LJSMACK’s American Idol Tour Pittsburgh, PA Recap

By On 08/23/2009 · 28 Comments · In AI Tour 2009, American Idol

Context: Visited daughter who lives near Oakmont Golf Course in Pittsburgh after ‘encouraging’  her to go with me to the AI concert. I’m 61; daughter 31. Eclectic musical tastes: I’m a big Aerosmith fan, but the last concert I can remember going to was Tina Turner and Glenn Frye opened. (I don’t get out much).

Saw David Cook sing Billie Jean last year’”my first iTune purchase, but didn’t really watch each week until this year, when unlike Slezak but like his mother, I was an early adopter’”Adam had me at ‘Satisfaction.’  Never voted, never posted, never cyber-stalked until this year. Was in heaven when I discovered MJ’s (in July) and the variety of passionate opinions offered here.

Pre-Concert: Daughter (hereafter referred to as T) went to Pitt for Ph.D. in speech pathology, met her teddy bear husband there and so I get to enjoy a 6 to 7 hr drive to see them, since I’m living in Indy right now. Went to Squirrel Hill to pick up a watch that I left for repair the last time I was in Pittsburgh when T and I decided to go to AI. Ate at a great deli, and cruised the 5 miles down to the arena area’”Mellon is where the Penguins (hockey) currently play’”new arena going up next store. Driving in Pittsburgh is an ‘up and down’  experience (HILLY)and after a Pittsburgh left car maneuver, we got into a parking lot right across from Mellon arena, walked across street dodging very friendly crowd peeps’”many of whom remarked positively about my PEACE LOVE ADAM LAMBERT t-shirt ; I had purchased shirt online plus a ‘GLAMBERT’  sticker for T and a ‘Glam is the New Black’  sticker for me.

Lots of three generation ‘girls night out’  groups. Also many moms brought their young sons with them’”a couple admitted to me their son was a total excuse to come themselves. There were about 20 to 25% men in the audience’”many with families; many men who wore out binoculars viewing Megan and Lil (and Anoop and Adam). Lots of hand held glittery posters. One woman tried to start an Adam chant waving an orange poster around, and this one woman near us had a poster that said ____insert name, ‘I want me some of THAT!!!. She had Noop, Matt, Danny, Adam, and Kris printed out and slid the appropriate name at the top of the larger poster. I twittered, that woman juggled her poster. We were sitting right above the ‘penalty box’  in an ‘igloo’  section’”like ‘pod’  seats some of you have referred to. Right before show, the lighting guys climbed up ladders like acrobats to get into the light rigging. I hadn’t seen that before.

Concert: Since I don’t have the expertise of FifthHouseSun or the quick research fingers of Q and Sunn, or the photo ability of MJ and because I didn’t want CherylM and Anthrogeek to go nuts with twitpic temptations , I’m going to give impressions’”plus my tweets last night indicated the crowd reactions.

To recap my tweets’”Sarver got the crowd going right away; the floor stood up for most of the concert; people were in a great mood (even though they were missing a Steelers’ televised pre-season game to be there); Noop got lots of screams and luv which was nice since his parents were there; Matt G brought the house down’”people really dug Hard to Handle, Georgia, and even the Fray song; both Megan and Lil had straight hair; Megan back in gladiator sandals and tottered around the stage sort of flailing her arms; TONS of Gokey love, but bandzilla overpowered him and he shouted his way through his songs’”as I tweeted Pittsburgh loved the Goke Speak Speech, etc. In other words, the crowd gave everyone a lot of cheers and energy and the Idols seemed to thrive on it. (Megan said, ‘Wow,’  like applause and shouts were totally unexpected.’ 

Allison was a little disappointing; her face and eyes looked exhausted and her hair looked as if it needs its extensions renewed (unless it was the humidity). T loved her So What and I loved her Barracuda and both of us danced and rocked to Slow Ride when her voice sounded best. Different little twist on SR: Adam leaned back over Allison’s back before she leaned back onto his back’”hadn’t seen them do that before. I didn’t see anything thrown on stage.

The crescendo of noise that sent Gokey off the stage and the anticipation for Adam was actually palpable in the arena. People didn’t know whether to scream, shout, or hold their breath waiting for HBIC to ascend the stage. Entire arena (even nosebleeds) got up and danced and rocked and stayed up through entire set. What looked like a purplish-pink shoulder-type scarf got thrown up on the stage during Fame, Adam picked it up and put it on his shoulder, but it slipped off and then he threw it into the crowd. I thought I saw something tiny and white thrown at him while he was back with the back-up singers, and he kind of jumped, but everyone ignored it, whatever it was’”sorry luvadamlambert’”no type of ___gate in Pittsburgh. I think I have watched every venue’s Adam videos, but he still was breathtaking’”entertaining and that voice. I loved Starlight and Life on Mars the best’”no helium. Others had yellow Terrible Towels (Steeler waving towels), but Adam had a black one. (What else?) He just used his to mop his brow rather than stir the fans into another frenzy’”the frenzy level was already at max, so no need to wave towel.

