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Access Atlanta > American Idol Buzz > Archives > 2006 > August > 03
Thursday, August 3, 2006
8/3: Live from the concert
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
10:45 p.m. I had to finish my print edition story first before I could get back here. The second half was, as expected, far more electric than the first half. Chris Daughty, by his very presence and vocal power, had the crowd on its feet spontaneously without any need for coaxing. He did a little bit of early 70s (Led Zep’s “Whole Lotta Love”), later ’70s (Styx’s “Renegade”), late 80s (Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dead or Alive and with Ace, Elliott and Bucky GNR’s “Patience”), plus a current song by Nickelback with Elliott, “Savin’ Me.”
Elliott’s “Never Too Much” was decent but his super vibratto as usual tended to detract from his performance. Ditto with “Moody’s Mood for Love,” which didn’t translate as well as it did on the show. Kat was a gamer. She started “Black Horse & Cherry Tree” on her knees, like the show, then got up and gingerly went down the ramp as we all cringed, wondering if she’d fall or trip. She didn’t. She wore a long black dress that hid her left foot and the black boot but she showed it to the crowd partway through. She then did “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” apologizing that she could only do two songs, doc’s orders. She sounded a bit rough on a couple of high notes but did a passable job considering her vocal condition.
Taylor was an incredible ball of energy as always, dancing his way through “Hound Dog,” “Livin’ in the City,” “Do I Make You Proud” and “Takin’ it to the Street.” Too bad he couldn’t have done “Georgia on My Mind.” He even got to play a bit of harmonica on the Doobie Brothers song. We never saw enough of that harmonica on the show.
His high school prom date Brooke Campbell came down to the front row when he started his set. A friend held up a sign: “Taylor: Brooke is here!” The pair stood only about 25 feet from me. He didn’t actually see the sign his first two songs but noticed it during “Do I Make You Proud,” grinned and pointed at them.
Other observations:The only three who thanked the band were the three who have spent eons on dank bars: Bucky, Chris and Taylor. The set was spare but an improvement over the past two years.
Overall, except for Kellie’s absence, they did not veer from script in terms of song choice. They played exactly what they’ve played in the past, nothing new or different. One annoyance: the chintzy Idol organizers didn’t bother hiring real backup singers despite a five-piece band. So on many songs, they had recorded backups which eliminated opportunities for spontaneity. Bucky, Chris and Paris did pass through the front row and Taylor sang “Hound Dog” through the crowd. Plus, the funniest moment was watching Kat struggle up the ramp with that big ugly boot and laughing about it as they sang the final group sing of “Living in America.”
I’d have to say “Idol” fans got what they paid for, even if most of the music critics forced to review it from the likes of The Washington Post, the New York Times couldn’t conceal their disdain. Certainly, our music critics wouldn’t have been any happier because face it: it’s a glorious nostalgia trip for folks who watched the show and not much more than that. As my seat neighbor Catherine Cartwright said, “You feel like you know them after all those weeks.” It’s our thank you to them and vice versa.
8:10 p.m. Bucky tells the crowd that Kellie is ill and has to take vocal rest, missing at least three dates, including tonight. In a dark blue sweatshirt, she at least comes out and waves but the usually loquacious Kellie doesn’t utter a word. Normally, they would have done a duet from “Grease” of “You’re the One That I Want.” Too bad we had to miss that. Instead, we get an early intermission. Earlier, they didn’t veer from previous concert sets: Mandisa did “I’m EVery Woman” and dedicated “If I Was Your Woman” to Ruben, then she and Ace did “I’m Your Angel.” Ace milked “Father Figure,” then did a respectable version of “Harder to Breathe.” He then passed on to LIsa Tucker, who did a rote “Signed Sealed and Delivered,” followed by a better-than-expected double shot of part-time Atlantan Elton John (“Your Song” and “Somebody Saved My Life Tonight”). She then dueted with Paris on TLC’s “Waterfalls.” Paris got a strongest response of the first half for doing the hometown “Midnight Train to Georgia.” Curiously, that was four songs in a row by folks who live here or have lived here. Paris shaked her booty to “Crazy in Love” but still seems too young for it. Bucky, oddly, didn’t do country but “Superstition” and “Drift Away.”
