Concert Review: American Idol Tour – Philly

August 29, 2012 • Concert Review, Music •

Last Tuesday night, I had the pleasure of seeing the American Idol Season 11 Top 10 on tour. This is the second season of Idol that I’ve watched in its entirety and the better of the two, so you can imagine how excited I was when I was invited to see the show. And what better way to spend the last week with my sister (before moving her into college) than taking her to see Jessica Sanchez? She was a fan of Jessica’s since her early YouTube days. Needless to say, this was quite a night to remember.

 Before heading into the show, we stopped at the AT&T virtual texting while-driving simulator. The majority of young people that I know who have passed away have been in car accidents so I made it a point to stop at the simulator and see what AT&T was up to in their effort to spread awareness about driving safely.

AT&T’s “It Can Wait Campaign” aims to educate wireless users and drivers on the risks of texting behind the wheel. The simulator on site was a computerized system used within a real car that provided a realistic experience for drivers to learn, in a safe way, just how dangerous texting and driving can be. The simulator was really just step one. I moreso appreciated the ring (seen below) that they passed out after you took part in the simulation. With this ring on, every time you look down and get ready to text, you’ll see that “It Can Wait” message and think twice. That message could save your life. If only we could get one of these rings into the hands of every Idol concert attendee and more! To learn more, click here.

 As for the concert, there were so many highlights! I was a huge supporter of Colton Dixon, Jessica Sanchez, and Skylar Laine especially during the show, so seeing these three perform live among the rest really made my summer. Dixon even performed an original song during the concert which I cannot wait to hear on his debut album and see him perform live again (this time on his own headlining tour in due time)! His rendition of “Piano Man” gave me chills as did a number of the other standout performances from Season 11 that former contestants gave us an encore of!

“Stay With Me” has got to be one of the best numbers of the season from Laine, so seeing her rock out on stage to that was quite an unforgettable moment. For the majority of the time that Laine was on stage, all I kept thinking was, “She is the next Carrie Underwood, the next Reba, the next big country household name.” Needless to say, I was beyond honored to be in her presence before the whirlwind really takes her on a ride. This is just the beginning.

I was a little nervous when Hollie Cavanagh took on one of my favorite songs from Demi Lovato, “Give Your Heart A Break.” But she gave a solid performance and I enjoyed her runs and how she made the song her own. Along with the numerous solo numbers (which I’m biased saying that Dixon, Sanchez, and Laine excelled in – oh and Deandre Brackensick!), there were plenty of group numbers. But unlike how awkward the group performances look on television, these guys have gotten used to the stage and choreography and it shows.

The group performances were much more natural, much more fun than I anticipated them to be. That said, I still preferred the duets. Joshua Ledet and Sanchez nailed theirs. Wow. Just wow. These two are phenomenal together. It’s hard to level with or outshine Sanchez but Ledet did a fine job. It also must be said that Jessica Sanchez blew the house down when she took on Beyonce. If any “rising star” deserves to sing with Beyonce, it’s her. What a night.

 The show was truly a night to remember. The opening sequence before any of the idols came on stage was weak but aside from this…the set list was fantastic, performances were all strong, the wardrobe matched perfectly with each number, and everything really seemed to come together wonderfully. While Elise Testone rocked out on stage, I kept thinking back to this season and remembering just how under-appreciated she was. There really are so many memories attached to each Idol contestant.

Every performance touched a chord. The best part for those considering going? Tickets are inexpensive, so there’s no reason to miss the tour! There are only a few shows left though, so get your tickets today! It is well worth the trip! Whether you’re a fan of one contestant (Note: Phillip Phillips performs in the second act of the show) or all, this concert will provide one of the most entertaining nights of your summer, your year, so don’t miss out!