What, no “Mad World”?

That is the only quibble with last night’s otherwise exhilarating Adam Lambert show at The National.

The “American Idol” also-ran turned in the kind of star-making performance that guarantees his club days are numbered. No doubt by his second or third album, he’ll be competing with his lesser-talented

Top 40 peers to fill arenas, and he already has the toughest part of that assignment – stage presence – aced.

Lambert has crafted an extraordinarily ambitious club run stuffed with lasers, scantily clad dancers, a visually appealing four-piece band and his own magnetic presence and pipes.

Throughout most of the too-brief 80-minute set, he looked like the result of an Alice Cooper and Cher mating (which is to say, fabulous) and sounded like a Broadway powerhouse.

His opening trio of songs unspooled in quick succession – “Voodoo,” “Down the Rabbit Hole” and his version of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire,” as moody and ethereal as it was on his “Idol” performance and complemented onstage by red lighting and fog.

Though Lambert immediately had the stuffed-to-the-rafters sold-out crowd mesmerized with his multi-octave voice, his physical presence— glittery black top hat, snug black leather pants and bare feet, with toenails painted black – proved equally alluring.

By performing most of the songs from his debut album, “For Your Entertainment,” Lambert displayed his affection for disco pop and glam rock, as well as his natural ability to recreate it all live, with nary a note of assistance from backup singers or band members. It’s all Lambert, and it’s all a ton of fun.

He’d be a fool not to release the Lady Gaga-penned “Fever” as his next single, given the song’s club stomping catchiness. But what impresses most about this 28-year-old theater vet is his ability to go from a fiery dance number such as “Fever” or “Strut” to a power ballad such as “Sleepwalker” or a lovely acoustic version of his hit, “Whataya Want From Me,” easily maintaining control of that massive
voice.

A highlight among many came on “Soaked,” a layered pop opera on record that Lambert performed live backed only by a quiet synthesizer. His voice reached the stratosphere on some notes, and then dipped to a pretty whisper before an acapella ending that was simply chill-inducing.

“That was his moment,” a nearby fan commented – and the only argument would be that the show was filled with many such “moments.”

Though many in the devoted crowd were likely bummed over the absence of “Mad World,” his star-making performance on “Idol,” that disappointment had to be mitigated by Lambert’s other encore choice – T. Rex’s “20th Century Boy,” the perfect capper for music’s newest glam rock king.

Some of these comments people are saying here on this issue really seem to make me look at this in a whole new way. I do enjoy the responses though.

Very good review, not one trying to be witty and clever while taking jabs at the entertainer,  as some do, or giving meaningless praise, but an intelligent, well written critique of Lambert’s performance. Thank-you.  It was a pleasure to read, informative, and I happen to agree.  Adam is going to be a force to be reckoned with.  Too bad about American radio.  His fans need to step up to the plate and request his songs.  Eventually, they won’t be able to ignore Adam’s growing popularity around the world.

GREAT REVIEW. ADAM ROCKS GLAM NATION. HE HAS THE COMPLETE PACKAGE GOING ON.
VOCALS, STAGE PRESENCE, AND GORGEOUS LOOKS. HAVE BEEN TO 3 SHOWS ALREADY, 2 MORE TO GO.

Melissa, the fact that you loved this concert makes my day!!  I thought his vocals Friday night were better than ever and he seemed to like the audience a lot!  I think he felt our love!

He is rather mesmerizing isn’t he? I went with a friend to the concert. She had no idea who Adam was except that he sung Whataya Want From Me and she loved the song. From beginning to end the audience was on their feet dancing along to the music but she stood very still. I thought “Oh, oh, she doesn’t like him”.  After the concert I asked her what she thought. She said she knew everyone was dancing along but she was afraid to move lest she missed something. She said she was mesmerized lol!

Thank you for the nice review. You are one with many others who have enjoyed and favorably reviewed Adam’s performances during his on-going first tour. I pray that Adam will not waste the big advantage he has over the many other new artists around.  His voice is one of a kind and while he can sing anything, I hope he is able to sing those that he really likes..

Adam has consistently and systematically blown the doors off his GlamNation tour and I appreciate you noticing and writing a competent review.  Adam has mad talent and gets too little recognition for that amazing vocal magic he does. He has sold out every city he goes too and had an audiance of 50,000 in Canada earlier this month.  America wake up and realize this man has MEGA talent!

Thank you for a GREAT review!  I can’t wait to see Adam in Houston.

Thanks Melissa for the great review! Although being somewhat of a closet Glambert, I knew it would be a good one. I don’t think the crowd was disapppointed by the lack of Mad World. Certainly no one near me, in the packed like sardines mosh pit, complained.

And I agree that his next tour will be in much bigger arenas.

If the USA and radio program managers would try being the least bit progessive “Fever’ would be a huge hit. 

Good Luck in Atlanta! We’ll miss you in RVA. Hey, you’ll get to see Adam again!!

Hey Melissa~~ i agree with all your adjectives describing Adam. Saw his show in cleveland and he Was as you said: “exhilarating,ambitious,chill inducing,stratosphere vocals,mesmerizing,magnetic,ethereal and i hope he release Fever soon~I think you need a Glambert#—yes-his show is “all Lambert and it’s all a ton of fun. A must see show!

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