Kris was wonderful. I really liked his set, especially the Killers song. Just a few people left after Adam; many of the people who appeared to be leaving were the ones who rushed the stage to get Adam pix; stayed to get Kris pix during Heartless and then melted back into the crowd. Most of floor stayed standing for Kris, and some of the igloo people did, but people really just settled in to listen. From Hey Jude to the end of DSB, the entire arena sang, danced, waved glowsticks, cheered, and sent waves and waves of appreciation up to the Idols. (Kradam dance the normal one). T and I had a great time. I don’t remember screaming so much, but I was totally hoarse and felt as if I’d run a marathon when concert ended. T and I ‘slippery’  hugged each other’”we were both a tad sweaty and joined the excited and very pleased throngs of fans as they headed to cars. Lots of oohing and aahing and wasn’t that wonderful heard on the way out of Mellon. I’m going to have floor seats (8th row, center aisle) in Indy on 9-5 and I’ll let you know how it compares. I’ll tweet’”yes, the heretofore anonymous LJSMACK will tweet again.

 
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  • ShariG

    LOL This was a fun recap. Thanks so much for taking the time to write it. I am to Kris as you are to Adam and was happy to hear that the crowd gave Kris props during his set. Last year the crowd was multigenerational, too, although there were more females than males, it was a very mixed group of concert goers. Sounds like this year is no different. Glad you had a great time. I look forward to reading about Indianapolis. I drove down there last year from Chicago because I just couldn’t get enough of David Cook. This year I’m going to see the show in St. Louis, but I would love to see it twice if possible. Have a great time and send up some good vibes for my guy Kris.

  • CindyM

    Thanks for the recap, sounds like you had a great time! Love the idea for your shirt!

  • alison8701

    ah, it’s ljsmack, the mysterious. We saw your tweets and your identity was kind of perplexing. You mentioned an “alison” and we weren’t sure if you were referring to me or not– then someone thought I was you… so. it was pretty complicated.

    but thanks for the recap. do you intend on posting here?

    and I guessed the audience must have really been digging the performers. Nearly all of the idols twittered about how amazing the crowd was.

  • MtnLaurel

    Double post, sry

  • MtnLaurel

    Great Recap! I was at the show too, West Igloo. I was really happy to see all the love the crowd gave everyone. It made for a fun time. I took my 65 year old mom as a birthday present – we danced, sang and waved our glowsticks…had a blast! We are Kradam fans but I thought everyone sounded great (well, not Megan but the crowd gave her props anyway, she was cute). Blown away by Matt, Adam and Kris. Wish I had gone to the barricades but it looked like there were already a thousand people there. I heard Adam came out — they must have really felt how much they were loved, by their tweets.

    Glad you made the trip, enjoy the Indy show!

  • anthrogeek

    because I didn’t want CherylM and Anthrogeek to go nuts with twitpic temptations ,

    Haha!! Thanks for thinking of us, ljsmack! (Although I must say, my fellow Twitpic-phobe is CindyM, not CherylM… ).

    Look forward to your review of Indy!! Will you have a camera with you (for real pics, not so much Twitpics)?

  • listen

    ‘Glam is the New Black’ 

    Very cute ^ ^.

    Thanks for the recap, loved your enthusiasm.

  • Squirrely

    Fun recap – thank you :)

  • CindyM

    or the photo ability of MJ and because I didn’t want CherylM and Anthrogeek to go nuts with twitpic temptations , I’m going to give impressions’”plus my tweets last night indicated the crowd reactions.

    I totally missed that you were talking about me, lol. Cheryl, Cindy eh…it’s the thought that counts!! Thanks for trying to help keep me on the straight and narrow!

  • Cate

    Nice recap, Oh Mysterious One. You had everyone going lst nite, trying to guess/figure out who you were. Hope you’ll be a regular visitor/poster now!

  • http://susanreep.com grambert

    I took my 65 year old mom as a birthday present -

    I read this comment and thought, wow, that’s so cool, to take a 65-year-old, and then I remembered I’m 62! Funny. Anyway, i’m enjoying all these recaps and wish I could see the show again but long gone from Cali. Really looking forward to seeing Adam again somewhere – anywhere.

