Interview: Casey James from American Idol

Article first posted as Interview: Casey James from American Idol on BlogCritics.

I recently had an opportunity to sit down with newly signed Sony Nashville artist, Casey James as he finished up his time on the road with the American Idol Live tour.

Backstage at the Sacramento, CA tour stop, we talked about what kind of sound to expect on his upcoming album, if he was shocked about Ellen leaving, and what advice he has for future contestants.

You just got signed.

Yeah.

How does that feel?

It feels amazing. It feels like a dream, you know? I’ve worked really hard for a lot of years to get to this point. I’m just thankful and I feel really blessed. I feel like everything is kind of clicking right now. It’s hard to believe.

Very cool. You’re signed with Sony Nashville, so are you going to be leaning towards more of a country feel or stay along the lines of more of a rock feel?

I think it kind of came across on the show is that I’m a country, rock, and blues guy, and that’s what the album is going to be. It’ll have a lot of guitar in it. It’s hard to describe it, cause I’m not really right down the middle.

Do you have any ideas about who you’d like to collaborate with as far as writing goes?

That’s all being talked about right now. Sorry!

It’s all good. How’s the tour going? I was actually at the Mountain View show.

Ahhh, that’s one of my faves!

You kicked off that second half of the show, it was so much fun.

Thank you so much, that was like one of my favorites. The crowd there was just amazing. And what I really loved about that show, was that all the crowd was right there on the stage, everything was so intimate. It was a great show.

The tour’s going great. I know personally for me, it’s a honor to get to play for everybody who put us here, put me here specifically especially, and to get to meet the people. And to play these huge venues is unbelievable. If you had told me a year ago that I was going to be playing a place like this even for just four songs, I would have laughed at ‘cha. It’s awesome.

Do you have any fun stories from the bus?

[laughs]

That you can share, anyway?

Yeah, good point. Nothing really, no. I mean, we have a good time I’ll put it that way. We have a great time. Everybody’s getting along really well. The buses are so nice that if you want to get some private space you can get in your bunk. It’s good. Everybody’s respectful, so it’s nice.

The tour ends very soon, what are you going to look back on and remember the most?

I tend to not look back to be honest with you, but I think I will always keep with me the memories of this as a whole and as being together with the people that went through the situation with me. The whole experience, it’s obviously never going to leave me, it’s given me the ability to go out and do what I love to do. It’s pretty huge.

I have a couple questions about the judges. Were you shocked about Ellen’s decision to leave?

I’m never shocked by anything in the world. It’s always interesting when somebody chooses to do something different. I think she did a great job on the show. I’m a fan of hers, personally. I’ll always watch the show, and it will be interesting to see who fills her spot.

As far as the next crop of contestants goes, do you think the next judge should be someone who has been successful in the business as a singer or leader singer of a band or an industry insider, who knows a lot about what goes on behind the scenes?

It’s hard to tell. I think really it’s about getting someone who has a good personality and knows what they’re talking about and that the general public can believe when they say it’s good or bad. That’s really kind of the point of the show, having people up there pouring their hearts out and having somebody critiquing it.

What advice would you give to future contestants?

Be yourself. Period. Because nobody’s like you, you’re born an individual. Everybody is special and you don’t need to try to be special, you know? Everybody has their strengths, and beauty and talent. If you believe in that, then people are going to believe with you.

I have some fan questions. What’s the most random item you’ve been asked to sign on tour?

I signed a girl’s stomach once. It was weird. But like stomach, not her shirt, but her actual stomach. I thought that was interesting.

Favorite kitchen appliance?

Toaster.

What shampoo and conditioner do you use?

I’m gonna keep that a secret. Right now I’m on six days of neither.

Oh, well alright.

[laughs]

What is your most asked question on Twitter?

You know, people don’t really pelt me with a bunch of the same questions.

Do you think that’s a good tool for you guys while you’re on tour to talk to fans?

I think it’s wonderful. I think it’s a great tool for anyone. I like connecting with my audience, my crowd, the people that follow me, my fans, if you will. I think that it’s important that they understand who I am and where I’m coming from. I think they’ll get my music better and appreciate me more as an artist. To keep plugged in with them, I feel is an important piece of the puzzle as far as that goes.

I think it’s a great way, it’s not as good as maybe being able to sit there and talk on the phone with someone, but I can’t do that for 16,000 people. It’s nice to have to have that outlet to essentially voice my thoughts, emotions and feelings, and have people hear it and respond. And I get to respond with them. And they come up with a lot of things. People see things in you that you can’t see in yourself sometimes, it’s interesting. And it’s always good to keep in touch that way, because people can keep you in the loop about you sometimes. I know it sounds funny. I think it’s awesome.

Have a great show tonight, I’ll be here watching.

Awesome, thank you so much, enjoy again!

Thanks!

Interview: Didi Benami from American Idol

Article first published as Interview: Didi Benami from American Idol on BlogCritics.

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Didi Benami from the ninth season of American Idol back stage at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, CA.

She and I talked about the comparisons to Idol season seven's Brooke White, her thoughts on why a positive voice is needed on the judges panel and what's next for her after the American Idol Live tour.

How’s the tour been?

It’s been really amazing, this is a dream come true, and I don’t want it to end, but you know it could be a really good thing. We’re all going to go our own ways and do our own thing. It’s exciting, but it’s kind of sad.

What are you going to take from this and remember the most about the tour?

Wow, what am I not going to take from this? I’ve gained so much experience just through the show and through touring and confidence and strength and courage. Everything.

How to stay sane on the road. I’ve learned how to do hair and make-up. I’ve learned so much, it’s hard to even sum it up into one thing, I feel like I’ve totally, well not totally, but I’ve transformed a lot as a human being, as we do everyday in life, but through this whirlwind, it’s been even faster. I’ve just developed so much more over the past seven months or however long it’s been since this all started.

You were compared a little to Brooke White while you were on the show.

A little?

Okay, a lot, but how did that make you feel? Did it help you feel more confident, because Brooke had a pretty good fan following while she was on the show.

