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SirCritic from katharinefans.com recap |
I almost passed up the chance to see Katharine McPhee live.
Sounds like an incredible statement, I know. Yet when the American Idol tour tickets went on sale, I hesitated. I asked myself, do I wait until Kat does her own tour or should I really spend all this money just so I can see her sing a few songs without having to wait?
Impatience won out – and in this case, impatience was a virtue.
As so many people have stated here, Kat comes across wonderfully on screen, but in person, her magic is all the more potent, even from the nosebleed section of the Schottenstein Center (AKA Value City Arena, to appease the sponsors) in Columbus on Friday August 11.
What was most remarkable to me was how affecting she was, even with her voice and foot still on the mend.
With the most exuberant 2-3-4 this side of “I Saw Her Standing There,” we saw Kat standing there atop the stairs, resplendent in that sleek black dress that just won’t quit. She seemed to be conserving her voice in that she didn’t put as much “oomph” into BHCT as she has on other tour stops, with the exception of the “all these years” line, which was pretty forceful. For most of the perf, though, she stayed in a higher, lighter register.
Even so, she was a joy to watch as she twirled around onstage, looking for all the world like that’s where she most loved being. She flashed that brightest of all smiles, picked up and waved a bouquet of flowers that were tossed on stage (no fun letting the security goons get em first!) and weaved and laughed among the box drummers, as is her wont.
She engaged in her usual patter about her voice and foot, but for this show said, “I’m so happy to finally be in Ohio! I missed a city when the tour came through earlier …where was it? Ummm …”
At this point, Kat used a lifeline and “asked the audience” and we all chimed in “Cleveland!” After repeating how happy she was to be here, she went into OTR. Again, she seemed to conserving herself, as some of the big moments didn’t have quite as much volume as usual.
Nevertheless, when she leapt into the “If happy little bluebirds fly, beyond the rainbow” climax, and paused to ecstatic cheers from the audience, the power of her voice made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Only two other people have accomplished that for me: Susan Egan and Judy Garland, so Kat is in very rare company indeed.
With the crowd sufficiently wowed, she chirped, “Enjoy the rest of the show,” exiting through the center stage door.
She returned for the “Living in America” encore, and here is where she impressed me the most. Wearing casual slacks and a light-colored top, she cut several rugs in her dancing!
A concertgoer who posted on IDF said that Kat seemed to be limping noticeably. Perhaps it was harder for me to tell since my vantage point was so high, but from where I sat, at worst, she was maybe just a little ginger with her foot. Honestly, if I had not already known about the broken foot, I would never have been able to tell. She has gotten quite limber with it!
I was most delighted when she did this jazzy little shuffle, shifting her feet in and out, sliding across the stage, without lifting her feet! VERY James Brown, who performed the tune originally!
Kat gamely bopped from one side of the stage to the other, often reaching down to shake hands with ecstatic and exceedingly lucky fans. Yet even though I was in the lowermost part of the uppermost section, I was touched too.
I was so transported that it did not fully hit me that I had seem Katharine live until I got home and started talking in the chatroom. Indeed, I feel so grateful for the experience, some thanks are in order.
Thanks to all the members of KMF, who welcomed me into the community and made it so much fun to share in the joy that Kat radiates. Thanks especially to Irishkmp, for greeting me in person at the show. It was nice not to fly completely solo.
Finally,
thanks to Kat, for being such a stellar person and performer, and for giving my life a night, and a whole year that I shall never forget.
Before I sign off, that reminds me -- as Kat turned to leave, I cheered loudly, waving my orange KMF glowstick like a hyperactive Statue of Liberty. Kat saw me and gave me a wave!
Well, OK, it was probably a wave in my general direction, but that’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it!
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Well...we didn't get there until like 5:30 because we ended up at the ohio state fair (because once again...my mom sucks with directions) lmao so then when we finally got there I bought Kat stuff yeah and then I went to my seats which were on the side RIGHT by the stage and see they were row d but apperantly they don't believe in the letters a-c there so it was the front row. They were like even better than the front row on the floor so um I was happy. 
) so she told the security guy I wouldnt (ooh scary) and he told her to deal with it. 
Kay so i'm standing there right with my kat shirt on during BHATCT cuz i'm cool and she comes over to my side, kneels down, grabs my hand and kisses me on the cheek. So like i basically freakin DIED and almost dropped my camera but my mom caught it haha but omgg like it was so random. But...I really didnt mind. Um DUH. So I really got only about 2 pictures of her and theyre not even good cuz I couldnt like...steady my hands.
Columbus After Party: They idols all arrived at different times. She was like running out the door so I was like I cant not meet Kat now that Im here lol. I was like OMG Kat are you leaving!!! And she was like yea and I was like can you sign this for me really quick! So she did and she was like Whats your name sweetie? and I was like Mike and she said she saw me in the audience with my signs!! I love your shirt and I was like aww thanks! And then we talked about her album...I was like is it still coming out the 14th?? And she was like umm the 14th of what month and I was like November? and she said she had no idea and that they have had like no time to work on it and she wants it to be a good album not a rushed junky one. She said she liked my shirt too!!! haha/ Then I was like oh yea I got this poster laminated. And then I was like actually will u sign my poster too, I made one with the OK magazine pics and she was like aww sure and i told her it was for my dorm at college next year and to college? She was like ooh when do you leave and where are you going to school. And i told her Im going to the University of Dayton and she wrote on it"To: Mike Enjoy College heart.gif Katharine McPhee" She was so sweet and then she was like ok lets get a pic. So we did and then I was like ok run out now before you get stopped by a ton of people and she laughed and was like ahah allright nice to meet you!!!