AI concert review-8/20-HP Pavilion, San Jose, CA

[Karen*]

This is going to be a long, lengthy review. Only read if you're really interested, but I hope you are since it's from my point of view and also because this was the second concert on the tour in which Bo didn't appear in. Also, I do have lots of pictures, but my seats were kinda crappy, but if you're interested just say so. And please, please ask for clarification if you're confused about something I said in here. Anyways, here ya go!

I originally was supposed to sit with my best friend in section 104, but her mom won some tickets from a radio station, in section 115, so I sat there with her while I handed over my original tickets to my mom and my sister. We drove off to San Jose at around 4:40 PM and arrived at the Pavilion at around 5:25 PM (much faster than I expected). We had to wait in line to go inside the venue and we were second in line! WOOT WOOT! Lolz, j/k. The wait didn’t feel too long. The doors opened exactly at 6 like scheduled. So we went inside…My sis and friend made signs at the Corn Pops sign-making booth and my sis and I took a Pop-Tarts pic at their booth. I was planning to go CRAZY buying merchandise, but my mom was there and she got friggin pissed at me for spending $30 on a concert program and top 10 poster. UGH. I would’ve bought more stuff, but after my mom being all crapped-out at me, I didn’t wanna buy any more stuff, even when I tried sneaking out after. That pissed me off too. After that, we went to our seats and waited there till the concert started cuz there was nothing else to do. I think they were off schedule cuz the concert started a lil later than 7.

The lights went off, the stage was lit, and the band started playing the American Idol theme song for the opening. Then Jessica Sierra came out and did her two songs, “The Boys are Back in Town” and “Shop Around.” Then she did another song that wasn’t on her original set list called “Piece of My Heart.” I liked the songs she chose to sing and I thought she sounded great. Crowd wasn’t too nuts about her though. Then Jessica introduced the next performer, Anwar Robinson.

I wasn’t too crazy about seeing Anwar, but he did an impressive job. He performed heartfelt versions of “A House is Not a Home” and “What a Wonderful World.” Awesome job with the high notes. Seems like a nice guy too.

Then Nikko Smith took over the stage. OH MY GOD. I loved his performances. He has the voice and the moves! First, he sang a tender rendition of Sisqo’s “Incomplete.” Then he got everyone moving and grooving with “Part-Time Lover” (Which was, BTW, the only song of the night I got up and danced to). Finally, he closed out his set with Justin Timberlake’s “Like I Love You.” Haha, okay, I didn’t love that performance cuz during some parts he sounded exactly like Justin Timberlake. But like I said, Nikko got the moves! I was impressed with him because I saw him only as a good vocalist. Now actually seeing him live, he made a pretty good performer too. When Nikko was finished, he introduced Constantine Maroulis. OMG, I went wild with the crowd when he said that!

Constantine came out and performed his first song, “Hard to Handle,” which I loved. Then he sang “My Funny Valentine.” OH MY FRIGGIN GOD. He sounded sooooooo sexy on that one. He hit this one certain note and I think he blew the lid off my cover, if you know what I mean. *wink wink* lolz. Aaaaahhh…and he seductively took his jacket off. I yelled “Take it all off Constantine!!” Haha, I can’t help that he’s hot. His final performance was “Bohemian Rhapsody” which he totally rocked on. I went crazy for him. Constantine was one of my favorites this season and delivered one of the best sets of the night, IMO. And the crowd loved him. After Constantine came Scott Savol.

Scott seemed to have a genuine and funny persona on stage. He didn’t seem cocky like he was on the show. Lolz. He sang “Against All Odds” which he mostly sang well on, except for the fact that when he hit the high notes he hurt my ears real bad. Then he brought Jessica back on stage to deliver one of the most “Oh my God” (in a good way!) performances of the night, their duet of “Total Eclipse of the Heart.” OMG, I just went nuts. I love that song. It’s a passionate song and they both sang it with that feeling of passion. And they shared awesome chemistry. I was like “Awwwww.” They both sounded wonderful. Scott closed out his set with “She’s Gone” which I’m sorry to say was just an “eh” performance. I think he should’ve sang “On Broadway” instead. Anyway, Scott did a great job. I don’t care what anyone says about him, he’s cool.

After Scott, Nadia Turner delivered her set. She was the one I was least looking forward to seeing and I still wasn’t feeling her vibe, but she rocked. Like Nikko, I always perceived her as a better vocalist than performer, but that night she demonstrated that she could be both. She sang “Power of Love,” “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me,” “Fire,” and “Try a Little Tenderness.” She actually got a standing ovation for “YDHTSYLM”! I think that was the only one of the night! Anyway, I’m proud of Nadia. She did awesome. After Nadia’s set, we had like a half-hour intermission, which I did diddly-squat.

After intermission, the guys in the band played the Idol theme song again while the screen started showing some highlights from last season. If you saw the finale performance show, they were playing that video at the end, except they cut out the sound and finalists 11 and 12 Mikalah and Lindsey out of it.

Anwar then came out with his keyboard and delivered a rendition of “Superstition.” With Anwar still on the keyboard, Vonzell Solomon came out halfway through the song and started singing “Karma.” I loved her flowy, sparkly yellow dress! LOL. Then they both sang another song, which I forgot the name of. Then Anwar left the stage for Vonzell’s set. She sang “I Have Nothing,” “Best of My Love,” and “I’m Every Woman.” I liked her, I really do, but I didn’t really take in her performances because I was anxious for ANTHONY to come out.

