Adam Lambert - Toronto - 06.19.10

[carnivalnights]

So, this review is quite late but it was a lot of work. I had to gather my thoughts, get the photos together and then find some way explain, in detail, one of the best nights of my life. The following photos and videos were all taken by me. Please do not steal! If you are going to repost anywhere, I require credit. The photos are in chronological order, so I have posted them corresponding to the events I was describing in each paragraph.

So... Saturday, June 19, 2010. It was an exciting day for me. It was the day I would see Adam Lambert... in the flesh. I felt kind of nervous, even in the morning. It was hard, but I did not watch any concert footage on YouTube before I went to this show. I wanted to be completely surprised. There was so much anticipation. I had to add a little glitter to my make-up that day, of course:

We decided to skip the first few bands (Aleesia, Burnz N Hell, Spose, Fefe Dobson, Karl Wolf) and showed up at the stadium around 6:00. I do not listen to KISS FM and I hate most mainstream music, so it only made sense to go as close to Adam's performance as possible. We were told he was going on at 9:00. I was really not impressed with the line-up and failed to see how any of them were similar to Adam Lambert, but thankfully they allowed you to go in at any time. When we got into the venue, I immediately noticed the age diversity. I would say the majority of people were in their 20s, but there were some children, some teenagers, a lot of women in their 30s and 40s (Adam has a large cougar fanbase ;)), and I even saw couples in their 60s and 70s! I know Adam has a very diverse fanbase, but it was really cool to see all of those people at this venue.

I really wanted to see Orianthi, the female guitarist who was going to tour with Michael Jackson for his "This Is It" shows. She is a really amazing guitarist and her singing voice is not half bad! It was my first time hearing any of her music, and I liked what I heard. She had a male guitarist with her and he was really great too.


I patiently sat through a set by Danny Fernandes. I almost regretted getting there in time for Orianthi because I had to sit through an hour of Danny. I have no idea what they were trying to do, but it could not possibly be called "singing" or "dancing." It was so terrible. I was laughing more than anything else. Next up, however, was Kardinal Offishall. He is a Canadian rapper and is best known for his raggae-infuced musical styling. I had heard a bit of his music before, but he really made a fan out of me that evening. He was fantastic. He is just bursting with energy and I was smiling throughout the set. He managed to get almost everyone on their feet, dancing and singing along. I have to hand it to him--he is a great performer. I do not normally listen to a lot of rap or hip hop, but he is just great and I love most of what he has released (I listened to more this week). I am actually a huge fan of reggae and calypso, so his style really appeals to me.

Also, they did a small tribute to Michael Jackson since it is nearing the death anniversary. The band played some instrumental clips of Michael songs, and Kardinal was asking the audience if they were fans of Michael and to point to the sky and say hello to him. It was all very sweet and moving, and I could not have been happier that an artist was honoring his memory like that. What a sweet man.


The Adam Lambert part of the show started off with an audio-only "For Your Entertainment" remix. I would assume, by this point, Adam is sick of performing his first single. I think that is why they chose to give us this song in a non-performance format. The audience was getting more excited as the song neared its end. Shortly after, the lights went out. Almost immediately, my heart started pounding. I was actually shaking a bit and short of breath. This was it. I was on my feet. I popped the lens off of my camera. I watched the stage without blinking. The screaming was unbelievable. From the second the lights went out, I had no idea if I was going to have my hearing the next day.

Now, I had been praying that Adam would play "Voodoo," my favourite song of his next to "Fever" (which he always plays so I was not worried). And would you imagine my delight when I heard those first few mesmerizing beats? Adam, opening with "Voodoo." My heart was dancing, and I was screaming "Oh my god!" like a depraved school girl. I could not believe that my wish came true. Adam appeared, through colorful stage lighting, at the top of a staircase. It was god-like, a deity suddenly appearing out of thin air. He was decked out and I smiled from ear to ear as my eyes tried to digest the entire ensemble. He was all purple and black. He wore a top hat with purple mesh, an embroidered "A" and a few feathers. He appeared to be wearing the same hair piece, or a similar hair piece, as he wears in the "If I Had You" video. It is very long and braided with some blue hair pieces. He wore a thigh-length, bright purple jacket with fringes, at least a couple feet long, on the arms and back, complete with a protruding fur collar. Yes, yes. It was "so Adam." He had flared, snake-skin leather pants with a flat, laced up codpiece. And guess what? Bare feet! No boots; just bare feet. He wore his signature black, fingerless gloves, studded and rhinestoned, along with a black cuff bracelet on his left wrist. He had a black v-neck shirt underneath that revealed just enough of his chest, which was adorned with at least ten or more necklaces--some string, some beaded. His make-up was perfection, as always. A black, smoky eye with thick black liner on the upper and lower lash lines. Each lower lash line had a sprinkling of glitter.