It did, I met Brooke at the finale and I think that she’s a total sweetheart and I love her to pieces. She’s adorable and I would love to work with her in the future. It’s hard being an artist though, and being compared to somebody else in general. I get compared a lot to Taylor Swift, too. It’s like I’m my own person, and I love both of those people and I respect them very much as artists, don’t get me wrong, but I’m Didi Benami. I’m not Brooke White, I’m not Taylor Swift.

I was going to do “Let It Be,” but I couldn’t do “Let It Be,” because Brooke did it. And I couldn’t do “Jolene,” because Brooke did it. And I knew that I was going to get compared. I was trying to prove to people that I was my own person, I wasn’t Brooke White and I wasn’t Taylor Swift and I’m not an exact replica of anybody else. I’m Didi Benami, I’m myself. And I think when the judges were like, “Oh, we got confused.” I was like, well I’m trying to do things that people haven’t done before, so I’m trying to show you that I can do all this things and I have all these aspects to myself, and I am my own person.

Speaking of working with other people, Blake Lewis from season six mentioned that he would like to collaborate with you in the future, what do you think about that? And other than Brooke, which other artist staying within the Idol family would you like to work with?

Well, I would love to work with Brooke and with Blake. Blake’s great, he’s a really, really nice guy, too. I’d like to work with Elliott Yamin as well, cause I know he’s really good. Honestly, I did not watch that much of the prior seasons. Those are the people to me that stick out in my mind. I did meet Kris Allen, and he’s really nice, but I don’t feel like that we have the same styles at all.

In the Idol bubble, those are the people that I would pick, because that’s all I can think of right now. It would really be cool to work with Carrie [Underwood], although I don’t do country, I don’t mind doing some harmonies with her or writing with her or something. She’s a really beautiful human being, inside and outside.

The night before you got eliminated, Ryan kind of badgered you a little bit onstage. I was really happy that you stood your ground and didn’t give him the sound bite he was looking for, because it kind of bothers me that he baits contestants a little bit. What advice do you have for future contestants for when they’re asked the tough questions that they don’t want to answer onstage?

Honestly, I think you should do whatever feels right to you in that specific situation, and because I can’t say what’s going to happen in the future and what’s going to be asked. I think now that I look back at it, Ryan was actually trying to help. I had told him prior that I didn’t want to talk about it, and maybe if I did it would have helped.

That song [“What Becomes of the Broken Hearted”] means a whole lot to me and I didn’t really talk about why, because I didn’t want to get emotional onscreen again, because everyone already thought that I was this emotional, crazy person. That song to me was really to the fans, it was kind of to the people who are auditioning next year, it was what becomes of the broken hearted. Well, you make it onto a TV show and you make tour, and you do really good things for yourself when you work really hard, you know? And that was kind of the point of that. It was yes, I’ve been hurt . Yes, I’ve been broken hearted and kicked around and whatever. But, in the end you gotta pick yourself back up and show everyone who you really are.

And that song touched me to the point of tears. I was like, I have to pick this song, because it means so much to me and I think that it could help other people. I didn’t say it that onstage, you know. Maybe, it would have been better if I did, there’s nothing I can do about it now. Whoever it is, just stand your ground and be true to yourself. Do whatever you feel comfortable with.

What are your thoughts on Ellen deciding to leave the show?

I kind of got a little bit of a vibe that it was tough for her to judge us. It is a tough job, and she’s such a nice person, that she was never really mean to any of us. It was nice for us, because it’s a little breather from the negativity. But, I really enjoyed having her as a judge, and I think that is kind of sad for the next season, because she really was good. I enjoyed having her there, she just emits really kind energy.

Do you think that’s important for you guys, because you have Randy who kind of hits the point, then you have Kara who will shoot different comments for different reasons and then you have Simon who just says whatever comes to mind. Do you think it’s important to have that person that’s very much down the middle, and lets you know that you did good, that you got up there and did your job?

I think that that’s really important. And I think too, that it sends a good message to the watchers, the people who are actually watching the show, which are a lot of younger girls who are impressionable. They think it’s funny to be mean and it’s not. It’s hurtful. They grow up thinking that it’s funny and it’s not. I think that there’s a need for an evolution and the way people treat people, especially like in high school and the younger generations. They need good role models. They need people that can stand up for themselves, but I don’t think all the harsh judging is necessary.

I think it’s good to show people that you can in a positive way influence people. I just think that would be a great thing for the show if they have more of a positive outlook, because all of us, all the contestants are pretty positive thinkers. It’s kind of sending a message that it’s funny to be negative and it’s not. A lot of people are hurt by it. That would be my take on the situation. Some of the things that Kara said would be harsh, but she was very honest. Don’t get me wrong, I think honesty is very important. I appreciate honesty more than anything. If it sucked, it sucked, but there are ways you can say it to not really hurt people’s feelings.

What is next for you following tour?

Following tour, I would love to get into some acting. I do want to finish the album I started working on before tour, and I would also like to do a dedication album for my friend Rebecca, who is why I am here in the first place.

Very cool. Thank you, Didi. Have a great show tonight!

Thank you so much.

Interview: Tim Urban from American Idol

First published as Interview: Tim Urban from American Idol on BlogCritics.

I had the opportunity to sit down with several of this past season's American Idol contestants during their recent tour stop in Sacramento, CA.

Tim Urban and I discuss the tour, life after Idol, and what he thinks about Ellen's decision to leave the judges panel after one season.

How’s the tour been?

It’s been pretty great. I feel like we’re all kind of used to it at this point, cause we’re close to being done, we have only 10 more shows, so at this point we’re all kind of in the groove. It’s really a pretty incredible tour.

I was actually at the Mountain View show. It was a great show, I really enjoyed it.

I appreciate that. That was a really good show. The crowd was nuts that night.

You were originally eliminated during Hollywood week, you were brought back to the show and now you’re on tour. How does that feel?

You know, it’s added on top of everything else as a reminder of how blessed I have been and how blessed I am to be sitting here talking with you. Thinking back on my American Idol journey, just the whole process, I’ve realized that it really is just one huge blessing. I had no idea what was happening the whole time, but it all worked out.

