my american idol

best first concert at radio city: kelly clarkson.  the reason why shar hasn't had the pleasure of seeing a gig at the famed radio city is largely due the hefty price tags.  i did fork it over when matt nathanson was announced as her opener.  matt and i go back, way back to my younger years in sf.  he was a local troubadour and i, one of his street team members.  i even once unintentionally forced him to give me a hug at starbucks.  true story, ask jackie.  his set largely took from his latest this modern love with a sprinkling from some mad hope.  not much from his older albums and a little disappointed that kelly didn't come out to duet on "run", which originally was recorded with jennifer nettles of sugarland.  it could have been magic.

for the main attraction, kelly did not disappoint.  are you surprised?  this coming from a super fan, but my pal rachel was witnessing her first dose of kelly live and was thoroughly loving it.  she opened up with "dark side", then followed up with hits "behind these hazel eyes" and "since u been gone".  i was surprised she busted out quite a few covers:  florence and the machine's "heavy in your arms", "my man" (babs) and a timely cover of etta james' "i'd rather go blind".  the later was perfection and probably made etta proud. kelly did a medley of tunes for her five albums.  a great way to cover people's favs.  she pretty much got all of mine except she didn't play my favorite oldie "beautiful disaster".  ahhh, you can't have it all.  here's the set list in case you wanted the complete play by play.  i know i'm harping now but i would have liked matt to step in for jason aldean on "don't you wanna stay", instead we got a huge hologram of jason.  all i wanna say is radio city was bumpin' saturday night and kelly still and always will be my american idol.