After the American Idol Season 5 show ended in late May of this year, I excitedly headed for Ticketmaster and got myself 5 tickets for the customary Pop-Tarts concert that followed. Lo and behold the only seats I could get were the $38.50 ones that were on Section 205/Row 13. I figured that just as long as we weren’t at the back of the stage, we were all set. I am basically not your concert-going type, so I did not fuss over our placements. Despite offers from friends and acquaintances to have me transfer my seats over to their area, I declined because I didn’t want to break my 5 seat set, which comprised of family members. Little did I know that $38.50 seating meant being planted at the top of the arena at the farthest possible point from the stage: the distance from here to Timbuktu. Every time I squinted, I was lucky to distinguish actual performance choreography from among the swarm of humanity on the basement level. All in all it was too loud, too cacophonous, too monotonous for me to appreciate, as the performers simply regurgitated the songs they sang from the AI season. If I had been up closer, I would have probably enjoyed it more, as the action up front would have distracted me from the jarring audio that this typical concert emitted. It was apparent that most of San Jose preferred Chris Daughtry over the whole lot. What else can you expect from the West Coast? I for one thought Taylor Hicks was the best, not just because I’m a Soul Patroller, but because he was so spastic that he stood out no matter where you were in the stadium.

Here are some NICE photos of the concert care of huntsville.about.com,

since from where I was, the only photos I could get were these:

And here were the Idols in order of appearance:

  • Mandisa: one of the standouts — literally — since I could actually see her fairly well without needing a binocular or telescope. I did not even have to squint. She looked great! Her songs were blah.

  • Ace Young: He did George Michael proud. I loved his Father Figure rendition replete with chest pulsations, dramatic fall-on-your-knees moments.

  • Lisa Tucker: Way to go! Piano + vocals ala Elton John with Your Song and Someone Saved My Life Tonight. Why does she remind me of a Mouseketeer? Must be because Mouseketeer = Star Search alumnus.

  • Paris Bennett: Boring except she’s looking like Destiny’s child and sounding more and more like that.

  • Bucky Covington/Kellie Pickler: Unfortunately, I.Detest.Country.Music. And You’re The One That I Want from Grease the Musical didn’t bite me either.

  • Chris Daughtry/Elliott Yamin: Bravo to rock and soul. After a restless slumber through the previous numbers, I managed to get one eye open to take in the ultra loud ensemble of once again rehashed Wanted: Dead or Alive and showtuney Moody’s Mood For Love.

  • Katharine McPhee: Think was all over the place — she went in and out of the song for some reason. And if I hear Somewhere Over The Rainbow again in any way, shape or form, I will hurl. But the cute little kiddies in ponytails and glitter were sure loving it.

  • Taylor Hicks: I woke up to Jailhouse Rock, Living For The City, Taking It To The Streets and Do I Make You Proud. Taylor always makes the same old songs fresh with his antics and stage presence. I was afraid his bobblehead-on-a-dirt-road movements would cost him a concussion, but no…he made it through in amazing form! Go Soul Patrol!

My burning question is: why don’t they give the idols some new material for the concerts? What’s with this attachment to the songs from the contest, transmitted to both idol CD track and now to pop-tarts concert form? I guess that’s what I get for $38.50.

< Tagged in Technorati as: >