So, what are you going to remember the most from tour, since you did say that you have 10 shows left, what are you going to take from it?

I think for me, I’m going to remember meeting the different fans and just kind of that whole thing. You know, I’ll always remember what it feels like to walk out on that stage. It’s a very unique experience. It’s hard to explain, and I don’t think I’ll duplicate it. Walking out on that stage is something I’ll always remember.

After tour, what’s next?

What’s next? Well, I’m working on an album. I’m actually working on that right now. I’m working on getting all of the songs picked out for it, and I’ve got some guys back home who I’m working with back in Texas. So, I’m going to get that out, and actually I’m going back to LA and try to do some acting.

So, now that the judges panel is all mixed up, what did you think about Ellen’s decision to leave?

If that’s what she wants to do, then that’s awesome. For me, I’m not too worried about what’s good for the show or not, because the panel changes so much, who knows what it’s going to be next year. For me, if that’s what she feels like she wanted to do, then that’s what she needs to do then, and I think it’s awesome.

One more about the judges. There have been so many rumors about who is going to be added, do you think it’s better for the contestants if they have someone’s who’s been successful or if they have an industry insider that’s critiquing them after performances?

Industry insider, I think. For me personally, just because if you have a performer that’s been successful, they’ve been successful at one unique thing. They know exactly what they did to be successful. But, if you look at the music industry over the years, and you look at who’s been successful and who hasn't, it’s been for a hundred different reasons. There’s not just one cookie cutter reason. And you can’t say, “Well it worked for me, so it will work for you.” But an industry executive that has seen everything as a whole will understand the big picture, and realize the key things that will set you apart from other people.

Do you have any advice for future contestants?

Really just have fun with it. There is no magic bullet for American Idol, there’s no “If you sing this song, you’ll make it through.” You never know what they’re looking for, it really is just go up there, have as much fun as you can, be yourself, so regardless of what happens, you can be satisfied with what you put forward.

I just read something the other day that they [Idol] were going to focus more on the talent, and it made me think, “Isn’t that what the show’s supposed to be about?” Do you think in the last couple years has it been about casting or has it been about who can sing well?

You know, I feel like because there was some shake-up in the judges last year and this year, it kind of was about the judges a little bit more maybe potentially in years past. And I think it’s very smart for them to re-focus just on the contestants. I mean, that’s what the show is about, and they know that with Simon Cowell leaving, it changes everything as far as the judges go. They really do need to just focus on the contestants, to them singing and them performing. And people will watch it, that’s what people love to see.

I have some fan questions. What has been the most random item you’ve been asked to sign this summer?

I signed somebody’s forehead. I’ve signed a lot of shoes, a couple pairs of pants, a baby.

A baby?

A baby. Nothing too crazy, though. Like that’s probably the extent of it.

Kind of random, but what’s your favorite kitchen appliance?

That's a tough one, because I like to cook. But, I also love smoothies. Just as a general rule, I love them. So, probably the blender, cause I could make some killer smoothies.

You like to Twitter.

Yeah.

Which question are you asked the most on Twitter?

“Will you please follow me?” I get asked that constantly.

Do you think using Twitter is a good way to communicate with fans on tour?

I think it is. I think it’s a great way, for me personally. You know, you get on there, you just send out some messages to people who are on Twitter, they can message you. It’s kind of a quick way, it’s better than Facebook or something like that. It’s more convenient, you can just click reply and type something and all of a sudden you send a personal message to somebody. So for me, it’s really cool and I get on there all the time and I do little Twitter parties and try to respond to as many people as I can.

Thanks so much, Tim.

Thank you.

Interview: Aaron Kelly from American Idol

First published as Interview: Aaron Kelly from American Idol on BlogCritics.

After spending the past season writing about the American Idol contestants, I had a chance to sit down with several of them at their tour stop in Sacramento, CA.

Aaron Kelly and I discussed his stage presence, how he chose his tour set list and what's next for him after the tour ends.

How’s the tour going?

The tour is going fantastic for me. I’m having a lot of fun right now and getting to tour different cities and going all over the U.S. right now, so I’m having having a great time with it.

I was actually at the Mountain View show.

Were you?

I was.

Did you have a good time?

Yes, I did. You were the first of the night to get the audience up without having to really say anything, how does that make you feel? They were immediately up on their feet when your set kicked off.

That makes me feel good. You know, when I went in to pick my songs, I wanted my set to be very energetic and something that the audience was going to have a good time with. I mean, the problem is you know, us going out there as entertainers, we don’t just want to entertain, we also want to have a good vocal performance. And for us, we want to make sure that it’s not boring and make sure that the audience is having a good time. Because they don’t want to come to a show and sit and watch, they want to be up and having a good time.

That’s pretty much why you go to a concert, to have fun, and so when I picked my songs, I picked things that are some of my favorite songs and some that I get going to. That way the audience can tell that I’m having a good time up there and that I’m really feeling what I’m singing.
 
I thought you kicked your stage presence up big time since you’ve been on the show, is it easier to perform now, since you’re not being judged like five seconds later?

Absolutely. And like I said, I picked songs that I am comfortable with, and these are songs I know, and for me, I think it’s important to know what you’re singing about. The judges were saying that every week. And because we had like three days to pick a song, cut it down and learn it. I wasn’t getting to know the songs that well. I mean, of course you know the words, but there’s so much more to learning the song, than just knowing the words.

You have to know the story, you have to know what they’re talking about. And because it was a cut down version, it wasn’t a full story. You’re only getting half of what you’re talking about in the song. You know, with getting to do a full set, you get to pull out the full story, you’re not just going out and singing, you’re going out and telling a story. Somebody sat down and wrote this song, because it had a meaning to them and these words, they actually meant something. So, you’re not just singing, you’re actually telling a story. You’re like an author.

I actually thought you were the best of the night in Mountain View.

Thank you! I really appreciate that.

With tour ending very soon, what are you going to remember the most?