  • agathe.hb

    Thanks for your recap, great that you had a good time :)
    Now I am waiting for the next one :)

  • ravengirl

    Yay! Enjoyed reading this, especially because I can’t sleep and needed something entertaining and Adam-esque. Thanks!

  • Circe

    LJSMack: Interesting observations on the audience.

  • Mtlfan

    thanks for your recap; that was fun!!

  • https://twitter.com/draddee Sunn

    Great recap LJSMACK, thank you. Pittsburg looked like a blast from the videos and your recap just confirmed it. Your audience observations were fascinating.

    Thanks for the shoutout! I feel like a celebrity LOL! Although to be fair, I couldn’t hold a candle to Q3′s research skills – she’s amazing.

    I’m so glad you had a good time, thank you for sharing with us, tweets and all. I can’t wait for your comparison recap from Indy.

  • MrsB

    Couldn’t wait to get a recap from Pittsburgh since it was such a great concert for all the idols (tweets) & fans (love).

    Your intro really perked me up from the get-go and continued to do so! I enjoy hearing others talk about their journey finding MJs and what it has meant to them & how it has added to their life, each one is different, but I can relate in some way with all of them. Wonderful to read about yours!

    Your recap was one of the best for me because you gave so many shout-outs to your fellow Adam fan-mates here at MJs! I especially liked that part. :)

    So happy you & your T had fun – you both seem to be two of the reasons Steeler country was one of the best concerts on this tour!

    Thanks for the great read! :smile1_tb:

  • Studio57

    Great recap! I was there too on the floor seats. Just wanted to add a few things. The crowd really did give everyone love. The floor stood through everyones sets. The sides by the stage pretty much did too.

    I had an Adam Lambert look alike behind me. He was such a hoot! He had elvis hair and cried during Adam’s set. I even took a pic of him, and so did alot of other people.

    Saw the Cheeks sign- what was up with that? The lady was in one of the front rows and the sign said “I discovered Adam on Cheeks TV.com” and “Adam’s ex”or something to that effect.She went up and down both sides of the floor and waved it to everyone.

    You should have stayed for the barricades. we watched the whole show, and were one of the last ones out and found a corner that was blocked by a truck in the lot. We just thought we would get a couple of pics from far away but we stayed anyway so we didn’t have to get stuck in traffic. A square of people formed from gate 1-3, down to the street, over and back up again ended up surrounding the buses and the police just ended up putting up barricades to accomodate them. Thousands of people. I met a 72 year old woman who was an Adam fan and she was so awesome. Believe me when I tell you- Adam does not just have the older fans ( fraus, as the worsters like to call them)- he has the teens, and everyone in between. Watching my 12 year old and her 15 year old friend watch the concert, you would have thought it was the Jonas Bros they were watching.

    Imagine my suprise when all the idols except for Sarver came out. The truck blocking us ended up moving. We met and got close up pics of all but Lil, Allison , and Sarver, as well as autographs. The idols, including Adam, were out for approx. two full hours and hit almost every area. They were all so nice and Adam got concerned about people hanging over the concrete walls to see him. He tried to get them to put their body parts back over the wall, lol.

    Other observations-
    Helium effect did happen on Starlight
    Matt is a BEAST on piano.
    Anoop is smooth as silk
    Kris has an uncanny ability to pick the best songs, and the pic I have of him signing- the poor kid looks like he is ready to pass out from exhaustion.

    Anyone know how to post pics? I have them on photobucket.

  • Bowie1

    I really enjoyed your recap!

    “…I was an early adopter-Adam had me at “Satisfaction”.
    Never voted, never posted, never cyber-stalked until
    this year. Was in heaven when I discovered MJ’s (in July)
    and the variety of passionate opinions offered here.”

    When I read this I part I went..Wow! That’s exactly what happened to me!!
    I’m going to the St. Louis concert with my 28 yr. old son, and a 70 yr. old relative. I’m 60 yrs. old. Hope to have a GREAT time!

  • LoveContinuum

    LJSmack, loved your review, thank you.

    I don’t mean this in a condescending way AT ALL… but it makes me all warm ‘n fuzzy inside when the non-tech generation runs with all the new technology/media we have today. My Mom learned how to use a computer when she was 58, and I was so proud of her. And there you are at 61, twittering etc. I’m not implying that you’re over-the-hill… It’s just very cool, s’all.

