By
Mike Scinto
When Kathy and I
attend a concert, we have several observational gauges. One of those is
watching how long attendees are on their feet for the show when they have
perfectly good seats they purchased. We’ve attended a number of shows of
different musical styles, with the players bringing the crowd to its feet for
performing their classic hits, or songs with driving beats that simply prevent
the audience from being able to stay seated. The longer the crowd is up, the
better the performance. Using that criteria alone, Daughtry, the leader and
the band that carries the singer’s name, was a runaway hit this week at The Rose Music Center at The Heights in
Huber Heights, Ohio.
As an attendee, and a
reviewer, I hope for a great concert. But as a guy with more than a few miles
on his body, those seats can feel mighty comfortable! From the first glimpse of
the group coming on stage for the show, until the final “Thank you Huber Heights,
we love you” every person in The Rose
was on their feet; for driving rock songs, to slower tunes, to the set breaks.
Those seats were never occupied.
You’d never know Chris Daughtry came in 3rd in 2006 on American Idol. You’d think with his showmanship and command of the stage he must have been the stand-alone winner. He finished just behind winner Taylor Hicks (who?) and Katherine McPhee, now known for her acting and not her singing. Chris Daughtry never slowed down and immediately after the finale, turned down lucrative offers to front established bands in favor of staying with his existing band members and making his music, his way and collecting a truly dedicated army of fans along the way.
You’d never know Chris Daughtry came in 3rd in 2006 on American Idol. You’d think with his showmanship and command of the stage he must have been the stand-alone winner. He finished just behind winner Taylor Hicks (who?) and Katherine McPhee, now known for her acting and not her singing. Chris Daughtry never slowed down and immediately after the finale, turned down lucrative offers to front established bands in favor of staying with his existing band members and making his music, his way and collecting a truly dedicated army of fans along the way.
There are bands that
turn out hit after hit for years and that’s the basis for their success. That’s
not why the packed house was there that night. Daughtry hasn’t had a slew of radio hits. In fact, the best known
tune the band performed that night was “Home”, one of their earliest songs. No,
the crowd wanted to see the man, the performer and the owner of the stage do
his music, with his band and his people out in the house. And that he did. It
was a superb show start to finish.
One side observation,
from all we’ve seen and heard Chris Daughtry is a good man. In an age when
performers trade in girlfriends, boyfriends, and spouses, like they trade in
cars, Daughtry has been married to
the same lady since 2000 and is a proud Daddy too. Those qualities, at least in
my view, round out the package that is Daughtry.
School may be back in
session but it’s not too late for you to catch some fresh air concerts at The
Rose. A few of the remaining shows this season; Dee Snider, Alice Cooper, Ian Anderson and Jethro Tull at 50, American
Idol Tour and REO Speedwagon. For tickets or information about the venue or
the shows, simply go to www.rosemusiccenter.com
