(My photos didn't come out at all, so here's one from another Ohio show--Bucky in Cleveland, by Mike/Sciortino 11 of IDF.)First things first--Bucky's definitely on vocal rest, and he should be. He sang well in Columbus but was clearly being careful with his voice, and reports from last night's Milwaukee show (via MJ's) indicate that both he and Chris Daughtry are attending meet and greets with a sign indicating they're unable to talk. (They're apparently smiling and "signing", and as friendly as always.)
I could not be more upset with the tour packagers at the moment--singers are artists, but they're also physical performers--like athletes, they require a schedule which allows for physical rest and repair. No professional team in the world would allow a 60-day stretch with an average of one day off per week. There's got to be a better way, and the tour packagers better find one--fast. These voices are too beautiful to be silenced or damaged by greed.
Oh, Columbia...er, Columbus. Of the three shows I've been to so far*, this was the toughest crowd yet, for reasons I can't quite figure out. The Idols put on a fantastic show, so that wasn't the problem...
Beautiful Mandisa started the first part with her usual vocal brilliance, a crowd-rousing "I'm Every Woman", and a bit of patter between songs that veered into "Spinal Tap" territory. "What's happening, Columbia!" (Hey, even the most die-hard Buckeyes will freely admit that Ohio is at the center of no one's map, except perhaps during football season. The crowd corrected her, though, and Mandisa took the shouts good-naturedly.)
It was another comment by Mandisa that got me thinking, though. She mentioned in passing that they were about mid-way through the tour; I wish I could remember the exact quote, because a tiny flash of mental imagery crossed my mind. You could almost see inside the tour bus for a second--and on one wall there's a big prisoner-style calendar, with ten singers marking the days until the Idol parade is over and their real musical lives begin...
Not only is this Idol tour the most brutal one in history, schedule-wise, but it's the first one I can recall in which all the performers involved--from tenth-place finish to first--are virtually assured that they'll be doing this touring thing again on their own, if they want to. Half of it is in the rear-view mirror, and the novelty of having to sing the cover tunes from the Encores CD, and of having to wave and smile everytime a crowd says "whooooooo!" outside the buses, might be wearing off just a little. But they're troupers, first and foremost, and when the crowd is with them as they're up there singing their hearts out, the joy still shows on their faces, and it's magic.
This crowd was more subdued than most, but Bucky got some real love in Columbus--country and Southern rock do very well in this part of the state, and I suspect a lot of the Bucky-friendly crowd came down from nearby Mansfield, which one Mansfield-born Bucky-fan friend of mine says might be the "Rockingham of Ohio." (I'll take her word on that...) Bucky bounced through the tin-foil doors for "Superstition", looking great in his deep blue shirt and jeans, fair hair flying. (So great that a girl sitting near me said to her buddy, quite loudly, "Whoa, he's hot! Why didn't you tell me?" Yes, I smiled. Go ahead, Bucky--grab you new some fans out here!)
He sang more softly than usual, and that cool throaty growl was noticeably absent. But he moved--and moved a lot--to compensate, and Bucky's tall-guy dancing and ability to work the whole stage is incredibly endearing. We got a couple of nice Bucky slides and a fun extended headbang, and the crowd seemed to enjoy it all.
By "Drift Away", the vocal strain was pretty apparent, unfortunately, and while Bucky was easily able to get the crowd to sing along, the official worrying had begun. As much as I appreciate the strong work ethic of all the touring Idols, vocal damage is nothing to play with. And as much as I would hate to see Bucky or Chris or any of them sit out a show or two, their health and future careers are Priority One.
As for "Patience"...I loved it, and I think the Columbus version might be my favorite of the three I've seen on a strictly musical level. As I've said in past recaps, this is the one and only chance the audiences get to hear that quiet, emotional, soft-yet-raw tone that Bucky delivers so well in "I Found the One", and on the show doing "Best I Ever Had". It is lovely, and while there's little to no chance that Chris and Bucky will record anything together after this tour, their blended voices sound so exquisite that many of us will put that on our permanent musical wish list anyway. (And I'm with Kathy of Team Covington on the wonderfulness of seeing Bucky play guitar. More, please, on your solo tour...)
He also passed out more than the usual amount of guitar picks in Columbus--I saw him reach out to one young fan and actually hand the pick over to make sure the delighted little one got it. (Bucky's youngest fan base is a devoted and precious bonus--it's so much fun to see how the kids adore him, and the feeling's clearly mutual.)
A few more impressions from the Columbus concert:
Mandisa: Gorgeous as ever, and her stage patter is a little different now; she dedicated "If I Was Your Woman" to the giggling bass player, who seemed to love the attention. I wish the audience had been a little more repsonsive, because she really poured it on that night--she sounded amazing.
