The Nevada Sagebrush

Clarkson covers old hits in upbeat show

Monday, November 30, 2009 - 7:14 PM

In a night full of powerful vocals, dance-worthy music and impressive covers, Virginia natives Parachute and “American Idol” winner Kelly Clarkson took the stage in a high-energy performance that had the crowd bouncing. Though many bleacher seats of the Reno Events Center were left empty, the small and intimate fan base that gathered was enough to sing along and appreciate the stunning vocals before them.

“American Idol” season one winner Kelly Clarkson performed hits from of her four studio albums as well as several covers of other popular songs during a concert at the Reno Events Center on Saturday night. Photo by Brian Bolton/Nevada Sagebrush.

Pop-rockers Parachute opened the show, riling up fans for the scheduled hour-and-a-half performance by Clarkson. With a full entourage, even equipped with a saxophone player, Parachute gave a surprisingly solid performance, with good lyrics, great musicianship and fun stage presence. The band performed its hit single “She is Love,” followed by other favorites such as “Blame It on Me” and a heart-warming ballad titled “The Mess I Made.” Despite a strange rendition of “Ain’t No Sunshine,” Parachute’s performance was one to commend. Unlike most pop-rock groups in which usually one voice or musician prevails as their lead talent, Parachute is well-rounded and deserves the recognition of opening for Clarkson and other headliners.

Clarkson took the stage hyped-up and dancing from the get-go. Accompanied by a full band, backup singers and even her music director, Clarkson’s performance was full of authentic sound and dance-worthy tunes. Although she performed hit singles off most of her studio releases, such as “Breakaway,” “Since U Been Gone” and “Miss Independent,” many fan favorites were missing from the set — including releases off her newest album — in favor of new songs and covers.

Though Clarkson is known for her generally bitter lyrics and less-than-fairy-tale agendas, the arena was still full of hundreds of tween girls, bouncing along to Clarkson’s lyrics full of harsh realities. It seemed, however, that her performance was geared toward older audiences. Clarkson’s stage time was almost equally split between her own albums and older covers. Hits by artists such as The White Stripes, The Black Keys and Patsy Cline took Clarkson’s stage presence above many young fans’ heads, but ultimately transformed her performance from decent to fantastic.

While fans are already familiar with her dynamic vocal range in tracks such as “Since U Been Gone,” Clarkson’s fresh take on favorites such as “Seven Nation Army,” “Lies” and “Walkin’ After Midnight” showed Clarkson’s ability to cover a variety of genres and bring life to well-worn oldies.

Another notable performance was “Behind These Hazel Eyes,” which Clarkson slowed down with an acoustic feel, leaving out much of the production from the album. In a high-intensity atmosphere, the mellow alternative showcased Clarkson’s voice in a way that heavier rock pieces couldn’t. Clarkson also wowed fans with the oldie-but-goodie “Because of You.” Before launching into breathtaking vocals and lyrics, Clarkson told fans that she wrote “Because of You” as a kid, and was thankful for all her fans and votes on “American Idol,” which brought it to fame.

Clarkson ended the show with her two current singles, “Already Gone” and “My Life Would Suck Without You,” both delivered powerfully and from underneath a puzzling pair of mouse ears she decided to wear. Leaving the stage with a bounce in her step, Clarkson promised she would be back — leaving hope for the Reno scene that some musicians are loyal to their fan base, no matter where it may be.

Tara Verderosa can be reached at tverderosa@nevadasagebrush.com.