You know, I’m going to remember just the time I got to spend. I’m not going to be with my Idol family probably altogether, so I’m going to remember this time as one of the greatest experiences of my entire life. I would never be doing this if I had not decided to try out at sixteen. Some of the best days of my life are going to be right now, and I’m going to remember them forever. I’m going to get to say to my grandkids, “I was on that show once!” And it’s gonna be cool for me to have that forever and ever.

Hopefully, I have a career after this, so I can keep going with it and always thank American Idol for putting me here right now. I wouldn’t be here if it had not been for them. Also, one of my favorite things about this experience is the fans and how much they react. It’s just a great time every time I go out there.

Do you have any bus stories that you can share?

The thing is that we don’t spend a whole lot of time on the bus. The time that we do, we’re sleeping. Some of the best times, is when you’re trying to sleep and the guys are all back there jamming on guitar. I don’t think they’re conscience of the people sleeping, and obviously we can hear them. Like I said, these are going to be the times that I remember. I’m going to remember them sitting there, singing about virtually nothing, coming up with little jams.

After tour, what is next?

After tour, I’m moving to Nashville. I’m working with Nathan Chapman and Stephanie Chapman, who are Taylor Swift’s producers. I think that’s a good direction in type of album and songs for me. I’ve been doing a lot of songwriting. Taylor Swift started in country music at 17-years-old, and a lot of people have called me “the male Taylor Swift,” so that’s not a bad thing. It’s a good direction for me to go in, because I would love to have the same career she has.

Switching over to the judges, what did you think about Ellen’s departure?

The thing about Ellen’s departure, it was good to have this season with her. You can tell that she didn’t like to hurt people’s feelings. I think that this season needs somebody, not saying that Ellen doesn’t know music, I don’t think she knows enough about music.

With the rumors of Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler, they’ve been in the music industry. Obviously, Steven Tyler has been in this for a very long time being apart of Aerosmith and everything. I think that they’re going to have something good to offer, I mean, I’ve never heard them on a panel of judges, who can obviously know what they can offer to the show?

I will say that it was privilege sharing this season with Ellen, and I was very happy to meet her, because I’m a huge Ellen fan.

Do you think, as far as the contestants go, is it more helpful for them to hear from someone who has had success in the business or someone who is more of an industry insider?

Well, I think it really doesn’t matter only because, I think they need someone who knows music. You gotta have someone who knows music really well. You have to know everything.

Last question, what’s the most random thing you’ve signed over tour?

The most random thing that I have signed over tour? Somebody’s leg.

Thank you so much, have a great show tonight!

Thank you.

Check out Aaron Kelly's performance of "Somebody Like You" from the American Idol Live tour stop in Sacramento, CA below.

Interview: Crystal Bowersox from American Idol

Article first published as Interview: Crystal Bowersox from American Idol on BlogCritics.

After writing about the contestants of American Idol season nine this year, I had an opportunity to sit down with several of the contestants during their tour stop in Sacramento, CA.

Runner-up Crystal Bowersox and I talk water balloon fights, Ellen's decision to leave Idol and how she stays in contact with her son while on tour.

How’s tour going?

It’s good!

Good! Do you have any fun bus stories that you can share?

Ummm, not really. Today, however, is a special occasion, I ‘spose. I caught wind on Twitter that some fans were going to be waiting outside with water balloons.

Oh, I’ve seen them! They’re out there. They’ve got a ton.

Well, so how much is a ton?

There’s a small cooler and it’s filled.

Okay, we’ve got a big cooler and we’re filling it up right now.

I’m going outside to watch.

It’ll be fun.

You’re signed?

Yes.

Have you been working on your album, yet?

Nope, I’m on tour.

 Okay, so you’re not doing what Lee’s doing going back and forth?

Well, I mean, you know writing stuff and just kind of figuring all that out, but I don’t want to rush it. I want to be bright. I want to do one thing at a time. Right now my attention is devoted to putting on a good show every night for the tour, and after that I’ll focus on the album.

Do you have anyone in mind that you might want to work with or write with for your album?

I’ve said a couple names already, I don’t want to make too many promises, because I don’t know what’s going to be set in stone yet.

I know that you’ve been doing work with diabetes awareness, I was wondering if you could explain who you’re working with and what your purpose is with that?

Okay, personally I’ve been type 1 diabetic since I was about six, and I’ve been working with the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), I went to Washington D.C. while we were there to talk to the advisors of the President about something called, “The Special Diabetes Program.” That’s the government funding for the JDRF. It constitutes one-third of their funding, so it’s definitely important that that’s always renewed. If it’s not, that’s a huge chunk of JDRF funding, and we’re looking for a cure.

I think that’s great that you take your celebrity and do something purposeful with it.

We’ve all received plenty of help, you gotta give it back.

With Idol tryouts going on, what advice do you have for future contestants?

Save your money, cause if you make it and you get past the rounds and you’re in it, they don’t really take care of you until it gets down to the nitty gritty. You need a little cushion to fall back on for living expenses or whatever, pay your bills and stuff. Start saving now, have a nice cushion to land on.

Were you shocked with Ellen’s decision to leave?

Not at all. I didn’t see it coming, I didn’t anticipate it or anything, but I definitely understand where she’s coming from. Ellen’s a sweet-hearted lady, I could see her being a little uncomfortable judging people. In her career, she’s been judged so much too, I couldn’t see where she’d want to do that for a living to anyone else.

Do you think that it is more important for the new judge to be a success in the music world or be an industry insider?

The thing that Ellen brought to the show was the consumer’s attitude and opinion. I think that as far as replacing Ellen goes, they should have another music appreciator, maybe a music critic or a writer, someone who knows music and things like that. And maybe for Simon’s spot, definitely an insider in the industry, who can spot talent when they see it.

I read recently, that they [Idol] are talking about focusing more on you guys the performers, more so than casting. Do you think in the past, while you were on the show that they focused more on casting over your actual performances?

They definitely do that. Through my experience in the tryouts and everything, there were some phenomenal, phenomenal people who didn’t make it. I’m not really sure why, if it was a look they were looking for, if it was a certain thing, but I think it is character casting almost, and it should focus more on the music.

With the tour coming to a close, what are you going to take from this experience?

