Music: Kelly Clarkson in Melbourne
Known for her powerhouse vocals, girl-next-door affability, and yes, for winning that reality show, Kelly Clarksons pop rock extravaganza came to Australia this week on the back of her fifth studio album, Stronger.
Beyond my genuine affection for her defiant break-up anthem Since U Been Gone, possibly the archetype in the genre I had only a vague awareness of Kellys other hits. I had never even come across any bona fide Kelly Clarkson fans. Did they exist? The kind to fork out for an arena-priced ticket, buy the t-shirt, know every word of every song? Sure, shes got pipes. She boasts a likeable empowered Southern belle persona. But does she bring it live? And so I came to Melbournes Rod Laver Arena on Monday night with much to learn.
But before any enlightenment could occur, Colorado piano-rock band The Fray took to the stage. Interestingly, the most enthused reaction from the crowd was not during their most famous song: How To Save A Life (thanks and thanks Greys Anatomy and Scrubs). Rather, it was owed to front man and pianist Isaac Slades gregarious stage presence. He spent parts of the set roaming around the arena, even making it within groping distance of yours truly in the bleachers (I resisted). While his genuine commitment to the support gig was heartening, it couldnt offset the wan piano pop he was peddling. These guys make Coldplays cojones seem big.
And next to Kelly, well
Kelly wants you to know that she rocks. Hard. Like a rockstar rocks. She bounded on stage to an ACDC intro-track, wearing black jeans and bitchin boots. Her band packs no less three (three!) guitarists, each given allocated shred-time. They rock ou! t, thoug h in a sanitised, told-what-to-do-by-a-musical-director kind of way. Nonetheless, Kelly and co. easily drew a mini-mosh-pit out of her adoring crowd during some of her punchier tracks (Behind These Hazel Eyes, Since U Been Gone).
And girl can sing. No one would question it. Pitch perfect for the 90 minute set, she has a multitude of tudes in her bag of tricks. She does sass, she does soulful, and more than once she does hell-hath-no-fury. In ballads (Because of You, Never Again, Dark Side), she doesnt overdo it with the vocal histrionics, exercising more restraint than her contemporaries (Gaga, Im looking your way). Her mellower, sweeter phrasings are grounded with a slight huskiness. Her anthems dispensed with fire and grunt.
Ms Clarksons undeniable vocal talents and affability aside, there were some potholes in the set-list. Her cover of Funs We Are Young might have pleased a good portion of the crowd, but it was bland in comparison to other covers she has recently appropriated. Radioheads Creep or Adeles Someone Like You would have given her more a challenging vocal to work with. Other moments (Honestly, You Love Me) barely drew a cheer from her otherwise adoring fans.
But the filler was outstripped by killer. Walkaway drew hip shaking, Breakaway almost cult-like, hand-waving devotion, and Because of You word-for-word crowd participation. Rounding out the set-proper was her latest albums Stronger (What Doesnt Kill You). It took the crowd to its most ecstatic heights. Its as good as any of her trademark female empowerment plus power chord standards, and even gives Since U Been Gone a good shake down.
Kelly Clarkson and her band cut a slick act, but not in an overly stage-managed or contrived way. Most refreshing in a post-Lady Gaga world order. Its hard not to be charmed by her sweet demeanor, especially when shes known to sleep with a gun and like her hard liquor. (Remember? She rocks, yall.) Observing the girls around me yelling-along to every word of her most empowered, defia! nt songs , you begin to understand her wide appeal.