The lights dim and the crowd cheers loudly. Then the opener, Eric Hutchinson, takes the stage…..
….and the crowd dies….
Admittedly, Eric has a wonderful voice and a song or two that would make great hits, but they were lost amongst the other similar sounds of bass I IV V chords, easy guitar riffs, jazzy piano and uninteresting drum beats. Case in point, he sounded like a funk/reggae version of Jason Mraz but not as good, and all his songs blended into each other. I must give him major props though for handling the obvious non-involvement from the crowd. He cracked some pretty good jokes to help soften the blow. Really, it was just not the right demographic for him. He belongs more on a college campus, or with the high school crowd.
Enough about him. This blog is about someone better.
Kelly-effing-Clarkson.
The audience was screaming for her as soon as the music began, the scrim lifted, and all the sudden WHAM! Lights drench the band and Kelly Clarkson who is belting out All I Ever Wanted. I seriously almost cried. It was totally and completely epic, in every sense of the word.
The following is a list of the rest of the night’s line up (with the album in parenthesis)
Miss Independent (Thankful)
I Do Not Hook Up (All I Ever Wanted)
That I Would Be Good (cover song)
Can Use Somebody (cover of Kings of Leon)
Breakaway (Breakaway)
If I Can’t Have You (All I Ever Wanted)
Never Again (My December)
Lies (cover of The Black Keys)
Walkin’ After Midnight (cover of Patsy Cline)
Acoustic version of Behind These Hazel Eyes (Breakaway)
I Want You (All I Ever Wanted)
Because of You (Breakaway)
Ready (All I Ever Wanted)
~Then there was this awesome horn solo by her saxophonist, trombonist and trumpet player leading into
Since You’ve Been Gone (Breakaway)
Acoustic version of Sober (My December)
Already Gone (All I Ever Wanted)
~Then there was a break where Kelly had a change of outfit and the DJ started playing The Muse and a bunch of other great music into this awesome blend which led into…
Seven Nation Army (The White Stripes cover)
My Life Would Suck Without You (All I Ever Wanted)
This is what I have to say about Kelly: you know all those supposed “stars” who in real life are awful singers? Well, Kelly Clarkson IS NOT one of them!
The only complaint I had was that Kelly did the acoustic version of Behind These Hazel Eyes… I just wanted to hear it belted out in all it’s glory because it’s my absolute FAVORITE Kelly song off of my favorite Clarkson album, Breakaway. Otherwise, it was non-stop amazing vocals and musical talent from Kelly and her band.
You want to know the best thing about Clarkson? She is a REAL woman. She’s not some twiggy little girl trying to be awesome on stage for millions of little 12 year olds. No. Kelly is about my size, which is not small. She has curves, boobs, a butt and arms. And she is beautiful.
Power ballads and true beauty,
Mary Jane
Unwrapping Mary Jane 