OMG, I just love Anthony Fedorov. I went crazy trying to take pix of him and waving around my sign so he could wave at me, but some beezy told me to put my sign down, so I gave up on it and handed it to Nicole cuz no one was behind her. His performances were droolworthy. He sang “Everytime You Go Away,” “Can You Stop the Rain,” and “I’ve Got You.” Before “I’ve Got You,” he sang something in Spanish! OMG, he sounded so sexxxaaayyy. And he’s soooooo cute! Heehee!! When Anthony was done with his set, he announced that Bo Bice would’ve been next, but he was sick and wouldn’t be able to perform. Yup. I don’t know if you heard, but Bo was in the hospital during the Las Vegas show and I heard that he wasn’t going to be able to perform for the rest of the tour. It wasn’t his broken foot that put him there. From what I heard, doctors found a kink in his intestines and he had to have emergency surgery to have it removed. God, I can't even imagine what he's going through. Poor Bo. Anyway, people started booing. I felt horrible, but I still cheered as if he was still there. Anthony let us know that “Bo still loves you all, he’ll be back on his feet before you know it, and we prepared a little something for you, so enjoy.”

The screens started showing Bo performing “Vehicle” from a previous show. It was great, but it made me wish that he really was there. Anyway, people were still booing. Everyone wanted Bo! Then all the guys (Nikko, Anwar, Anthony, Constantine, and Scott) came out and performed “Sweet Home Alabama” and dedicated it to Bo (The screens behind the Idols and band still showed clips of Bo). People were up on their feet singing and dancing along. After that performance, there were still a couple of boos, but cheers for the most part. Then Scott introduced the American Idol, Carrie Underwood.

I really like Carrie, but she sounded like a chipmunk! Not just when she was singing, but when she was talking too! Weird. Her first song was “Sin Wagon,” which I loved. Then she sang “Independence Day,” which was just okay. Then she sang “Alone,” which was another “Oh my God” performance of the night. I totally loved her on that one. Finally, she sang her winner’s single, “Inside Your Heaven.” The rest of the performers joined her in singing near the end. They made it look like it was the end and people started leaving. It probably took like five minutes for them to come out again.

Carrie came out again and said “Normally, this would be the part of the show where Bo and I would do our duet, but since he’s not here, I’ll be singing by myself!” Again, I felt bad about Bo not being there, but I also felt bad for Carrie singing by herself! She sang a beautiful version of “Bless the Broken Road.” No, she wasn’t on the guitar like she normally would’ve been. Nonetheless, I loved the way she sang that song. I think that was my second favorite performance from her, after “Alone.”

For the finale, all the contestants came out and sang “Lean on Me” and “Rock in the USA.” I loved it. And yeah, that was it.

I had to wait for about forty-five minutes for my mom, my sister, my friend, and I to get together again. Then we went out to the back to wait for the buses. At first, we had crappy spots. Then as people left, we got better spots and I eventually got a spot way in front. Unfortunately, I don’t think the Idols ever came out. If they did, I wasn’t there to see it. I waited for over an hour and a half, till midnight. Then the security guard said that it would take another hour and a half for them to come out. So I was like “**** that” and with that, my family and I headed for the hour-long drive back home.

Overall, I had a really good time at the concert. I kinda wish I had better seats and that I was there to meet the Idols after, that’s all. But I wish for more than anything that Bo was there for the concert. I mean, of course he can’t help that he’s sick, but I was really sad and disappointed that he wasn’t there. To tell the truth, I kinda saw that coming, about him not being at this concert. First, he got married. Then he broke his foot. Now he’s in the hospital. I was totally looking forward to seeing him. HE WAS MY FAVORITE IDOL!!!!! I even made a sign for him! But I can’t be mad if he’s sick. In fact, I’m worried about him. I hope he pulls through, but I know he’ll stay strong. There was definitely something missing without him there. Anyways, the concert just proved why season four was the best Idol season yet! All the performers demonstrated pure talent and reflected the diversity of the music genres this season. What a night to remember. If next year’s Idols can be as great or even better than this year’s, I’ll definitely go to the show again.

[David]

I read every word of that review

Sounds like you had fun, and aaw, sorry about Bo . I know I would've felt the same way. But hey, atleast you saw the other 9

BTW, where were your seats? (estimate?)

[I Love John Ritter]

Great review, thanks for posting that!! I'm sorry about Bo Hope he feels better soon.

You asked if we were interested in seeing the pictures that you took, I would be interested in seeing them. Glad you had a great time

[EmoJoe]

Poor Bo Anyway im glad you had a great time Its a great concert

[Karen*]

Originally Posted by David

I read every word of that review

Sounds like you had fun, and aaw, sorry about Bo . I know I would've felt the same way. But hey, atleast you saw the other 9

BTW, where were your seats? (estimate?)

Thanks.

Our seats were on the lower level, so one level up from the main floor. We were sitting off to the side of the stage and it wasn't much, but I think my friend and I had better seats than my mom and my sister. They were still on the lower level, but much farther from the stage. We were closer.

[Karen*]

Here are my pix! Sorry they're kinda crappy, but I tried my best.

Me before the show with my "I <3 Anthony" sign:


The stage at the beginning of the show:


Jessica Sierra:


Anwar Robinson (blurry pic):


Nikko Smith:


Constantine Maroulis (blurry pic):


Jessica and Scott Savol:


Nadia Turner:

[Karen*]

The rest...

Vonzell Solomon:


Anthony Fedorov (That's actually a SCREENSHOT of him, I hated all my other pix of him, LOL):


The boys singing "Sweet Home Alabama":


Carrie Underwood:


Group shot:


The top 10 poster I bought. Someone drew on Scott. :