ALBANY – It seems almost impossible to believe that it’s been 10 years since Kelly Clarkson was crowned the inaugural “American Idol.” But in the ensuing decade she’s made a forgettable movie, five albums (including her latest, “Stronger”) and countless television appearances (including ”Saturday Night Live” earlier this month).
And on Tuesday evening, Clarkson roared into the Times Union Center with an arena-worthy concert that showcased a voice and a personality that proved that she does indeed have staying power. And star power, too.
Backed by an eight-piece band, she launched into her 95-minute show with the seriously rocking “Dark Side” and “Behind These Hazel Eyes,” before tossing in one of her biggest hits, “Since U Been Gone,” re-made and re-modeled with a throbbing, fuzzed-out bassline and an irresistable techno pulse as the foundation for her hook-filled pop song. It was just the first of several surprises.
Just three dates into her tour – which began at Foxwoods on Friday the 13th – Clarkson seemed genuine and unscripted in her between-tune patter, amiably chatting with fans in the front rows (she even chuckled at one fan who was spotted wearing a “From Justin to Kelly” t-shirt, saying “It’s a horrible movie, but it’s a funny shirt”) and frequently chastising herself for rambling on.
While the simple but versatile stage set (featuring her backing musicians on two multi-level platforms) and the lighting both dazzled, they never over-powered Clarkson and her strong, supple voice. And there was plenty of variety to the music. While her forte has always been big empowering anthems like “What Doesn’t Kill You (Stronger)” and “You Love Me,” she also offered up intimate ballads (the first encore of “Never Again” performed with only piano accompaniment), angular techno (“Let Me Down”), the soaring, choral a cappella intro to “Already Gone” and the country-tinged power ballad “Don’t You Wanna Stay,” performed as a duet with a video of Jason Aldean. A mid-set medley opened with the bluesy wail of “The Trouble With Love Is” and closed with the distinctly Motown-ish ”I Want You.”
The medley made room for several unexpected covers that found her dipping into the songbags of Florence & the Machine, Coldplay (a request Tweeted by a fan) and another “American Idol” alum, Carrie Underwood. In the end though, it all came down to Clarkson and her powerhouse voice, and she delivered a thoroughly engaging and entertaining performance.