American Idols Live: First Reports from Portland

By On 07/05/2009 · 49 Comments · In Uncategorized

Richard Rushfield of the LA Times is in Portland to cover the American Idols Live debut concert in Portland tonight, and he tells a remarkable story of a very invested Idol fan. Security!

One of the group told of the particularly impressive depths to which she had gone to get to see her Idols. If she didn’t seem so nice, shy and non-terrifying, her tale might be a bit more, well, terrifying. As it is, perhaps it can serve as a cautionary tale to Idol security. This young woman admitted in our conversation that she is staying at the same hotel as the Idols. When asked how that happened, she nods and says that it took a lot of work. “Some of the them haven’t been too careful,” she says. Apparently since they had been in town, one of the Idols linked on twitter to a video he’d made of a few of them hanging out in one of their hotel rooms. The industrious young fan studied the design elements present in the video – the wallpaper, the room furnishings, and went to various Portland hotel websites, studying pictures of their room until she found a match. After which she promptly checked in.

Also, he posts a little bit of a tease about tonight’s show:

At around seven PM the full-dress rehearsal began for a crowd of about 30 people in the giant arena. I am barred from revealing specific details about the show, but can reveal that Idol fans are in for a very different sort of concert than they saw last year. Last year’s show delivered a great many crowd-pleasing moments, but seemed heavy in gigantic anthem arena classic rock vein. This year’s show – from its set to the band warddrobe to the songs – is, like Portland, more low key than in-your-face, but ultimately seems a much more contemporary, cooler shows – with this year’s singers representing the range of current styles that dominate pop radio today, heavily drawing from the alternative music territory that only Brooke and Jason ventured into last year. The entire production – and very especially the group numbers – seems geared towards a much far less schmaltzy, current sound.

Also, some fans sitting outside the arena hoping for a glimpse of the Idols got invited inside to watch the run through…

 
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  • Thea

    These people scare me.

  • chrgi

    Well I guess that means no more hotel room bubble tweets from the idols. They’ll learn soon enough.

  • Renina

    Wow that woman is scary!!

    But man, I guess that does mean that the idols will be staying away from bubble tweets from now on…

  • Belle

    Freaky woman.

  • http://randomizeme.wordpress.com arca

    Summary of fan reports from the dress rehearsal here.

  • bottleblonde

    what is a bubble tweet?

  • suebrody

    The Idols might need to start twittering a bit less…I assume there will be lots of security around them, and I’m not sure how well this bodes for meet and greets, unfortunately.

  • karenw

    Scary people … as usual it only takes a couple or over zealous fans to spoil it for everyone else .. and then they complain when security is stepped up and the Idols withdraw from too much fan contact …lol

    Nutters.

  • Renina

    This is what I found at thegiraudsquad.com:

    Michael – I’m In Love With A Girl (Gavin Degraw), Closer (Ne-Yo)
    Megan – Put Your Records On (Corrine Bailey Rae), Tears Dry On Their Own (Amy Winehouse)
    Scott – Bend and Break (Keane), A Thousand Miles (Vanessa Carlton)
    Lil – Be Without You (Mary J. Blige), CAN’T REMEMBER, Single Ladies (Beyonce)
    Anoop – Always On My Mind (Willie Nelson), Mad (Ne-Yo), My Prerogative (Britney Spears)
    Matt – Hard To Handle, Georgia On My Mind (Ray Charles), You Found Me (The Fray)
    Beggin’ Group Song (Top 5-10)
    Allison – So What (Pink), Cry Baby (Janis), Barracuda (Heart)
    Danny – PYT (Michael Jackson), Maria Maria (Santana), What Hurts The Most, My Wish (Rascal Flatts)
    Adam – Whole Lotta Love (Led Zepplin), Starlight (Muse), Mad World (Gary Jules), Slow Ride (w/Allison), David Bowie Medley
    Kris – Heartless, No Boundaries, Ain’t No Sunshine, Bright Lights, Hey Jude (all the Idols came in at the end)
    Don’t Stop Believing (Whole group)

    From all of these accounts, it sounds like Matt is gonna ROCK! That should get him some attention. :thumbup_tb: And random things that caught my eye: Someone said that Danny’s set sounded like one long sappy 30 min song, from this list that seems about right. Closer for Michael :flush_tb: and Mad for Anoop :clap_tb:

    Allison’s set looks like it’s gonna ROCK, Lil and single ladies could be good, Megan will have a good set I think, Kris’ set looks WAY to loooooong…..

    Anyways, can’t wait for tonight.

