Hicks proves he's the 'real deal'
By Bruce R. Miller Journal staff writer | Posted: Sunday, March 25, 2007
You could put Taylor Hicks up against this year's crop of "American Idol" contestants and he'd probably win again.
He has more energy than all of them combined.
At his Orpheum Theatre concert Saturday night, he bounced like Tigger, twirled like a top and danced like a Southern preacher.
Oh, yeah ... and he sang pretty good, too.
Because he just released his first post-"Idol" album, Hicks doesn't have a string of "remember these?" hits. As a result, he's forced to sell the unknown songs with the same passion. It worked, but the 30-year-old Alabama native really got a reaction when he covered Hall and Oates' "She's Gone" and sang a tribute to Ray Charles. It was real "Idol" time with both -- a chance to show what he's able to do with classic material.
His own stuff doesn't have the same complexity. A song like "Gonna Move" lets him strut his stuff, but its lyrics are pretty simple. Similarly, "Dream Myself Awake" has a hook ("I can't get enough of you baby") that should be surrounded by much more.
A seven-piece band gave Hicks a fairly big sound but he could do just as much with less. Interestingly, he didn't have an acoustic set stuck in the middle. Most of his R&B cuts are fairly up-tempo. As a result, he never stood still. Just watching him was enough to make you sweat.
Then, too, Hicks played a pretty mean tambourine (pounding it on his chest -- are there marks?), a powerful cowbell (on "Just to Feel That Way," his single) and harmonica. He threw in some guitar work here and there and looked like he would do a drum solo if someone had asked.
Dressed in jeans, sneakers, a black shirt and a black blazer, Hicks made a couple of "Idol" references ("Thank you all for voting for me ... I was voting, too"), sang songs from an earlier album and showed glimpses of so many other singers you kind of understand what it takes to win the Fox talent show.
Throughout the evening, he resembled everyone from Michael McDonald to Simon Cowell -- yup, even Simon. He danced more than the contestants on "Dancing With the Stars" and had a sense of gratitude that didn't seem insincere.
Indeed, if any message came through, it was this: Taylor Hicks is not going to waste the opportunity he has been given.
Michael Warren, another Alabama resident, opened the two-hour-plus show with a handful of songs that had a mellow, John Mayer feel. He had some nice messages to convey and a good voice.
The Soul Patrol, however, was primed for Hicks. They stood up from the start and, like their man, didn't let down throughout his show.
Given the right songs, Hicks could be unstoppable. Now, he's forced to work a little harder and play a lot smarter.
Thankfully, he's not afraid to do it.
He has more energy than all of them combined.
At his Orpheum Theatre concert Saturday night, he bounced like Tigger, twirled like a top and danced like a Southern preacher.
Oh, yeah ... and he sang pretty good, too.
Because he just released his first post-"Idol" album, Hicks doesn't have a string of "remember these?" hits. As a result, he's forced to sell the unknown songs with the same passion. It worked, but the 30-year-old Alabama native really got a reaction when he covered Hall and Oates' "She's Gone" and sang a tribute to Ray Charles. It was real "Idol" time with both -- a chance to show what he's able to do with classic material.
His own stuff doesn't have the same complexity. A song like "Gonna Move" lets him strut his stuff, but its lyrics are pretty simple. Similarly, "Dream Myself Awake" has a hook ("I can't get enough of you baby") that should be surrounded by much more.
A seven-piece band gave Hicks a fairly big sound but he could do just as much with less. Interestingly, he didn't have an acoustic set stuck in the middle. Most of his R&B cuts are fairly up-tempo. As a result, he never stood still. Just watching him was enough to make you sweat.
Then, too, Hicks played a pretty mean tambourine (pounding it on his chest -- are there marks?), a powerful cowbell (on "Just to Feel That Way," his single) and harmonica. He threw in some guitar work here and there and looked like he would do a drum solo if someone had asked.
Dressed in jeans, sneakers, a black shirt and a black blazer, Hicks made a couple of "Idol" references ("Thank you all for voting for me ... I was voting, too"), sang songs from an earlier album and showed glimpses of so many other singers you kind of understand what it takes to win the Fox talent show.
Throughout the evening, he resembled everyone from Michael McDonald to Simon Cowell -- yup, even Simon. He danced more than the contestants on "Dancing With the Stars" and had a sense of gratitude that didn't seem insincere.
Indeed, if any message came through, it was this: Taylor Hicks is not going to waste the opportunity he has been given.
Michael Warren, another Alabama resident, opened the two-hour-plus show with a handful of songs that had a mellow, John Mayer feel. He had some nice messages to convey and a good voice.
The Soul Patrol, however, was primed for Hicks. They stood up from the start and, like their man, didn't let down throughout his show.
Given the right songs, Hicks could be unstoppable. Now, he's forced to work a little harder and play a lot smarter.
Thankfully, he's not afraid to do it.
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