A long nap, that’s what I’m going to take. A long nap. This has definitely been an experience, one we can learn from about life on the road and how to do it. And what it takes to have this lifestyle and be this busy. I’ll know what to expect on one of my own tours, and all of this is really testing yourself on what you can really handle.

I have some fan questions. What is the most random item that you’ve signed?

We get a lot of requests to sign arms and body parts.

Have you seen one of those [autographs] tattooed on yet?

Oh no, not yet. Someone asked me to sign their crying child, didn’t do it. People get a lot of different things.

Your favorite kitchen appliance?

Favorite kitchen appliance? Probably a food processor. Used it to make baby food, make guacamole, you know lots of fun stuff. I don’t know.

One thing that you wouldn’t be able to get through the tour without?

My guitar, my insulin. Some clothes, my computer. My computer definitely, I Skype to the kid, my baby.

How is he?

He’s good, he’s handling all of this really well.

Is it difficult for you to be apart from him for lengths of time like this?

Oh yeah. I think it’s hard for any parent really to be away from their kid for any length of time. We as parents, do it for them, so it’s totally worth it.

Do you feel that Twitter works as a good connection for you to talk to fans?

Yeah, it’s definitely a good connection. They can stay informed, you can joke around, and I think it gives more of an intimate connection with the people who love what you do. They all know your name and you might not know them, and they’re the ones who are making it happen for ya. I think it’s a good thing.

Thank you very much, have a good show tonight!

Thank you.

For more information on Crystal Bowersox, please visit her website.

Concert Review: American Idol Live, 08/14/2010, Mountain View, CA

Article first published as Concert Review: American Idol Live, 08/14/2010, Mountain View, CA  on BlogCritics.

The American Idol tour rolled into Mountain View, CA over the weekend. The entertaining show at the Shoreline Ampitheatre included favorite songs from the past season, as well as some unexpected song choices.

Didi Benami kicked off the show with The Rescues’ “Lay It On Me.” Benami’s vocal was fantastic, but starting off the show with a song that the crowd isn’t familiar with makes it hard to hype up the show. Benami closed her two-song set with the Kara DioGuardi-penned, “Terrified.”

Andrew Garcia was up next performing Paula Abdul’s, “Straight Up.” This new live version has a bit of a reggae feel to it, makes it just that more fun to hear live. For his second song, Garcia performed the Maroon 5 hit, “Sunday Morning.”

He had the crowd up during the song, however it would have made more of an impact if he had chosen to perform the song sans guitar. Garcia has a strong and fun stage presence; it would have been nice to see him utilize the stage just a bit more.

Katie Stevens followed by opening her set with Demi Lovato’s “Here We Go Again.” Pop music definitely seems to be Steven’s niche. Disney would be smart to snatch her up, she could definitely build quite the fan base with the teen set.

Steven’s closed her set with Christina Aguilera’s “Fighter.” She definitely has the chops to perform the song, however she came off like she was trying to sound more like Aguilera’s original vocal, other than letting her own voice take the spotlight.

The moment that the perfectly coiffed Tim Urban hit the stage, the girls went wild. Their piercing screams were present through both of his songs, Goo Goo Dolls’ “Better Days” and Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida.” Both songs seemed to be arranged to fit his voice, and his performances definitely benefited from that.
Urban has a certain swagger to him onstage, as he did well when it came to working not only the stage, but interacting with the crowd. Plus, his trademark smile never faded once throughout his set.

Siobhan Magnus was up next, and opened her set with her popular take on The Rolling Stones’ “Paint It Black.” With this one song, she pretty much confirmed in my mind why the Idol judges this past season should have waited to use the save to give Magnus a second life in the competition.

Her vocal on “Paint It Black,” was nothing less than phenomenal. The final glory note, which she held for a good 15 to 20 seconds, was perfectly on pitch, and also earned her a standing ovation from the crowd.
Her second song, No Doubt’s “Spiderwebs,” seemed to be kind of a throw away. It didn’t show off her voice at all. However, her closing song, Muse’s “Stockholm Syndrome,” was a whole new side to Magnus that I wish we could have gotten to see on the show. To see her legitly rock out and have an amazing vocal was just a fantastic moment.

High school student Aaron Kelly followed, and without even trying had the crowd up singing-a-long and dancing during his three song set of Keith Urban’s “Somebody Like You,” Marc Cohn’s “Walking In Memphis,” and Rascal Flatt’s “Fast Cars and Freedom.”

There is pretty much no doubt in my mind that Kelly will probably wind up being the most successful Idol contestant from season nine. Live, his voice is incredible. Going the country route is definitely the right move for him.

What definitely could not go unnoticed was Kelly’s stage presence. He worked the stage like an absolute pro, having the confidence of a well-established singer. The audience just completely ate him up.

After Kelly’s set, the first six Idols to perform that night, returned to the stage together to perform Miley Cyrus’ “The Climb.” On paper, one might assume that this would be quite the hot mess, but in actuality, it was a pretty good performance. Stevens, Magnus and Kelly were definitely the stand outs during the performance.

Following the intermission Michael “Big Mike” Lynche hit the stage opening with Kate Bush’s “This Woman’s Work.” Once again the show had opened up on a slow note.

Big Mike continued his set with India.arie’s “Ready For Love.” He sat down on a stool for this number to play guitar. This was completely unnecessary, since he hardly strummed it.

The thing with his voice is that it’s good, but it is very much generic. Nothing about his voice sets him apart from other R&B artists on the charts today.

For his last song, Big Mike performed Justin Timberlake’s huge hit, “My Love.” First off, he should have opened his set with this song. Also, he should have thought about not performing it in his falsetto the entire song. GrantedTimberlake performs it in his falsetto, but he’s also Justin Timberlake, he can pull it off. Big Mike on the other hand, cannot. The one good thing about this performance, is that it finally got the crowd back on their feet.

Next up was newly signed Sony Nashville artist, Casey James. He opened his set with The Black Keys’ “I Got Mine,” and showed why he’s probably the most talented guitar player to ever hit the Idol stage.
His second song, Shania Twain’s “Don’t” proved why James will probably do very well as a country artist. A bit of twang could be detected in his voice throughout the song. It was probably the best vocal of the night from James’ set.

