Kelly Clarkson at The Venue | Concert review

What happened to Miss Independent? She's gotten stronger.

Former Americal Idol superstar Kelly Clarkson put all her cards on the table Saturday nightcommanding a sold-old show at Horseshoe's The Venue as part of her current Stronger tour.

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The 29-year-old has been no stranger to scrutiny since becoming the original singing-competition idolchastized for weight gain, rumored sexuality, and for leaked tracks which made way across the Internet well before her latest album dropped.

But Clarksonknown for her screw-you post-teenage-angst anthemsspat back at critics, evident by kicking off her show in front of a collage of headlines attacking her character, to which she belted out her upcoming single "Dark Side," followed by "Behind These Hazel Eyes" and "Since U Been Gone."

Clarkson was treating the night in front of the 21-and-over crowd as a no-kids-get-crazy kinda show, backed by her eight-member band that served as an electric backdrop to her pop hits.

Clarkson fans know what they're in for at her shows: a solid two hours of liberating chanting along to her popular hits, a good deal of fist-pumping and a whole lot of jumping. (Though, her "Don't You Wanna Stay" duet with a 50-foot video hologram of Jason Aldean was hokey to say the least).

But one of the more exciting and not-so-expected moments was when Clarkson disappeared from the stage and reappeared among fans in the middle of the venueoffering a strong take on Florence and the Machine's "Heavy in Your Arms"which she nailed perfectly. (A friend in the crowd who's an avid Florence! fan and had never really heard Clarkson sing was immediately won over). Clarkson's a pro at covering other artists (which played into her Idol success), also offering takes on Paramore's "Only Exception" and fellow Idol Carrie Underwood's "I Know You Won't."

Clarkson also sang a much darker version of "Never Again" (from her least sucessful album, My December) that she recently re-recorded for iTunes, which drew a sing-along from the audience and a look of shock from her. "That never happens!" she told the crowd. "You can [go] download it for free for all I frickin' care! ... My manager hates me right now for saying that." The show ended with a pointed segue from "Mr. Know It All" to "Miss Independent."

Setlist:Dark SideBehind These Hazel EyesSince U Been GoneYou Love MeHeavy in Your Arms (Florence and the Machine cover)Only Exception (Paramore cover)EinsteinI Forgive YouDon't You Wanna StayAlready GoneBreakawayDrowningYou Still Don't Know What It's LikeStrongerMy Life Would Suck Without YouNever AgainBecause of YouMr. Know It AllMiss Independent