As the song picked up pace, Adam descended slowly down the steps singing, "I was lookin' for love all over, you're the hunter and I'm your prey..." The song is so mystical and takes you into a trance. Adam was dark, mysterious and definitely in character for this song. I hung on to his every word, still having to remind myself that it was all real. The dancers posed like statues on stage until Adam stood next to each of them. Like a marionette, the first dancer moved to Adam's hand motions and then froze again as he walked away. Next, a male dancer who resembled Johnny Depp in Sweeney Todd. Adam pulled back his arm and dropped it; it dangled like a toy doll's. I waited for my favourite drawn-out high note: "I'm so obsessed with your sexiness..." (He did not actually draw it out long at this show but he usually does.) As the song led into "Down the Rabbit Hole," he shouted, "C'mon, Toronto! I wanna see ya jump!" An obviously confident Adam commanded our attention during this song, repeatedly luring us with his index finger. He put his arm around Tommy for a few seconds during the song, and my heart melted. By the end, he was walking back up the stairs. He shed his hat and jacket and ran his hand through his hair.

Suddenly, I could not believe my ears: the familiar opening Middle Eastern chords and chimes from "Ring of Fire." Yet another song I was praying he would do, and here he was... doing it! As far as I know, he did not perform this on his media tour at all. I know he has done it previously on his Glam Nation tour, but regardless, this was my first time seeing a live performance of it and I was ecstatic. I adored "Ring of Fire" from his Idol days. It was, by far, the sexiest performance and really showed just how unique and interesting he could be with such a cool arrangement and reinvention. Again, more squealing at this point and my eyes were glued to the stage. He graced us with the same slow, sexy movements he did on Idol during this song... some which he did while on his knees. He reached out slowly to the audience and then withdrew his hand back to his body. His vocals were amazing, perfectly controlled. He remained at the top of the stairs for the song and slowly moved his arms and hands with the song's pace. There is just no other way to describe it: it was slow, sexy and hot.

No matter how many times I have seen Adam perform "Fever" live (in videos), I always get the same impression: he loves performing this song and he really lets loose while singing it. Something just overtakes his being and I see a completely different side of him, a side I love. He just becomes this theatrical, flirtatious, campy individual who knows how to have fun and get everyone screaming. Well, "Fever" was next and Adam finally opened up. Was it nervousness? Was it the audience response? Or was he just making us wait for 'the real Adam'? Whatever it was, Adam was finally here, in his element and ready to strut his stuff. And so were his dancers! But first, it was Adommy time! I was excited to see what he would do with Tommy because Adam always flirts with Tommy near the beginning of "Fever." The number opened with Adam getting a little friendly with Tommy on the bottom step of the staircase, and I tried to snap a few photos despite fumbling around with my camera due to sheer excitement.


The last time I had a 'shipping obsession this strong was Brian/Justin from Queer as Folk. And to think--these are real people! Adam's hand was on the back of Tommy's head. They were so close that there is no way Tommy could not feel Adam's hot breath on his face. But no kiss. Not even a lick. It was the biggest tease in the history of teases. As Adam usually does, he playfully pushed Tommy's head away with his hand and I saw Tommy smiling. He so loves it.

Next, Adam was sandwiched between two of his male dancers and the dancers started fawning over and worshiping him (as they should). The hips started moving. He started doing the synchronized moves with his dancers. I waited patiently for the chorus and watched as he did the famous "Fever" hand fan. So adorable! I also love the way he sings "'cause sweetheart" in this song. I squeed a bit more. The crowd went crazy as he twisted his body, moved his hips and thrust back his head. Think back to those Idol tour performances with all of that hip-thrusting and gyrating. He sure can move his body in a fluid motion. More synchronized dancing. Adam even sat on the edge of the one of the platforms for a moment and crossed his legs. He did the "Fever" head thrusts that I have grown to love so much. (He seemed to have far less product in his hair than usual because his hair was flapping all over the place when he did it. Yes, I pay attention to these things. So sue me.) I love, love, love this song and it is even more amazing live. It is just so much fun! He should release this as his next single.

