CONCERT REVIEW: American Idols Live!

WASHINGTON: If this seventh season of “American Idol” finalists are the strongest top 10 the show has ever produced – and they just might be – then why are parts of their live display so…blah?

            Now six weeks into their summer tour, the Idols are understandably fatigued. A grueling schedule has them on stage six nights a week, with an endless loop of press conferences, meet-and-greets and other promotional activities scattered throughout the daylight hours.

            Of course they should be thankful that anyone cares about them, considering eight months ago they were no different than any audience member.

            And that’s exactly why it’s so disheartening to see Ramiele Malubay, dolled up in black spandex and stiletto boots, sleepwalk through the Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back,” and then tell the Verizon Center audience, “This next song is going to be a slow song so…[pause, pause] I hope you enjoy it.”

            Really? After a month and a half of shows, that’s the best you can think of to introduce Taylor Dayne’s “Love Will Lead You Back”?

            But Malubay’s nonchalance was a pep rally compared to Kristy Lee Cook’s listless take on “God Bless the U.S.A.,” a song that kept her in the “Idol” competition longer than her small voice deserved.

            However, Cook was quite the head-turner in tight white pants and a sparkly white tank top.

Never have so many dads suddenly been interested in country music.

Part of the tedium can be blamed on the setup of the show. By having the contestants come out to perform three songs each, in order of when they were voted off (the appealing Chikeze Eze – number 10 -- kicked things off with “I Believe To My Soul,” a song Elliott Yamin fans will fondly remember), there is no suspense to the night.

Also, because there are practically more tour sponsors than contestants, an interminable 25-minute intermission is plopped after Brooke White and before Jason Castro for the sole purpose of hawking these products. Talk about Idol interruptus.

Also responsible for the sluggish pace of the three-hour event (including that intermission) --  song choice.

No matter how many times the camera lovingly pulled a close-up of Castro’s flawless skin and long eyelashes, it didn’t help the lulling, mellow vibe he created with the Bruddah Iz ukulele version of “Over the Rainbow” and a re-arranged acoustic guitar take on Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy.”

Castro’s voice sounded sweet and clear, but he’s never going to be the guy pumping up the party (that would be Michael Johns).

Ditto Syesha Mercado, who went sexy in a short silver dress. As on the show, Mercado displayed impressive technical proficiency on Alicia Keys’ “If I Ain’t Got You,” accompanied only by a piano/keyboard. But she generates ice, not heat, and her back-to-back ballads (she followed “Ain’t” with the vocal acrobatics of Beyonce’s “Listen”) made the crowd of more than 10,000 even more restless than they already were for the Davids to arrive.

But first, a nod to the unheralded trio who brought so much passion to “Idol” on TV, and, as much as they could, to the stage: White, Johns and Carly Smithson.

The manly, yet stylish Johns and intense, yet playful Smithson really should record a duet, where their similarities can feed off each other. Both also possess the polished professionalism that only experience – which both had prior to “Idol” – can bring.

Johns’ rugged voice bulldozed through “Dream On,” his swan song on the show, and even notched that painfully high screech that is Steven Tyler’s hallmark. And his sultry blues swing through Dolly Parton’s “It’s All Wrong, But It’s All Right,” was complemented by Smithson’s fierce run through Heart’s “Crazy on You” and an aching “I Drove All Night” – a mature song choice given the massive tween factor in the crowd.

White, meanwhile, showcased her earnest singer-songwriter leanings by playing the piano barefoot for “Let It Be,” then proved herself equally adept at contemporary music with a bouncy version of Feist’s “1 2 3 4” and Coldplay’s “Yellow,” her voice pure and pleasant.

And now, the Davids.

Any mention or on-screen reference to Archuleta throughout the concert spawned much hyperventilating, so when the teddy bear crooner finally rose from beneath the stage floor, his piano encased by swirls of dry ice, he was likely blinded from the number of flashes popping.

But the preternaturally developed singer stayed cool, coating Robbie Williams’ “Angels” with his silken voice, then slowly pacing the stage in his black suit and red sneakers for a note-perfect “Stand By Me/Beautiful Girls.”

Despite his awkward bursts of laughter when expressing his thanks to his fans, Archuleta has learned a little stage presence – or at least when to smile adorably.

His ballad-heavy set also contrasted perfectly to Mr. Idol 2008, Cook.

Looking sharp in a black suit and tie – he said it was because he had visited the Senate that afternoon to discuss cancer advocacy – Cook at first suffered from Daughtry-it is. A little too grim and serious on his terrific rock realignment of Lionel Richie’s “Hello,” he eventually cracked a grin at a giant “Cougars 4 Cook” banner being waved by a pack of overzealous mom types.

Though his Idol winner’s song, “Time of My Life,” was performed as if he’s counting the minutes until never having to sing the ballad again, Cook was evocative and powerful for “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing,” and rocked convincingly on the Foo Fighters’ “My Hero,” which he dedicated to his brother, Adam.

Someone might want to tell Cook that his excessive black eyeliner is a little too close to Robert Smith of the Cure territory.

Then again, unlike some of his castmates, at least he’s enjoying this opening round of rock stardom.

RELATED INFO:

American Idols Live!

At: Verizon Center Thursday

Melissa Ruggieri, (804) 649-6120,