7:18 p.m. The lights go down. The six-piece band hits the stage. A video of the contestants come up. An usher comes on down and tells me to put this away so sorry, I have to see if I can do something during intermission.
7:15 p.m. I’m at my seat and the eBay ticket I got was better than I expected. I’m in the front row by the side of the stage. This means I’ll have an unobstructed view even as I sit. Below is the space where they cart equipment in and out so I’m eleavted about 15 feet up. I’m about 30 feet from the edge of the stage. Not bad at all. The stage is diamond shaped with ramps. The band is set in the center of the stage. It’s a bit nicer than the sets the past two years, comparable to what they had year one. I still think the second year’s set was the most elaborate.
6:40 p.m.: I just heard Kellie’s ill so she won’t be performing tonight. Oh, well.. I did see Kat with a big boot on her foot at the soundcheck so she’ll be limping around tonight.
8/3: Just met Taylor, Paris, Bucky, Mandisa
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There was a media meet and greet at 3 p.m. today at the Arena at Gwinnett. It was just me and Alice, another reporter who I think is freelance. Paris, Mandisa and Bucky came out together first. Paris is even smaller than I had expected. Mandisa is a beauty and Bucky was unfailingly polite. I hadn’t done an amazing job prepping because I had no clue who was going to show up. I had just interviewed Mandisa and I already know Bucky plans to move to Nashville, post tour. (Mandisa said Kellie is moving to Nashville, too, where she already lives.) I did get one tiny morsel from Paris—she plans to stay in Atlanta after the tour and has some sitcom ideas thrown her way. So she is looking to balance acting and singing. She said she loves the heat and loves the South, plus many of her friends are going to Spelman/Clark Atlanta and the like. Naturally, she said huge numbers of people from her high school here Starrs Mill will be here tonight, too. She said on the buses (the women are on one, the men on other other), they watch lots of movies and play board games like Family Feud, Scene It and (she giggled saying this) Truth or Dare. I’d love to be there for that game!
She also loves to dance at any opportunity. When my cel phone went off (my boss), I ignored it but it kept ringing and ringing and she began dancing to it. Their stay in Atlanta is brief (not even 24 hours) so she won’t even get a chance to see Fayetteville. They will be back Sept. 12.
After a few minutes, Taylor showed up so we jumped over to him. He looked tired, very focused, very serious about his career. His huge mop of gray hair is even more prominent up close. Very penetrating eyes while he’s looking at me. For his post-tour first album, he said he’s looking for quality, not quantity, when it comes to songs on his first album, that he’s still vetting possibilities and working with songwriters he can’t reveal just yet (possibly because he won’t know whose songs will end up on the album.).
He said he’s trying to exercise regularly and indeed, he looks thinner than on the show. He said he did have Chick Fil-A today for lunch, something he couldn’t get out West or on most of the tour.
Nobody provided any good details about Kat’s fall in Charlotte and were vague about her in general. I asked him if he’s ever been seriously injured on stage, hoping for a funny anecdote but he remained kind of vague, saying he’s had to haul equipment around and has occasional knee issues.
I even told Taylor that his high school prom date was coming. He seemed amused but didn’t say anything of note. He hopes to see some of his Auburn friends tonight after the concert. One of the tour organizers said they have to drive the 10 hours to Sunset, Fla. at about 11:30 p.m. to midnight tonight so Taylor is not going to be at the after-party in Suwanee. Sorry about that!
Also, we saw Chris Daughtry for about two seconds. He opened the door between us and their green room space in just boxers. He’s in good shape. No surprise there.
It’s now 5 p.m. They did their first soundcheck. Ace did “Harder to Breathe.” I am way up in VIP right and peeked at the stage. Kat and Taylor were goofing around dancing while Ace sang. Kat had a big black boot on her left foot.
8/3: Kat injures her foot
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Is this the curse of the runners up? According to people.com, Katharine McPhee fractured her left foot backstage during the Charlotte concert Tuesday night.
She wore slippers that night and will continue to tour. She just may be limping around a bit tonight.
Last year, season 4 runner up Bo Bice broke his foot during an Idol concert in Manchester, N.H. and the year before, season three runner up Diana DeGarmo slipped down some stairs on the stage and was badly bruised. Here’s more info on that incident.
I’m off to the arena soon and hopefully I can blog live from the concert.