  • suebrody

    I’m excited that Don’t Stop Believing *is* the last song, and not Hey Jude. And Jess reported that there was a lot of Kradam interaction at the end of it. *melting*

    From what Richard reports, this sounds like one smoking show (good song choices for the most part, except Kris having to sing NB, of course). And Sarver siinging Ne-Yo? Good luck with that. I am glad Anoop is singing a Ne-Yo song as well, b/c that seems to make more sense.

    I won’t be around for the cell cast :( , b/c I will be out all day for a friend’s birthday party, but I am sure there will be a little bit o show coverage when I get home. Heh.

  • jack5791

    It looks like everyone has really, really good sets. I’m so excited for the tour. The only set that made me go WTF was Michael’s but, whatever, really. lol. I still think Kris should have an extra song.

    The people who got to watch were so lucky!!

  • PattyH

    Kris’ set looks WAY to loooooong’ ¦..

    Why? It’s 5 songs, just like we heard, with the rest of them joining him at the end. Then the finale.
    I wonder if Kris leaves the stage, when the rest of them come out, during Hey Jude? I remember, during press week, either Kris or Adam said they “come up(or out)” together during the finale.

  • Susan M.

    @Arca, thanks for that link. I especially loved this quote:

    Allison was also incredible ‘“ vocals just out of this world, and her dancing was adorable. Adam was indescribably UH-MAAAAAAAAAAZING’ ¦ His vocals were clear, strong, and IMPECCABLE and his performance’ ¦guh. Some of those moves left me about to melt into a pool of Abdul. Kris was solid, strong, and very enjoyable’ ¦ and he really engaged the crowd during Hey Jude. I loved Don’t Stop Believing ‘“ lots of Kradam interaction at the end.

    Adam took off his AMAZING SkinGraft jacket before the Bowie Medley, for which he was only wearing a black tank top.

    *THUD*

    Amazingly, some prescient person on TWoP described her dream scenario yesterday (or was it Friday night?), and as I recall, it was very close to this.

  • clearone

    How pathetic is it that people go to those lengths to find the same hotel and even admit to it. My God these people need lives. Take ALL the Idols off Twitter NOW.

  • BeckyMD

    Adam took off his AMAZING SkinGraft jacket before the Bowie Medley, for which he was only wearing a black tank top.

    Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out …

  • Renina

    “Why? It’s 5 songs, just like we heard, with the rest of them joining him at the end. Then the finale.”

    Sorry, I guess it’s just because I’m not a Kris fan, and he fails to really excite me, so looking at 5 songs from him seems like a lot. But he is a really nice guy :thumbup_tb: I’m sure he’ll surprise some people with his set, and may do really well.

  • ross

    Okay, either these people are a) scary stalkers or b) great music critics. Choose one.

  • http://randomizeme.wordpress.com arca

    The idols’ location was also spoiled by JustOut – it’s some kind of Portland community blog.

  • clearone

    Scary stalkers…..and I don’t think it’s Sarver that they’re stalking. I hope they have good security around Kris and particularly Adam.

  • ross

    bottleblonde, a bubble tweet is a little circular video that pops up when you click on a link a person’s tweet. Like an audiovisual tweet. You can see the person speaking.

  • Tess

    I can’t wait to hear and see Lil do Single Ladies. Too sad that my first thought was that she had the booty to do it well. Oh my gosh, I’m bad.

    A word on Adam and his set. I think that the folks out there that love the TOMT Adam with his clean cut look…will die a thousand deaths. I am pretty sure that Adam is long gone. I get the vibe that the Adam we will now be seeing will slowly become the “Zodiac” Adam of old. And that is how he will be gearing himself up for his fall release. Be prepared!

    Not sure if I can handle Scott and “A Thousand Miles”. For the AI regulars it will be hard for them to divorce that song from David Archuleta, since he’s been singing it pretty regularly for the last 9 months and it was his first youtube breakthrough. Hope Scott can do something different with the song to make it his own….otherwise it will just become a sing along moment for the audience.

    The song list for Matt pretty much indicates to me that he will be at the piano much, if not all, of the time. The Fray should work out well for his voice and style.

  • ross

    What’s “TOMT Adam?”

  • clearone

    I think that the folks out there that love the TOMT Adam with his clean cut look’ ¦will die a thousand deaths. I am pretty sure that Adam is long gone. I get the vibe that the Adam we will now be seeing will slowly become the ‘Zodiac’  Adam of old. And that is how he will be gearing himself up for his fall release. Be prepared

    Well I think if he does that he will loose a lot of the middle of the road fans. There is a happy median between AI Adam and Zodiac Adam. I hope he finds it and doesn’t blow this opportunity.