Ace Young: Ahh, Ace. Ace and Mandisa both have an inherent sweetness that really makes their "Angel" duet a standout--it's enjoyable and fresh every time. Ace is an underrated singer as well as a consummate crowd-pleaser--he sure pleased this crowd--and I think the boy-band comparisons he gets are unfair. He is more charming on his own than any "boy band" could be en masse. (Don't hate him because he's beautiful, y'all!)
Lisa Tucker: Columbus enjoyed her--there were a couple of forty-plus couples near me who spoke of how impressed they were with both her performance and her excellent choice of Elton John songs. Again, that "mature beyond her years" vibe of hers will suit her well post-Idol.
Paris Bennett: A big hit, too--there was one extremely stodgy lady sitting in front of me who grumbled about the noise and hardly moved for the bulk of the show, and even she got up and did the "Midnight Train" toot-toot arm thing cheerfully when Paris took the stage. I know some don't like the booty-centric dancing, but it still seems to me she's asserting her right to be a current teenager, with all that that implies, and it's probably a smart move in the long run. She has all the time in the world to be a classy jazz diva in her twenties and beyond.
Kellie Pickler: Look, I am not old enough to be Kellie's mom, so this next bit will sound weirdly maternal. (Maybe it's more of a big-sister worry?) Kellie is sweet and beautiful and a total trouper--but she is exhausted. She came out and did her cute duet with Bucky, then sat down and gave an extended speech about how thankful she and the singers are for all the votes and such (which got a curiously subdued response from the crowd--why?), and after she finished and stood up, I peeked at the jumbotron--and an expression flashed across her face that nearly broke my heart. I like this girl a lot, and I think that touring, while fun in some ways, may just not be her thing. (It isn't for everyone, this life-on-the-road business--there are some well-known performers who only do it at record-company gunpoint.) Vocally, she was a little more conservative than usual--she's still mending from recent voice rest--but she sounded good.
Chris Daughtry: Chris was the second singer of the night to give the audience some post-Idol food for thought--he mentioned that he was very busy recording his first album, and asked the crowd if they'd come out and see him on his own solo tour. (Loud screams and airport decibel level cheers followed.) Yep, Columbus loves them some Chris Daughtry. He was hoarse when he spoke, but sang very well, and looked truly touched by all the fervent affection. (Maybe the other singers had told him backstage to be prepared for a toughish crowd?)
Elliott Yamin: I love Elliott, so objectivity may not be at its peak, here--but I thought he got a marvelous reception. (I know that one lady behind me in a green "ENN Reporter"-patched t-shirt gave him a marvelous reception--she "whoooooo!"-ed her way through his entire set, which made me giggle.) "Never Too Much" was as smooth as silk, and "Trouble" went over exceptionally well in Columbus.
Katharine McPhee: This was my first Kat-included show, and I guess I'll be the 56,324th person to say that she's utterly gorgeous. Huge positive response here--the little girls in the crowd especially loved her, and that was cute beyond words. She is clearly not quite 100% mended vocally, but she sounded fine--just a bit more controlled. "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" seemed to start abruptly, and the lovely, long black dress she wore was at odds with the gritty/funky vibe of the song, but it was fun. I think I'll always treasure Kimberley Locke's soulful, longing version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" as the definitive Idol-tour rendition, though Katharine's wistful take on the song is beautiful, too. She almost seemed to have dropped in from a different concert--again, maybe it's the dress?--however, as the tour rolls on and she can add another pop tune, that'll pass.
Taylor Hicks: Oh, Taylor, Taylor, Taylor. The more I hear him on this tour, the more I want to see him outside this tour and in a smaller, more intimate setting with nary a Pop-Tart in sight, a la Workplay or Coyote Joe's. He rocked fiercely once again, although he seemed less intense than he was at the Cleveland show. (And no "Don't Let Me Down" this time, either--alas.) As you might have guessed, I'm enjoying Taylor immensely on this tour, but I've become genuinely fascinated by pre- and outside- and post-Idol Taylor Hicks, if that makes any sense at all. He is someone I will make a point of seeing after all the glittery Idol-style Taylormania simmers down.
All in all--the "Idol Sampler Tour" is worth seeing, ya'll. Yes, it is mainly a cash-in souvenir version of the show we loved on TV, but this year, there are so many excellent singers--and so many performers who will be truly interesting to follow for years--that even a glimpse of your favorites doing a few songs each is a great value for your time and expense. And for some who were underserved by the show--especially Bucky Covington--it's a chance to show the country how much more they have to offer. Bucky's picked up some real affection and support on this tour, and I can't wait until he hits the road again on his own--after some rest, of course.
Feel better, Bucky--we're wishing you the best of health and happiness, always.
News post next--stay tuned...
*I was only planning to hit Cleveland and Columbus--Pittsburgh was a total bonus show. (Hey, if you were checking Ticketmaster and a 4th row center seat appeared, wouldn't you go for it?) The budget is really raising its brow at me, but I'd still like to make it to at least one more concert--this is a once-in-a-lifetime lineup.
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