If you watched American Idol in season 8, you may remember Adam Lambert. Adam Lambert finished as a runner-up that year. He had dark hair, and wore eyeliner. It later came out that he was homosexual, and though none will admit it, his homosexuality may have been what cost him the coveted title. This being said, Adam Lambert SHOULD have won. He was beaten by Kris Allen. Kris Allen had a nice singing voice,and did some cool, different, arrangements of familiar songs that year, but an American Idol winner? Had America lost it's collective mind?
Adam kicked off his first headlining tour, aptly titled the "Glam Nation" tour, on June 4th, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. It made Seattle on Tuesday, July 20th. I was fortunate enough to get to participate in a lunchtime meet and greet with the local radio station I listen to. We had catered lunch, got to see him do an interview with the local DJ's, then we all got pictures and signed discs. As there were only 5 other winners, and their guests, it was very intimate, and informal. That evening, it was off to see him at The Showbox Sodo. His show was opened by Allison Iraheta, the 4th place finisher from Idol, also from season 8. She is an 18 year old rock belter. Her set was entertaining, but nothing special. She got the crowd into it, when she did a fun version of Pat Benatar's "Heartbreaker".
Out comes Adam, shortly after. His stage is not elaborate, but there are various pictures of him all over the back curtains, in various poses. He comes out in a glittery outfit, and a top hat, that looks like something a ringmaster from Hell would wear. I actually expected many costume changes, knowing that many consider him nearly as much of a style icon, as a singer. Though there were a couple, not nearly what I thought there'd be. He performed selections from his current disc "For Your Entertainment". This music translated better for me, live. Songs I didn't care for, on the disc, were given new life as songs that were actually fun, and great concert songs .He had back up dancers with him on stage, and I really felt like I was seeing something theatrical, and special. He did interesting versions of Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" and Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love", in addition to his own stuff.
What made his show great for me, though, is the same thing that makes him great. That is, his amazingly theatrical singing voice, his bravado, and his "Except me, this is the way I am" attitude. He is truly a chocolate swirl, in a pool of vanilla. He would not be the performer he is, and have gained the following he has, if he was just like everyone else.
The Showbox Sodo, where the capacity is around 1500, was sold out months in advance for this show. After seeing the show, I can see why....One of my friends commented, when I said I was attending Adam Lambert's show, that I should take my bubble gum with me.
Honey, this show might have been a lot of things, but bubble gum IT WAS NOT!
If you are interested in seeing Adam live, for yourself, he will be back in the area, playing the Puyallup Fair, with guitar phenom, Orianthi, on Tuesday, September 21st. I dare say, I don't think you would be disappointed, and you may even come away thinking "I saw someone on his way to greatness."
No comments:
Post a Comment