  • nuttin2lose

    people studied the hotel decor to decode which hotel the idols are in. how crazy is that?. scary crazy i wld say. and then they left their homes and checked into the hotel. i bet they sit in the lobby all day and wait to catch them as they leave. sick sick sick people.

  • ross

    Never mind, I Googled it. Tracks Of My Tears.

  • BeckyMD

    What’s ‘TOMT Adam?’ 

    Tracks of My Tears

    There is a happy median between AI Adam and Zodiac Adam.

    I’ll say polished Citizen Vein Adam. That more in line with pop-rock-electric-dance route he described and with the songs by the ones he’s now working with.

  • http://myspace.com/girlgeek mj

    The idols’ location was also spoiled by JustOut – it’s some kind of Portland community blog.

    If I know where the Idols are staying I NEVER EVER EVER spoil it.

  • clearone

    There is a happy median between AI Adam and Zodiac Adam.

    I’ll say polished Citizen Vein Adam. That more in line with pop-rock-electric-dance route he described and with the songs by the ones he’s now working with.

    That sounds about right…..and I believe that it would be much more successful for Adam than the OTT Zodiac style.

  • ross

    I’ll say polished Citizen Vein Adam. That more in line with pop-rock-electric-dance route he described and with the songs by the ones he’s now working with.

    But he can still be raunchy, right?
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woJM08fl5CU

  • Susan M.

    A word on Adam and his set. I think that the folks out there that love the TOMT Adam with his clean cut look’ ¦will die a thousand deaths. I am pretty sure that Adam is long gone. I get the vibe that the Adam we will now be seeing will slowly become the ‘Zodiac’  Adam of old. And that is how he will be gearing himself up for his fall release. Be prepared!

    I disagree. Remember pre-Idol, Adam balanced his Upright Cabaret Adam with Zodiac Adam. He knows it’s the variance, the surprise, the keep-em-guessing back and forth that works incredibly well for him. It did on the show, before the show and I predict after the show.

    For him to cut off one whole side of repertoire would just be reckless and NOT savvy and we know Adam is extremely savvy, especially when it comes to performance and the music industry. Also remember, he’s working with Ryan Tedder on his album; he understands the power of the ballad.

    He’s having fun with it and yeah, he probably will keep pushing it a little more in every direction with each track, video, live show, appearance, he knows how to “use every tool in his arsenal” as Randy said. He will gauge each circumstance accordingly. Hard to imagine he will do the GMA concert in full glam mode. He knows his audience, but he’s also ready to challenge the audience, without pushing them too far, too fast and without compromising what he really wants to do.

  • lavender1960

    Adam can pull out the full raunch when he is touring with his first album.

  • PattyH

    so looking at 5 songs from him seems like a lot. But he is a really nice guy I’m sure he’ll surprise some people with his set, and may do really well.

    Adam is my guy, but I love Kris and he’s the winner. His set looks amazing.
    But Adam taking his jacket off and having a black tank top on may just do me in! “Stick a fork in me – I’m done!” LOL!

  • clearone

    Adam can pull out the full raunch when he is touring with his first album.

    Why are people so interested in raunch?

  • Tess

    Why are people so interested in raunch?

    I’m assuming that is strictly a rhetorical question!

  • ross

    Why are people so interested in raunch?

    Isn’t that the British pronunciation of “ranch”?

  • clearone

    Why are people so interested in raunch?

    I’m assuming that is strictly a rhetorical question!

    I suppose it is. I know why some like it but I also know why I don’t like it. I just don’t think Adam has to lower himself that way performancewise. Anyhow this isn’t the place for that discussion.

  • twinkle

    Why are people so interested in raunch?

    I’m assuming that is strictly a rhetorical question!

    Isn’t that the British pronunciation of ‘ranch’ ?

    :lol_tb: :lol_tb:

    sexy moves and a black tank top?? why am i not going to this concert again?? ugh.

  • ross

    What I can’t believe is how some crazy chick went to Portland from Connecticut just to see the first concert. Is she going to follow the tour bus across the country, now?

  • Tara

    The Raunch. I’ll bite.. Seriously though. I do not like that video at all (Citizen Vein) posted above. It isn’t because I am a prude. I love the Skingraph video. I am pretty far out there as far as expression goes. But the video above is just tacky to me, so highschool. I felt he was far more sensual during Ring of Fire on AI and he never grabbed “it”.

