LIVE REVIEW: George Michael

TAMPA – Up until Saturday, the best-looking concert crowd I had ever seen was at a Rascal Flatts show at Ford Amphitheatre. My oh my: It was like a Hawaiian Tropics bus had crashed into the set of “Hee Haw.”

But the 11,253 men and women at the George Michael gig at the St. Pete Times Forum -- although older than the Rascal crowd by a good 15 years --certainly deserved careful consideration in the hubba-hubba department.

And why not? Ever since his '80s days in boy band Wham!, the hunktastic icon has given equal time to style and substance, delighting fashion-minded fans with both smart soulful pop and the most beloved facial hair since Grizzly Adams.

On his first U.S. tour in 17 years, the 45-year-old Brit, never one for subtlety, brought with him a ginormous toboggan-shaped stage made entirely of state-of-the-art video panels. That monstrosity was flanked by two humbly huge screens. And in between those were three tiers of scaffolding holding up a sprawling umpteen-piece band.

But despite all that glam, all that glitz, the two-hour-plus show often had an intimate, subdued feel. One reason for that was Michael's health. "I have a terrible cold," he said, nevertheless looking faboo in a smooth black suit. "I'm not used to your American air-conditioning." (Perhaps this was why he hit the stage a good 30 minutes late.)

As a result of the sniffles, he had some trouble with his high notes, letting the crowd sing the tough parts on '84 Wham! hit "Everything She Wants." But his mid-range remains a rich marvel, and he flat-out stunned 'em with a gospel rendition of "One More Try" and a smoldering cover of "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face."

Another reason for the concert's curious feel was that the singer was often on that giant sled all by his lonesome. Of course, the throngs didn't seem to mind, especially when he shook his golden go-go to such dance-floor burners as "Fastlove" and "Too Funky." (If George was bummed by the smallish turnout, he didn't seem to mind.)

After a brief intermission, things started to get a little friskier, as he kicked things off with the boot-scooty title hit from '87's gone-solo smash "Faith." During the va-va-voomish "Feeling Good," that massive toboggan flashed an old-school striptease. Hot, very hot.

And for the night's most charming moment, he even poked fun at his knack for bad behavior, especially that 1998 bathroom "incident" in Beverly Hills. For the discofied "Outside," he hit the stage in a cop uniform. That kept the crowd going crazy all the way through late-game renditions of "Careless Whisper" and "Freedom! '90."

After all these years, George still looks good getting down. And you know what? So do we.

[Photo by Atoyia Deans | Times]

Comments

Seen him live in Dublin as part of the 25 tour. I've been to all sorts of concerts, (Pop to Metal) and I've got to say George puts on one hell of show.

[Steve]

I actually won my tickets on The Ellen Show website, and I took a co-worker of mine who is the biggest GM fan!
Otherwise, I would have never gone.
This was my first time seeing George in concert, and despite the late start and his cold, I thought he put on a great show. He is a great showman and the band rocked! The stage set-up was awesome! I have to admit I have a new-found respect for GM and all that he has done in his career! (good and bad).
Great job, George.

[SM]

Marissa, I can commiserate with you. I spent a good part of my weekend working. And those job duties did not include the presence of anyone even remotely resembling the word 'hunktastic!'

I won't bore you with the long story. Let me summarize: Public campaign launch. Sporting event. Colossal thunderstorm. Relief that I don't have scorch marks zig-zagging down my bum from nearby lightning.

[Jason]

This was such a great show my wife and I drove down to Ft Lauderdale to see him the next night. One of the best voices of a generation hands down.

[Miguel]

Hunktastic!Haha! Awesome word!

[Marissa]

Wade! Sean defines hunktastic.

[Wade Tatangelo]

Sean said "hunktastic."

[Alice]

Great article Sean! I agree with that is was a classy group of us fans there lastnight. A great, memorable evening for sure!

[Miguel]

Sean i`m a little bit more jealous of Steve than of you this weekend.You understand,i believe.

George Michael,i wouldn`t go watch him live,not even if somebody would pay me to(well it would depend how much).OK,i wouldn`t pay a dime to watch him live,sorry!

[Marissa]

Thanks Sean. I feel a wee bit better about how I spent my weekend. I still think a bad night of George Michael is better than a good night at home. Alone. **not saying you said GM was bad by any stretch. Just making a point

[jo]

WOW! George sounded fun!

I'm dragging my butt after 2 days of Lolla, but it's a good drag. I wish I could turn a clever phrase like you Sean, to describe the magnitude of it all! I am just so overwhelmed! Radiohead, Black Keys & Raconteurs were unbelievable so far!

Marissa, don't feel left out, you & your son should join in. They have 1/2 price tix to the last day of Lolla. Get to Grant Park by 3:30P to catch Black Kids set. I hope they play their whole new cd. I LOVE it start to finish! & stick around for Gnarles & Kanye. I am so stoked for Kanye, I think I might break out in hives!

If ya can't make it out, you can watch it in the AT&T BlueRoom.

I"ll pay for this tomorrow, but who cares? I'll sleep when I'm dead.

Jo (&Joe)

[Michelle]

Excellent photo to pair with your comments. There are going to be a lot of tired Sit80s' folks this week.

[Sean Daly]

For what it's worth, Marissa, Sean Daly was grinding last night -- and not in a good way. Tuckered as all get-out, pooped from the pop beat. Sure, I did have a row of festive men recognize me from TV, which was, um, different. But for the most part, last night was about paying the bills, bills, bills.

Hang in there, kid.

[Marissa]

Oh, and not be a poor single mom. And I'll have a really cool job like Sean Daly.

[Marissa]

OK, I read the Stuck in the 80s recap and refused to cry (because I wasn't able to be there.) Now I am going to cry. Cry like a little girl!
In my next life I'm going to have fun.

[DG]

If you tick off the 20 minute intermission, he barely made it to the 2-hour mark.

And, in looking at the setlists for previous shows (as current as Atlanta on July 31), we got at least 2 fewer songs, among them "Praying For Time" and "Kissing A Fool."