  • ljsmack

    Thanks for all the comments. While I’ve posted a few times before, I must not have said anything original, because posts did not stir a response. CindyM, sorry I got your name wrong and Q instead of Q3. You will have to forgive me because I wrote that last night after driving back from Pittsburgh while the excitement was still strong. And Alison8701, I totally blanked on your “number”while I was tweeting. You guys are like interesting book characters to me–I feel as if I get to know a little bit more about you each time you post. Mrs. B–love and relate to your posts. Laugh at Squirrely and AustinMidwife, and Bowie1, I’m so happy that someone else admits to the path of passion that I took. I laughed when I realized that I’m only 9 years to 70–about the Granny that sat next to me–she had to be in late 70′s–but I don’t feel “old,” and I’m sure she doesn’t either! Lady (shouldn’t say Granny because some people will think Gokey/Matt) was treated to dinner at Spaghetti Factory and the good tickets. I told her she must be really special to have family do that for her, and she blushed!

    Studio57–I was in the west igloos as well–I didn’t get helium, but I did have earplugs. Part of me wanted to stay and do the barricades, but that is so not like me–I was a little shy about wearing the t-shirt–so I decided to wait until Indy to try that. I love reading others’ recaps and thanks for comments about mine. :)

  • Studio57

    I have never done the barricades thing in my life either, but it helped justify things that we had two teens with us, lol. Me and my friend called them our beards :)

    Two of us heard the helium, and the other two didn’t. I have no idea what is the deal with that, only thing I can come up with is that they had to have changed something within the sound system, because it seems like people have only heard this effect recently. And it wasn’t with any other song.

  • FifthHouseSun

    Loved reading your recap, ljsmack. Especially how fun much you had. And your keen eye for detail. Thank you so much for the Twittering. May you win the Fusion text passes in Indy.

    she had to be in late 70′s’“but I don’t feel ‘old,’  and I’m sure she doesn’t either!

    Your whole additional comment’s a delight. Feeling old is not a requirement for adding numbers to your bio. And your number is still prime.

    Many thanks for taking the time for all.

    And, Studio57, hearing about the barricades and the all-age demo for Adam is interesting. Thanks.

  • luckydp

    Really enjoyed reading your recap. I also was at the Pittsburgh show, East Igloo first row. Was very impressed on how much love the fans there gave all the idols and especially the screams for Kris which were the same if not louder than for Adam. I went with my husband and my 19 year old daughter, (she got me hooked on AI during Season 5 which I went twice to their concert that summer. The year of Daughtry!) I had read the recaps regarding the helium effect during some of Adam’s songs, but I didn’t mention this to my husband or daughter before we went. When he sang Starlight, we all just looked at each other. It was horrible the sound. I kept thinking if Adam was hearing what I was hearing, he’d never sing that song again live. The rest of his songs were fabulous. I thought he got a bit carried away with some of his hip action for a family orientated concert. Don’t get me wrong I am an Adam fan. He’s one of the best looking guys on this planet. I am not a Megan fan; couldn’t wait for her set to be over. But mostly I wanted to comment because Scott wasn’t mentioned. He was sounding fantastic. Very impressed with his set.

  • Grammie Kari

    I enjoyed your recap LJSMACK! This is a great thread because I get to read about the ‘early’ Baby Boomers who love American Idol!! (More specific over 55 years old.) We can still rock! :clap_tb:

    I loved the comment, “…many men who wore out binoculars viewing Megan and Lil (and Anoop and Adam).” How great that Anoop’s parents were there and he got a warm welcome!

    Anoop is smooth as silk

    Good to hear that, Studio57! Loved the comment about the 72 year-old woman that was awesome. Glad you had a good time.

    MtnLaurel, what a nice gift for your Mom. grambert, I love your spirit. Bowie1, I am sure you’ll have a great time!

    LoveContinuum, your comment was cool as well!

    Thank you so much for taking the time to give your recap and share the Adam-love, LJSMACK!

  • luvadamlambert

    Thanks 4 the recap it was awesome thanks 4 the shout-out I’m sure pittsburgh was awesome jellus ur going 2 2 shows:D I’m fine with no gates becuz of drake- gate the same day. ( does that count as a gate?)

  • Grammie Kari

    WOW! Two concerts. I forgot that LJSMACK! I look forward to your second recap!

  • Mary102

    Thanks so much for sharing! I was at the Pittsburgh show too – and had a great time :-) They were all really good in Pittsburgh, and had a great reception. I got a kick out of all the Steeler towel moments (I went to school in Pittsburgh, but I’m not a native of the town). They sure knew how to work the crowd :-)

    Right before show, the lighting guys climbed up ladders like acrobats to get into the light rigging. I hadn’t seen that before.

    I think this happened right above my head – we were seriously scared someone was going to fall on us!