Big Mike was brought back out on stage to perform their duet from Idol, Bryan Adam’s “Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman.” I didn’t think that the duet was as vocally strong as it was initially on Idol, but it was still fun to see performed live.

James closed his set with The Rolling Stones’ “It’s All Over Now.” He was absolutely fantastic, from the guitar playing to the singing. James had finally got the second half of the show started.

Season runner-up, Crystal Bowersox hit the stage next opening her set with 4 Non Blondes’ “What’s Up.” Definitely a great choice for Bowersox to sing on tour. However with both her first and second song, which was Melissa Etheridge’s “Come To My Window,” Bowersox came off as a sound-a-like.

It wasn’t until her third song, Patty Griffin’s “Up To The Mountain,” that the crowd finally got a taste of Bowersox’s actual talent. Her soulful voice that we got to know well during her run on Idol was goosebump inducing.

Bowersox closed her set with Janis Joplin’s “Piece of My Heart.” The song had the crowd dancing and singing-a-long. She definitely left the crowd wanting more.

Just when you thought that Bowersox had received the biggest audience response of the night, it got even louder when season nine American Idol winner, Lee DeWyze’s name was flashed on the screen before he took the stage.

DeWyze opened his set with his re-arranged version of U2’s “Beautiful Day.” The crowd was really responsive, on their feet, cheering throughout the entire song.

His second song was Elton John’s “Rocket Man,” which seemed like an odd song choice, however it got a huge response from the audience. His take on Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” was definitely a highlight of DeWyze’s set. The song seemed to be re-arranged to fit his voice much better for the tour.

It was DeWyze’s performance of Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose’s “Treat Her Like A Lady” that really got the crowd going. The Idol winner seemed to feed off the crowd’s energy right into his final song of his set, Kings of Leon’s “Use Somebody.” It was then that you could tell that rumors of DeWyze not feeling well earlier in the day were probably true, as his voice started to sound rough and shouty at parts.

DeWyze’s energy did not fade at all throughout his five-song set. He seemed so grateful to be on the stage, thanking the crowd for coming out and supporting the tour and all of the top 10. He ended his set by telling the crowd, “Love you guys, you’re the best!”

The finale followed Dewyze’s energetic set. The guys hit the stage first singing Bon Jovi’s huge hit, “It’s My Life.” They sounded pretty decent altogether, but it was the girls’ performance of Kelly Clarkson’s “My Life Would Suck Without You” that definitely left something to be desired. It’s definitely one thing to pay tribute to the original American Idol, but they could have picked a song that would have worked well with all of their voices.

The finale aside, the season nine Idol tour is actually a pretty good show. The first half has somewhat of a festival feel to it, and by the time Casey James hits the stage in the second half, it’s like a rock show had emerged.

The Idol tour definitely gives the fans a chance to see their favorite contestant from the show at their best. If you were a fan of season nine, their live show is not to be missed.

For more information on the American Idol summer tour, please visit their website.

Check out Lee DeWyze's performance of "Beautiful Day" in Mountain View, CA below.

Music Review: Secondhand Serenade - Hear Me Now

Article first published as Music Review: Secondhand Serenade - Hear Me Now on BlogCritics.

The latest release from Secondhand Serenade, Hear Me Now is the third studio album for singer/songwriter John Vesely.

Vesely originally signed with Glassnote in 2006 after coveting the top spot on MySpace's Unsigned Artist's chart. The label soon after re-released Vesely's acoustic effort, Awake.  In 2008, Secondhand Serenade returned with A Twist In My Story. The album had a more rounded out sound, with the help from a full band.
It's first single, "Fall For You," was a huge success. It was a platinum-certified top 10 CHR Top 40 hit, as well as hitting No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The latest album was produced by Aaron Johnson, who has worked with The Fray, Vesely, as well as Secondhand Serenade drummer Tom Breyfogle. The album was mixed by Mark Endert, who has worked with bands Maroon 5 and Train.

The first couple of songs on the album "Distance" and lead single, "Something More," have a similar vibe to A Twist In My Story. They make a good bridge from the last album to the new one.

When track three, "Stay Away" starts playing, it becomes apparent to the listening audience that they are hearing a new musical side to Secondhand Serenade.  The song shows the subtle changes made to Secondhand Serenade's sound. It starts slow, but by the chorus it has a rockin' upbeat that you can't help, but jam out to.

Probably the best track on the album is "You And I." It is so different from both previous Secondhand Serenade albums. The melody is really upbeat and fun, with a bit of a pop feel to it.

I can see a track like "So Long" being a fun sing-a-long when performed live. It's another upbeat track on the album that makes this latest album stand out.

On the flip side, there are a couple of fantastic ballads, "Nightmares" and "World Turns." Both songs have that classic Vesely feel to them, and his distinct voice makes both songs so emotionally powerful.

The final song on the album is the title track, "Hear Me Now." What is great about this song and the album as a whole, is that the songwriting is superb.

"Hear Me Now" is beautifully written. Vesely definitely has a way with words, and he displays his talent exquisitely on this song.  The songs on this album have such a poetic feel to them. The lyrics show that Vesely has a talent for storytelling within his music.

In his press release Vesely said, "I pushed myself harder than I ever have and made a record I am really proud of."

Hear Me Now is available now. For more information on Secondhand Serenade, please visit their website.  Definite Downloads: "You And I" and "Hear Me Now"

American Idol: Ellen DeGeneres Done After One Season

Article first published as American Idol: Ellen DeGeneres Done After One Season on BlogCritics.

Well, color me shocked! It was announced Thursday on the official American Idol website that Ellen DeGeneres will be stepping down from her role as judge on the popular singing competition.

“A couple months ago, I let FOX and the American Idol producers know that this didn’t feel like the right fit for me,” DeGeneres said in a statement. “I told them I wouldn’t leave them in a bind and that I would hold off on doing anything until they were able to figure out where they wanted to take the panel next. It was a difficult decision to make, but my work schedule became more than I bargained for. I also realized this season that while I love discovering, supporting and nurturing young talent, it was hard for me to judge people and sometimes hurt their feelings. I loved the experience working on Idol and I am very grateful for the year I had. I am a huge fan of the show and will continue to be.”

