Warning to all Glamberts: if you think by seeing Adam live, will cure you of this obsession, I'm here to tell you the opposite will happen. Not that we want to be cured!
So, last night was the third stop of the American Idol tour (in Vancouver), and the first time that I've ever gone to an AI concert. Actually, I haven't been to a rock concert in a while because the cost/enjoyment ratio doesn't usually balance out very well. Heading into the 20,000 seat General Motors Place, it was obvious, judging from the Adam T-shirts, Glitter outfits, Adam headbands, and Adam signs that Vancouver is Glambert territory. Having said that, the crowd, which ranged from ages 5 to 85 was very enthusiastic for all the performers. I was on the floor in row 13, which meant I had a great view of the stage - but only when I was standing because the 3 kids in the row ahead NEVER sat down.
There's one thing you can say for an American Idol concert - these kids can actually sing and they're animated and fun. As the reviews are all reporting, they sound much better live than they did on TV - with the exception of Megan, IMO. I didn't like the quality of her voice and for more than a couple of songs it would definitely grate on my nerves.
Lil has a very rich, lovely voice and a great sassy attitude on stage. Scott and Anoop were endearing, but along with Michael Sarver, this tour will probably be the highlight of their careers.
Matt was the best of the first half, with a very solid rendition of "Hard to Handle". He's especially fun to watch when he plays the keyboards and has the Jerry Lee Lewis thing going on. I'd go hear Matt again in a more intimate setting where he's playing the piano, because he's a fabulous keyboard player.
During intermission, I find out that the girls sitting next to me are total Chokey fans and are still swooning about the fact that he hugged them before the show. They have the pictorial proof and I pretend to be impressed. I've got my big Adam sign and am waving it around during intermission - which gets a lot of smiles and waves back. I can't wave it very much during the concert because it blocks the view of the people behind me - and I don't want to end up wearing it around my neck. I'm amazed how many people are shelling out for overpriced programs and T-shirts. They show a video of the Disney World American Idol Experience and every time Adam comes on, the screaming starts. It's pretty clear who most of us are waiting for.
The lights dim, and that fireball of energy Allison takes the stage. It's a cliché, I know, but I can't think of any other way to put it - this gal is a freak of nature. How such a little body can contain such a huge set of pipes defies all the laws of physics. She was made to sing in arenas and she's amazing. I didn't think anybody could match Janis' Cry Baby, but Allison sings it with a maturity, raw emotion and depth that would be remarkable for somebody twice her age. I'd go hear her again.
OK, now I have to get my flame-retardant suit on. I was ready to sneer and laugh at Danny's performance, so I really hate admitting that he won me over. His voice is also made for large arena's and he had a very likable stage presence. NOW, I could see what the judges were talking about. The "growl" which drove me nuts on TV was barely audible in the huge hall - his voice was actually very impressive and he can sure belt out a song. He had everybody on their feet and the crowd loves him. It's the perfect build-up for
ADAM. I was trying to scale back my expectations, thinking that nobody can live up to the kind of hype he's been getting plus Danny was really good. Would Adam be able to out-sing him? Is the grass green? They English language doesn't have sufficient words to describe the glory that was Adam's performance. The crowd was hysterical but his voice is so glorious, so big - it carries over everything and fills the hall. It's exquisite perfection. He hits every note, sliding between impossible octave ranges and he has a stage presence and sexiness that is 100 times more than what you saw on TV. Someone threw a red bra at Adam during his "Slow Ride" duet with Allison. He grabbed it and twirled it around his head a few times then threw it back into the crowd, not losing his concentration in the song one bit. This was followed by some panties tossed at him and the line in song at that moment was "Take it easy". He smiled at the panties and then gave the audience that mischievous, sexy look as he told the girls to "take it easy, slow down". Needless to say, that only stoked the fire which reached its fever pitch when he took off his @@@%+%. OMG!!! The arms, the chest - this man is beyond stunning. What is the word for more than red-hot sex-on-a-stick? Glamberts - do whatever you need to do to catch this show. If you thought you loved the guy before - it's nothing compared to what you're going to feel after you see him live.
Kris followed and he's a super nice guy but the energy is entirely different. It's like a nice gentle afterglow following a climax.
After the rousing and fun finale, I find myself heading to the gates because, I figure since I'm here, I may as well make a night of it and try and see Adam. I get there quite fast, and staked out a spot right behind 2 little girls who are up against the barricade. I figure the Adam handler will stop at the little kids, and since I'm almost as tall as Adam, I'll be right there to shove my sign at him for an autograph. During the hour that we're standing there, I think of all sorts of witty things to say in the 5 seconds that I might get with him. The barricade snakes around a corner, and from the far end around the corner, we hear the screams starting. It's Adam and he walks the length of the barricade driving the crowd wild, then starts to work his way back signing autographs. He's gorgeous and things start to get crazy as he nears my section. People who didn't get their pictures signed at the far end are rushing back to where he's making his way down the line, thrusting their pictures at me (because I'm tall and right by the barricade), begging me to pass them on to Adam. I'm trying to balance my poster, a dozen other pictures, and my camera as he gets closer. Just as I suspected, his handlers stop him right by the little girls and I'm looking straight into those dazzling eyes. I push my poster over the barricade and he says: "Wow, who made this?" "I did", I say, "Can you sign it please, and all these pictures as well from the people behind me?" He gives me a smile and we catch each others eyes again. I tell him he's incredible (so much for my witty comments). He has a lot of blue eye make-up on and his skin is smooth and beautiful. And then he moves on, but the image of his face in front of me is burned into my brain and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since. Kris comes out and it's very different. He's goofy and fun and good-naturedly hugs all the girls for pictures. Somehow, it just didn't seem right to Adam for a hug. He kept his physical distance whereas Kris was cuddling with everyone who asked. He really seems like a wonderful and nice guy .
Adam has a charisma and presence that cannot be translated fully through any screen. I can totally understand now why every reporter who meets him falls completely under his spell. This guy is mind-blowing.
Adam right in front of me
The poster he signed.
From the Vancouver show: watch where he takes his jacket off in the Bowie medley - esp. watch the hips.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1B8Q1wpfjPg
I actually bought the CD tonight when I was in 
Not sure when I'll get around to them either. I have a feeling I'll be wearing out 5 and 12 first.