Costume change! The band and dancers did a short interlude while Adam was off stage. As "Sleepwalker" started, Adam appeared at the top of the steps again, cloaked in a full-length black jacket with embroidery and rhinestone embellishments.


It only fastened in the middle so his pants were still visible when he walked, and he was still wearing the snake-skin pants. Still no shoes. You could see his bare feet. He kept a serious, pained face, communicating the somber mood of this rock ballad about moving on after a bad break-up. Adam never seems to stray from the characters he creates for his songs, and I really commend him for this ability. I suppose all those years of theatre come in handy, even as a musician.


The guitar solo was awesome, as always. I hope to see "Sleepwalker" released as a single. It is a great song. A little dark but certainly beautiful. I can definitely relate to it.

Time to slow it down a bit more.




Adam sat on a stool at the front of the stage for an acoustic "Whataya Want From Me." Adam started off by saying, sarcastically, "I think a few of you may know this next song." The crowd screamed. I do enjoy the acoustic version of this song much more than the album version, and he did do the acoustic version. The majority of the audience seemed to be singing along to this one, and it was a pretty cool sensation to hear all of those voices singing at once. (The Molson Amp seats 16,000 people, and the stadium was full.) I just kind of stared into his eyes through my camera lens during this number. Those deep, smoky, bedroom eyes. They were particularly beautiful as he sang this song. The crowd went wild as Adam pointed across the audience and sang, "But thanks for lovin' me, 'cause you're doing it perfectly." He smiled while he sang that line. It was sweet.

At the end of the song, Adam stood up and took a much-needed drink of water in preparation for the next number: "Soaked." Someone came to take the stool, and Adam stood for this one. The lighting was all blue and the spotlight was on Adam. It was very theatrical. I love "Soaked," and Adam's voice during this song is stunning. He did not disappoint me with this live version. His vocals were perfectly controlled and, truly, a thing of beauty. His vocal range during this song is just superb and really showcases his ability as a vocal artist. Adam did his usual hand gestures but kept a pained and sullen expression. A song about booze and loneliness, emotional and physical starvation, Adam seemed to feel every word he sang. His movements were minimal and that only gave you more reason to focus on the vocals. It is even more haunting live, being able to see and hear the suffering "Soaked" offers.


Adam sat on the steps for "Aftermath," offering us an acoustic version with only Monte standing close. "Heartbreak sucks," Adam started off, "But sometimes you have to lift your head up and push on through." The lyrics may be simple, but I think this song has a lot to offer message-wise. "No more hiding, don't be afraid of what's inside," the song encourages. It is about not fearing who you truly are and remembering that you are never alone in the world. Adam really captures that feeling of being kicked down and having to force yourself to move on. Adam co-wrote this song too, so it is always nice to have such a personal piece of an artist you love. The setting was very intimate and very perfect for this particular number.




Put your dancin' shoes on!




Next, after a costume change, Adam was ready to belt out the anthem tune sure to inspire fist-pumping, "Sure Fire Winners." Love this song! He was geared for Glam Rock. He wore a black shirt and pants with blue stripes and blue rhinestones. The shirt was a buttoned, sleeveless vest with a pressed collar. The tight pants had blue stripes down each side. When he turned around, he revealed a glittery "A" on the back of his vest. He paired the outfit with matching black and blue boots. He wore only a single pendant necklace now. Adam had a strong, masculine persona throughout this song, full of confidence and swagger. The song is very climactic and empowering. The audience pumped their firsts in the air at Adam's command. I could not wait to hear my favourite lines: "I was born with glitter on my face, my baby clothes made of leather and lace." (I managed to get an image of him just as he pointed to his cheek and sang "glitter on my face," above.) I waited patiently for the high note he hits in this song, and I managed to even snap another photo at just the right moment:


Another semi-costume change as "Strut" began. He was wearing the same outfit but had the most beautiful and outrageous leather jacket over it, with the collar turned up like a rock star. It had black and white stripes on some parts but then blue leather on others. It was sprinkled with rhinestones and silver studs, mostly on the arms and back.