    I do believe a lot of Adam’s appeal is that he is charismatic and sexual and he knows it. Otherwise he is just another “pretty face”. He is a handsome man but they are a dime a dozen. He has “it”. Without “it” he isn’t the Adam that gets me to follow his every move and word. I look forward to his performances away from AI and his videos…but I do hope they are sensual, not sensational…and artistic and meaningful.

    And I can’t wait for the videos of the show tonight.

  • clearone

    The Raunch. I’ll bite.. Seriously though. I do not like that video at all (Citizen Vein) posted above. It isn’t because I am a prude. I love the Skingraph video. I am pretty far out there as far as expression goes. But the video above is just tacky to me, so highschool. I felt he was far more sensual during Ring of Fire on AI and he never grabbed ‘it’ .

    Exactly…..there are ways to be sensual without being gross about it.

  • Mary102

    Allison was also incredible ‘“ vocals just out of this world, and her dancing was adorable. Adam was indescribably UH-MAAAAAAAAAAZING’ ¦ His vocals were clear, strong, and IMPECCABLE and his performance’ ¦guh. Some of those moves left me about to melt into a pool of Abdul. Kris was solid, strong, and very enjoyable’ ¦ and he really engaged the crowd during Hey Jude. I loved Don’t Stop Believing ‘“ lots of Kradam interaction at the end.

    AHH! Love it. Kradam interactions on Don’t Stop Believing = TOTAL 100% WIN!

    This sounds like about what I’d expect from the three of them! Can’t wait for the tour!

    I think that the folks out there that love the TOMT Adam with his clean cut look’ ¦will die a thousand deaths. I am pretty sure that Adam is long gone.

    Just a note on this: I’m not sure this is exactly true. Point #1: what they do on the show is usually WAY different, regardless, of how they will be on their first album, and when you’re performing motown week, Rat Pack Week, etc, you’re going to go with that style rather than, say something completely current.

    However, Adam is a chameleon, and he LOVES mixing it up, getting into costume, trying on different looks, etc. to match the mood of the songs. So I can so see him throwing out some retro pompadour/fedora/zoot suit style looks in the future depending on what songs he’s singing.

    Reminds me of all of the Michael Jackson vids I’ve been watching this weekend, and how he really played the role of chameleon as well, wearing beads, glitter, fedoras, everything to match the mood of the songs and videos.

  • lola

    “However, Adam is a chameleon, and he LOVES mixing it up, getting into costume, trying on different looks, etc. to match the mood of the songs. So I can so see him throwing out some retro pompadour/fedora/zoot suit style looks in the future depending on what songs he’s singing.”

    - And this is what makes him exciting. That’s why a lot of people are interested in what he’ll do next. Adam himself said that he wants to have a universal appeal. He’s smart and will not stick with one look. Even in his idol performances, he mentioned that he based the way he looks with the type of song he is singing.

  • Vicon

    The woman that tracked them = pure love for her effort.

  • aa618892

    Re: Raunch discussion. I think that CV video is sooo sensual. Adam is in his own world performing that song so I don’t think it is gross at all. I love that he is so uninhibited and passionate. To me that is part of his sex appeal. 38 seconds of pure bliss.

  • Tara

    You are not alone aa618892. A lot of people just love that video :) I suspect Adam will appeal to each of us on and off….We’ll have to share, lol. One video for you, one for me…and so on. I don’t think I have ever thought of Adam as gross, just not very sophisticated in that video (for me). You keep that one, I’ll take Skingraph, o.k.?

  • shadow-rider

    What I can’t believe is how some crazy chick went to Portland from Connecticut just to see the first concert. Is she going to follow the tour bus across the country, now?

    That is crazy but I would say it paid off for her. She got to go in and watch the full dress rehearsal with only a few people – front row – and wasn’t it said that some of the idols were sitting out there too. I’m one who waits for them to come to me but if I knew that would happen I would definitely take the travel.

    I have to say I would be one of those people who would stand out in the heat for several hours if I knew I would be meeting some of the idols. Well as long as I meet the idols I want to meet. There are a couple that I really don’t care to meet. I’m too old for the crazy crazy acts but I suppose if I was about 10 years younger I might be a little crazy. :tongue_laugh_ee:

  • shadow-rider

    And I think its funny that girl did all of that detective work to find out where they were staying when all she had to do was read the Portland paper.

  • aa618892

    Tara, Amen to that! I have heard of this Skingraft video? Can you post it. I can’t believe I’ve missed one.

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