her choreography was cheesy and her purple corset-meets-disco-ball wardrobe choice was a mistake. After singing Maroon 5’s “If I Ever See Your Face Again” she sauntered off the stage with little ado.
Seventh runner-up Michael Johns channeled the spirit of Freddie Mercury with chilling renditions of “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions.” The sultry and charming Australian reached his crescendo with Percy Sledge’s “It’s All Wrong, But It’s Alright.”
Country sweetheart Kristy Lee Cook next took the limelight in a wave of patriotism. While an all-American perky blonde crooning about the heartland felt all too predictable, there was an air of sincerity that hit home.
In a press conference that afternoon, Cook said, “It’s funny to have fans come up to me and be like, ‘I didn’t really like you on the show, but I’m a fan of you now that I saw you live!’ I’m just like, ‘I told you so!’ The best thing is to be on stage, just singing. It feels good to give back.”
And give back she did from her tight country-fried harmonies with the backup vocalists to her interactions with the audience, displaying her cowgirl star power.
Next in the batting order was Carly Smithson, the Irish rocker whose gritty take on “Bring Me to Life” featured vocal flutters that gave Evanescence’s Amy Lee a run for her money.
Smithson skipped across the stage belting Heart’s “Crazy On You,” which was strikingly polished in comparison with her original TV performance. The siren seemed to be comfortable all the way through her finale, where she enthusiastically introduced a barefoot Brooke White to the anticipating crowd.
Plunking away at a piano that rose up through the floor, White put her own twist on the Beatles’ “Let It Be.” While her Coldplay selection only seemed a notch above karaoke, her strummed-guitar, folksy take on Feist’s “1 2 3 4” was one of the most memorable songs of the night.
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Refreshed and raring to go, they performed Tuesday night to a Mellon Arena packed with shrieking fans.
The stage was simple, allowing the 10 performers to absorb the spotlight without much flashy distraction.
Their appearances ran in reverse order of TV’s “American Idol” contest, so soulful teddy bear Chikezie went first. By the last tune of his three-song set the audience was on its feet.
Next came Ramiele Malubay, whose singing was pitchy and lackluster. Her choreography was cheesy and her purple corset-meets-disco-ball wardrobe choice was a mistake. After singing Maroon 5’s “If I Ever See Your Face Again” she sauntered off the stage with little ado.
Seventh runner-up Michael Johns channeled the spirit of Freddie Mercury with chilling renditions of “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions.” The sultry and charming Australian reached his crescendo with Percy Sledge’s “It’s All Wrong, But It’s Alright.”
Country sweetheart Kristy Lee Cook next took the limelight in a wave of patriotism. While an all-American perky blonde crooning about the heartland felt all too predictable, there was an air of sincerity that hit home.
In a press conference that afternoon, Cook said, “It’s funny to have fans come up to me and be like, ‘I didn’t really like you on the show, but I’m a fan of you now that I saw you live!’ I’m just like, ‘I told you so!’ The best thing is to be on stage, just singing. It feels good to give back.”
And give back she did from her tight country-fried harmonies with the backup vocalists to her interactions with the audience, displaying her cowgirl star power.
Next in the batting order was Carly Smithson, the Irish rocker whose gritty take on “Bring Me to Life” featured vocal flutters that gave Evanescence’s Amy Lee a run for her money.
Smithson skipped across the stage belting Heart’s “Crazy On You,” which was strikingly polished in comparison with her original TV performance. The siren seemed to be comfortable all the way through her finale, where she enthusiastically introduced a barefoot Brooke White to the anticipating crowd.
Plunking away at a piano that rose up through the floor, White put her own twist on the Beatles’ “Let It Be.” While her Coldplay selection only seemed a notch above karaoke, her strummed-guitar, folksy take on Feist’s “1 2 3 4” was one of the most memorable songs of the night.
continue...
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