DeGeneres had originally signed a reported five-year contract with Idol. However, I'm not really surprised that they're allowing her to leave after one season.

I remember prior to her appearing on Idol, DeGeneres had said that she would be telling the contestants the truth, and would be coming from the angle of being a fan of music and not completely relying on her comedic background. For the most part of season nine, she did the exact opposite, and came off as a more coherent version of Paula Abdul.

As much as the Idol contestants need a cheerleader at times, they also could have used a judge that could have told them the truth without being mean or rude about it. I think that DeGeneres attempted in the beginning of the season to be this person, and at some point she decided to not give actual useful critiques, instead handing the contestant off to the wolves, Kara DioGuardi and Simon Cowell.

I do think this is a really smart move for DeGeneres in deciding to walk away from Idol. I love her as a daytime talk show host, but as an Idol judge, not so much.

Now that DeGeneres has announced her decision to leave, the rumors have been swirling over her replacement, let alone all the buzz over who is going to replace Simon Cowell.

The Associated Press reported that they received confirmation that Jennifer Lopez is very close to signing on the dotted line and taking a seat at the judge's panel.

I was quite shocked at this news; in fact I still am.

It was during season six that Lopez was a mentor for the Idol contestants. I don't remember being too impressed with her mentoring skills.

For as much success as Lopez has had in her career, I don't find  singing to be her forte. If we're still considering Idol to be a legit singing competition, Lopez wouldn't really be someone that I would value receiving singing advice from. (Especially since I have been pulling for Harry Connick, Jr to be named the new judge.)

I view Lopez more as an entertainer. She's a fantastic dancer and her performances are fun to watch, but when's the time you've seen her on TV singing live? And I mean legit singing like the contestants do during their performances on Idol, not lip syncing. Yeah, I don't remember either.

I just feel that the Idol contestants would benefit by having a judge who is successful in their singing career and can properly critique their singing. That being said, as of right now neither FOX nor Lopez's reps have confirmed that Lopez will signing on with Idol for a reported two-year deal.

Now onto the next crazy rumor! TMZ is reporting that judge Kara DioGuardi has been fired, that Idol is planning on going back to the three-judge panel, and that the three judges will be Randy Jackson, Lopez, and Aerosmith's Steven Tyler.

Idol, what are you doing to me? As much as I love to rag on DioGuardi throughout the Idol season, I really hope that this is a rumor.

Idol needs DioGuardi. She spent season eight making herself look like an idiot, but during season nine on more than one occasion her critiques of the Idol contestants' performances were on point. We need a judge whose comments will illicit rage from the viewing audience. With Simon Cowell gone, DioGuardi fits the bill.

When it became apparent that Cowell had checked out during season nine to pay more attention to his piles of money, DioGuardi took baby steps toward becoming the new villain on the panel. Sometimes she sounded like an idiot who made me long for Paula Abdul, and sometimes she was so on point that I hated to agree with her. As much as it pains me to say it, we need DioGuardi around for season 10.

As far as Steven Tyler joining the panel, I really haven't given it much thought. I can't really picture him as an Idol judge, and I also don't understand why he would even want the job.

I think the best news to come out of all the Idol judge speculation is the probability of going back to a three-judge panel. If this does pan out, I hope that Idol goes with one of the two options that I think would work best for the show.

Option one: Bring back Paula Abdul. I know that she left and has her own reality show in the works, but I think bringing her crazy back to the show would liven up the panel and in the end benefit the show.
You'd still have Jackson calling everyone "dawg," then Abdul could compliment their outfits and tell the contestants how beautiful it was to see their soul on stage, and then let DioGuardi give them a legit critique.

Option two: Keep both Jackson and DioGuardi on the panel and the third judge would be whoever was that week's mentor. I would love to see a mentor call out a contestant for not taking risks that they had discussed during their mentoring sessions. I think it would be interesting to hear what the mentors have to say to the contestants post-performance. Plus, this would definitely benefit the contestants in the end.

So, Idol producers, if you're reading this, I would say read option two over a couple times. Enough with trying to add "star power" to the show. Idol is supposed to be about the contestants, although I think that line of thinking went out the window around season two.

Alright, Idol fans, what do you think Idol should do with the judging panel? How do you feel about Ellen DeGeneres' departure from the show and the rumored firing of Kara DioGuardi? Do you think that Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler are good replacements? Let me know in the comments!

Concert Review: Adam Lambert's Glam Nation Tour, 07/23/2010, San Francisco, CA

Article first published as Concert Review: Adam Lambert's Glam Nation Tour, 07/23/2010, San Francisco, CA on BlogCritics.

On July 23, Adam Lambert kicked off the first of two nights at The Warfield in San Francisco. The fans, who started lining up early in the morning, were more than ready.

After the doors opened for the show, the venue filled up just in time for the first of two openers, Allison Iraheta, to take the stage. Iraheta was a contestant alongside Lambert on season eight of American Idol.
Iraheta's voice sounded fantastic as she worked the stage during her five-song set, which included a mash-up of her singles, "Scars" and "Don't Waste The Pretty" (complete with second act Orianthi on guitar), and a cover of "Heartbreaker."

Iraheta's stage presence has come full circle since the Idol tour last summer. She interacts with the crowd, seemingly feeding off their energy as she performs.

Orianthi took the stage next. The musician who is known more for playing guitar for Michael Jackson left much to be desired. Her guitar playing skills somewhat made up for her lack of vocal prowess. That being said, her set, which was lasted around 35-40 minutes, was way too long.

 She played her radio hit, "According To You," a couple songs into her set, which was the only time the crowd got into her being on stage, other than her appearance during Iraheta's set. You could almost sense the relief in the room when her set finally ended.

Around 10 p.m., a remixed version of Lambert's first single, "For Your Entertainment" began playing, and the singer took to the stage a handful of minutes later.

