QUOTE
Biggest surprise about 'Idols' concert is that it offers some surprises
By TIM CUPRISIN
tcuprisin@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Aug. 13, 2006
You don't go to an "American Idols" concert looking for surprises.
So when they happen, it's something of a bonus. And Saturday's Milwaukee gathering of the "Idol" class of 2006 at the Bradley Center offered a nice array of bonuses.
There was the energetic dancing of Paris Bennett, the teenage old soul of this year's top-rated talent competition. On Saturday night, she showed much more than her singing.
And there was the virtuoso performance by Lisa Tucker, who accompanied herself on the keyboard for Elton John's "Someone Saved My Life."
Even second-place finisher Katharine McPhee surprised, bravely limping through some attempted dance moves after fracturing her foot last week. She performed only two solos, saying it was on the order of her doctor, and the songs included her now-signature tune, "Over the Rainbow."
Song choice was not part of the surprises on Saturday night. Most of the renditions were familiar to viewers of the show.
Even if you weren't part of his "Soul Patrol" of fans, "Idol" winner Taylor Hicks' showmanship was a perfect climax to the show with his take on Bob Seger's "Hollywood Nights."
He was trying hard to please, even launching the show's encore by donning Brett Favre's green-and-gold No. 4 to show he knew exactly where he was performing on this multi-city tour.
The show was frequently accompanied by a background of screeching from the herd of young "Idol" fans, many of them clearly at their first concert. The screeching was loudest for Ace Young, the finalist with the boy-band good looks. He offered his surprise by leaping athletically around the stage when the entire cast reassembled for the encore.
If there was a disappointment Saturday night, it wasn't a surprising one.
Good ol' boy rocker Bucky Covington remains as likable live as he was on the small screen. But like his TV persona, his onstage voice is weak, easily washed out by the five-man backup band, and he continues to seem uncertain of his lyrics.
Even when he knows the lyrics, they don't seem to be distinct words but a collection of syllables, as if he's singing in a foreign language.
Still, Covington's enthusiasm was enough for his young fans, who got their money's worth - make that their parents' money's worth - from a couple of hours of young performers enjoying themselves.
From the Aug. 14, 2006 editions of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?i...74&format=print
By TIM CUPRISIN
tcuprisin@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Aug. 13, 2006
You don't go to an "American Idols" concert looking for surprises.
So when they happen, it's something of a bonus. And Saturday's Milwaukee gathering of the "Idol" class of 2006 at the Bradley Center offered a nice array of bonuses.
There was the energetic dancing of Paris Bennett, the teenage old soul of this year's top-rated talent competition. On Saturday night, she showed much more than her singing.
And there was the virtuoso performance by Lisa Tucker, who accompanied herself on the keyboard for Elton John's "Someone Saved My Life."
Even second-place finisher Katharine McPhee surprised, bravely limping through some attempted dance moves after fracturing her foot last week. She performed only two solos, saying it was on the order of her doctor, and the songs included her now-signature tune, "Over the Rainbow."
Song choice was not part of the surprises on Saturday night. Most of the renditions were familiar to viewers of the show.
Even if you weren't part of his "Soul Patrol" of fans, "Idol" winner Taylor Hicks' showmanship was a perfect climax to the show with his take on Bob Seger's "Hollywood Nights."
He was trying hard to please, even launching the show's encore by donning Brett Favre's green-and-gold No. 4 to show he knew exactly where he was performing on this multi-city tour.
The show was frequently accompanied by a background of screeching from the herd of young "Idol" fans, many of them clearly at their first concert. The screeching was loudest for Ace Young, the finalist with the boy-band good looks. He offered his surprise by leaping athletically around the stage when the entire cast reassembled for the encore.
If there was a disappointment Saturday night, it wasn't a surprising one.
Good ol' boy rocker Bucky Covington remains as likable live as he was on the small screen. But like his TV persona, his onstage voice is weak, easily washed out by the five-man backup band, and he continues to seem uncertain of his lyrics.
Even when he knows the lyrics, they don't seem to be distinct words but a collection of syllables, as if he's singing in a foreign language.
Still, Covington's enthusiasm was enough for his young fans, who got their money's worth - make that their parents' money's worth - from a couple of hours of young performers enjoying themselves.
From the Aug. 14, 2006 editions of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?i...74&format=print
Not even a mention about Chris...and a huge lie that the crowd went wild the most for Ace....it was for Chris! He had to wait between songs for us to quiet down. Don't worry...already emailed the editor!! Jerk!
Chris was awesome and the highlight of the show. Taylor looked like a dork in a Brett Farve jersey...now what a dream Chris in the Brett jersey, yummy!!! Katherine, oh I don't like her...acted perfectly normal. Didn't even mention the broken foot and didn't even see the cast until last song of the night.
Thanks for letting me vent....Have fun at the rest of the concerts this summer!
The boys ruled this show.