I'm crushing pretty hard on Kelly Clarkson these days. In fact, as I read this review the next day, I sound like a man very much in love. She's a cutie for sure, chunky-but-funky, just how I like 'em. And I had no idea she was such a singer. Anyway, here's my rather gushy, earnest take on Saturday's show.
CLEARWATER -- Looks like Miss Independent won't be going down so quietly after all.
At a time when her once-impenetrable starpower has taken some licks, pop fireplug Kelly Clarkson is, lo and behold, having the time of her life.
At a sold-out Ruth Eckerd Hall Saturday - in front of 2,180 little girls, big girls and men who pogoed and yelped just as robustly as the ladies - the 25-year-old Texan laughed, flirted and unleashed a soulful yet remarkably controlled wail that packed more punch than I expected.
Doubters take note: This girl can sing.
She also knows how to have fun and cut loose. At one point, the singer was surprised by her opening act, John McLaughlin and his band, who streaked seminude across the stage, just a smidge of the shenanigans taking place during one of the last gigs of this tour.
"I'm the kind of person when I start laughing, I can't stop," she said. It was that kind of night.
An American Idol champ, a Grammy winner, a headstrong hit queen who has moved more than 15-million albums in four years, Clarkson is arguably the most dominant pop influence of the 21st century. Plus she proudly wears undergarments and avoids the courthouse -- bonus points!
But as far as the music industry is concerned, she came to the bay area as an underdog -- not to mention the perfect example of today's fickle celebrity machine. After two huge albums, Clarkson's third disc, 2007's "My December," has been commercially disappointing. Even worse, a tour of major arenas (including the St. Pete Times Forum) was scrapped due to lack of interest.
But if she's bitter about playing more intimate venues, Clarkson sure didn't show it. Instead, during a fun, at times ferocious 80-minute show, the curvy girl with the husky voice reinforced her rep as the antipop star, a singer-songwriter with no interest in Hollywood, but a great desire to connect with fans and show off those yowza skills.
Backed by a seven-piece band, including a madman drummer with a Metallica crush, Clarkson opened with new cut "One Minute," which had far more rock kick in a live setting. Alternating the lesser-knowns with hits, she followed with "Behind These Hazel Eyes" and then "Don't Waste Your Time," the catchiest song on "My December."
Clarkson dispatches dumb boys and bad dates as well as anyone, and she knows it, too. "I haven't had a really, really good relationship yet," she laughed, "so maybe when I do, I'll write different songs." And with that, she launched into what she called her "most bitter" kissoff, "Never Again."
Dressed in snug black pants and a purple baby-doll tank, Clarkson gripped that microphone and let 'er rip. But let it be known that for all the vocal derring-do -- a cover of Patty Griffin's "Up to the Mountain," a stripped version of "Because of You" -- she never skidded on a bad note.
Surrounded by a sea of Kelly Krazies, it was hard not to get caught up in the heat of the hits, especially when she uncorked the crescendoing rocker "Gone" and commanded the crowd to "Jump!" And so loud was the singalong during hits "Breakaway" and "Walk Away," Clarkson had to up the volume, but even then she never screeched.
For her encore, she belted prickly weeper "Sober," again turning a lukewarm album cut into a moving live performance. And then, as her band grinded up a rowdy rock intro, she smiled and said, "Are you ready?" And hoo boy, were they ready, once again pogoing in unison to her biggest smash, "Since U Been Gone." She danced and smiled and wailed.
All in her bare feet.
Yep, Kelly Clarkson is just getting comfortable.
Sean Daly is the pop music critic for the St. Petersburg Times. His CD collection -- from Journey to Dylan, Prince to U2, Public Enemy to Stan Getz -- is much bigger and better than yours.
This is the sort of review Kelly deserves. Great write up, Sean.
I have to hand it to Kelly for sticking to her guns in her pursuit for artistic integrity. I truly believe that a performer's true mark is based on their ability to perform live... and be on key. The fact that she wrote these songs makes me appreciate this endeavor even moreso.
Quite frankly, smaller venues are precisely my cup of tea. If I wanted to see someone on a screen, I'd stay at home and watch them on television.
Posted by: Marissa | December 02, 2007 at 08:05 PM
I'd hit that. As long as she promised not to make me watch "Justin and Kelly" again...
Posted by: Al | December 02, 2007 at 09:05 PM
ARGH! Al! Geez! AGAIN? You mean you've WATCHED Justin and Kelly once before?
Posted by: Marissa | December 02, 2007 at 09:44 PM
Yes, I'm man enough to admit I've watched that trashy film.......it was on Muchmusic, our Canadian version of MTV.
Yet again, being "man" enough to admit that probably cancels out my manliness!
It was better than Britney's movie, "Crossroads"......(I have friends with crappy choices in movies when we hang out.......sigh.)
Gigli is still the all-time stinker though. And Spiceworld is quite low, too. I saw SW in theatres, what is wrong with me? And I majored in Communications-Media? Sigh.
Posted by: Al | December 02, 2007 at 10:25 PM
Media Communications, let's try that again.
Posted by: Al | December 02, 2007 at 10:27 PM
Oh, don't be so hard on yourself, Al. We've all seen movies we'd rather forget. You, however, are crazy enough to admit it on a public blog,
Your admission to watching the above movies pales in comparison to Sean confessing that he really likes 'Making the Grade.'
But this is supposed to be about the talents of Kelly Clarkson :)
Posted by: Marissa | December 02, 2007 at 10:41 PM
Crazy eh? Like a fox! (Wink wink)
I never saw Making the Grade.......so I'll take your word for it. Anyways, it's night time.
Posted by: Al | December 03, 2007 at 01:05 AM
Since this has turned into a confessional, I must admit that I saw the Spice Girls movie at a dollar theater. I'll always remember there was this young guy who sat several rows ahead of me, laughing hysterically at even the lamest jokes. That guy changed the experience from pathetic to downright scary.
Posted by: GlennS. | December 03, 2007 at 10:45 AM
Was his name Pee Wee?
Posted by: Marissa | December 03, 2007 at 11:01 AM
Damn, GlennS., that's like a scene out of "Cape Fear." Terrifying.
Posted by: Sean Daly | December 03, 2007 at 12:19 PM
I thought the concert was great, but Kelly's sets are almost always too short (80 minutes is NOT long enough), and the song arrangements were boring as usual (minus the stellar Miss Independent remix). Throw in some more riffs, a few extra band solos, etc., and you've got a more interesting live show. Nearly every song sounded exactly like the record, and if I wanted to listed to the c.d. I wouldn't have spent $50 dollars.
And again, 80 minutes is too short for an artist with 3 cd's worth of material. She needed to do more songs from her first album, yes she may not be completely proud of them, but spice 'em up if need be!
Once again, good show, but I think she could have made it even better.
P.S. I waited after the show, as did about 50 other people, to catch a glimpse, maybe even a wave, of Kelly, but when it was time for her to exit they had a tour bus pull up to block the view completely. Yes, it's not part of her responsibility, but give me a break. Anyone who would come to this particular tour and support this non-mainstream album must be a true fan, so throw us a bone!
Posted by: Tanner | December 03, 2007 at 01:31 PM
I want to see Third Eye Blind! There's a "Stuck in the '90's" comment for you.
Posted by: Al | December 03, 2007 at 01:43 PM
What a great write up. I wish I went to the concert.
Posted by: Andrea Burch | December 04, 2007 at 04:35 PM
that would have been a great show if i came to see it,i am one of your fans,i think your songs are great!!.
love
from
Lucy r
Posted by: lucy R | December 25, 2007 at 07:50 AM