Lambert appeared at the top of the stage, decked out in a long, fringed jacket and top hat, kicking off the show with a medley of "Voodoo," "Down The Rabbit Hole," and a fan favorite from his days on Idol, "Ring Of Fire."

From there Lambert shed his coat and hat to perform the Lady Gaga-penned track "Fever" complete with tongue-touching with bassist Tommy Joe Ratliff.

Lambert and his dancers seemingly had gotten the party started in the room as everyone was on their feet dancing, when the tone of the show suddenly shifted to high energy to rather mellow.

Lambert was at the platform at the top of the stage in a 'Neo from The Matrix' type jacket to perform "Sleepwalker." With blue glowsticks being waved in the air, Lambert performed an acoustic version of his popular hit, "Whataya Want From Me." Lambert beamed as the crowd sang along with him.

A standout performance during the stripped down part of the set was "Soaked." His vocal sounded clear and pure. It was absolute ear candy. His voice just absolutely shines on that song.

After a quick wardrobe change, Lambert let the crowd know that it was time to dance before kicking off the upbeat "Strut." Lambert, his dancers, and fans danced all the way through the rest of his set, which just seemed to fly by.

After introducing his band and dancers, Lambert had something to tell the audience before launching into his latest single, "If I Had You."

"This next song is what this whole show is about to me," Lambert told the crowd. "What I'm trying to say is that no matter how much money, fame, success, fortune or sex that you have in your life, it actually really doesn't mean shit, unless you're connected with love."

The energy in the room was electric. Lambert had turned his concert into one giant dance party.
For his encore, Lambert pulled a couple more songs out of his Idol handbook, "Mad World" and a very bluesy version of "Whole Lotta Love," before making his final exit of the night.

The Glam Nation tour is a great show. The only tweak that should be made is that Allison Iraheta deserves more stage time. A five-song set is just not enough. Iraheta has the vocals, the amazing music, and the fanbase that makes her the better lead-in to Lambert's set than Orianthi. Other than that, Lambert puts on one heck of a show. It is definitely a treat for all his fans who attend.

For more information on Adam Lambert and Glam Nation tour dates, check out his website.
Check out Lambert's performance of "Whole Lotta Love" below.

Concert Review: Alex Band, July 19, 2010, San Francisco, CA

Article was first published as Concert Review: Alex Band, July 19, 2010, San Francisco, CA on BlogCritics.

Alex Band kicked off his first solo tour last week, and touched down at San Francisco's Cafe Du Nord on July 19 for what the singer called, "an intimate, underground" show.
Band took to the stage a little after 9 p.m., kicking off his set with the title track of his album, We've All Been There.

 There are some artists, that when they play live they sound nothing like their vocal on their album. This is not the case with Band. His live vocal is stunning. The deep and rich sound that you hear on his album is what you hear and then some, after hearing Band play live.

Band proved to be quite the showman, while expressing emotion during songs, "Please" and "Never Let You Go." He's a great interpreter of his lyrics, it allowed the crowd to get a sense of the emotion he was projecting while performing.

For good measure, there were songs from The Calling weaved appropriately throughout Band's set. It was "Adrienne," a song that Band had written when he was younger, that got the crowd moving and singing-a-long. Toward the end of the song, the band as a whole had an impressive and energetic jam session, resulting in Band tossing his guitar pick out into the crowd in true rock star fashion.

A highlight of the night was Band's acoustic performance of "Leave (Today Is The Day)." Playing the song acoustically made the lyrical content feel even more honest and sincere.

He switched over from acoustic to rockin', performing the popular, "Why Don't You & I" and "Without You," which Bad referred to as "the most rockin' song on the album." Both songs sounded fantastic. Band got to show off his tremendous rock vocals on both songs.

As his set was coming to a close, Band performed "Wherever You Will Go," the phenomenal hit that put The Calling on the map. The performance garnered a huge response from the crowd, who cheered for more when the song ended.

Band kicked off his encore with his current single, "Tonight." He closed out the night with what Band called a "sexy song," his second single "Will Not Back Down." Band told the crowd that a music video for the new single is on the way.

If you want to listen to some good music and have an entertaining time, I recommend checking out Band's tour. The set list alone is reason enough to go. The songs all flow together really well. Band has the showmanship, personality and swagger that pulls off his solo show quite nicely.

For more information on Alex Band, including upcoming tour dates, check out his website. Band's album, We've All Been There is out now.

Check out Band's performance of "Wherever You Will Go" from the San Francisco show below.

BC Review: "September" -- Daughtry

Article was first published as Music Review: Daughtry - "September" on BlogCritics.

It wouldn't be summer without hearing the latest song from Daughtry on the radio. The band has released their third single, "September" off their number one platinum album, Leave This Town.

The song was written by lead singer, Chris Daughtry and guitarist, Josh Steely. The song reflects on the singer's days growing up in a town in North Carolina made up of only 100 people.

"September reminds me of my life in Lasker," Daughtry said in a press release. "I loved living there, it built my character, but I knew I'd have to leave to make something of my life."

Releasing "September" during the summer was pretty spot on. Fans will be more than likely singing-a-long through fall.  The song has the potential to do as well as the band's most successful song to date, "Home," which was off their 2006 debut album. The power ballad is beautifully written, and you can feel the sentiment within the lyrical content.  The personal lyrics allow the band to connect with those who already buy their music, as well allow them to gain new fans along the way.

With Daughtry's spot on vocals, mixed with the power ballad melody, it will be no surprise when "September" works it's way up to number one on the charts.

The music video for "September" was premiered on Vevo last week. The video, which was directed by Chris Sims, shows the band performing the song live, as well as showing memories from each of the band member's past.

Daughtry just wrapped up their very first headlining arena tour. The band will be playing select dates in the U.S. this summer. In the fall, the band will be making stops in Europe, South Africa and Asia.
On August 20, they will perform as apart of The Today Show's Toyota Concert Series at Rockefeller Center.

For more information on Daughtry, please visit their website


Also, something very cool that came from this review, is that Chris Daughtry actually RT'd the link on Twitter after a fan sent my review to him!