When he turned around, I saw that it was tailed and just about knee-length.


Adam takes on a new persona: master among minions. During the opening of the song, Adam was handed a regal staff, a bit smaller than the one we see in the "For Your Entertainment" video. (It was crotch-level, if you must know. I am sure this was strategic.) He used the staff forcefully, resting on it and jerking it with his arm. He did his usual move during "get on the floor, just let it drop." The crowd screamed, as usual. The chorus approached and he did his strut for us. He continued leaning on the staff and pounded it into the stage. He then threw it on to his shoulder and marched on the spot. The dancers were on stage with him, each with a staff, jerking and swinging to the beat. He did some interesting things with that staff about half way through, including swinging it around his crotch area and then pumping it up and down in time with his hips. Woo hoo! Shortly after, he did more of his catwalk moves. It was a very powerful performance and the fact that I absolutely love the song just added to my enjoyment. (I think "Strut" is my third favourite.) Adam has described this song about being comfortable in your own skin, and although I loved it before, hearing it live made me believe in its magic even more. This song just makes you feel so good; you forget about your self-esteem issues for a few minutes and get lost in the self-empowerment of it all.




Next up was "Music Again." ABBA meets Queen. You can tell Adam loves performing this song too. It is upbeat, fast-paced and Adam is always smiling. It is certainly a happy song with a positive message. Adam did not move around the stage too much for this number, standing front and centre with the microphone. But it did not matter because he was smiling enough to turn me into a puddle on the floor. I even saw Monte bopping his head along. It is just that catchy.


Now, let me just say... "If I Had You" is one of those songs that you may not like right away, especially if you are not a fan of dance/party songs, but it grows on you. But after seeing it live, I really do love it. I am not sure what came over me, or the rest of the audience, but the adrenaline was pumping and I was dancing and singing like nobody's business. As the chorus approached, everyone started throwing their arms in the air and jumping in time with the beat--including Adam! It was apparently time for some more Tommy love (and I was not opposed):




There was synchronized dancing with his dancers, rainbow lasers, smoke and, best of all... Monte, Adam and Tommy, side-by-side at the front of the stage. I was so thankful that one of the shots I took here turned out well:


I had a sinking feeling that this was the last song, but I continued enjoying it anyway. "You guys are so cute!" Adam said with a giggle, pointing to the audience. Everyone screamed. I wish I could imitate how he said that phrase. It was so adorable, the way he said it.












After introducing us to his dancers, he ended "If I Had You" and the stage was empty. Everyone was clapping, cheering and screaming. I actually had to plug my ears at that point. I knew there had to be an encore.

It was dark, and everyone was stomping and chanting, "Ad-am! Ad-am! Ad-am!" A few minutes later, the band was back on stage and I heard the familiar, haunting melody of "Mad World."


He did the up-tempo, acoustic version of this song that he had been doing on his promotional tour. To be honest, I prefer the original version that he did on Idol but I was happy, regardless, to see him on that stage again.




Adam and the rest of the band left rather abruptly after a quick thank you, blowing a kiss and then bowing. It was only seconds later that the lights in the venue went on and back to reality it was. I pouted. I did not want it to be over.


Adam had told the Toronto Star that he "would love everyone to come away with a new appreciation for the music on [his] album." Well, Adam, you certainly succeeded. Not that I ever had the opportunity to go to a live Elvis or Queen concert, but I imagine Adam's presence on stage--his complete understanding and execution of showmanship--resembles that of Presley or Freddie Mercury. Or at least, it does from what I have seen of their live footage. To be honest, I was rarely paying attention to the dancers or any of the other stage effects. I was so focused on Adam that I forgot there were other people on the stage, at times. He really commands your attention, though not in an arrogant way. He is just so fun to watch. His colourful costumes, his passion, his immaculate vocals, the way he moves his body. He reminds me of Michael Jackson in many ways. But Adam is his own person; I suppose I cannot rightfully compare him to anyone else. I just see parts of other great performers in him sometimes. Even though I did not think it was possible, I believe I love him even more now, after seeing him live. He really proved himself as a vocalist and performer... this time, right in front of my very eyes instead of through a screen.

I only have two qualms. First of all, it was too short. This is obvious. Because this was turned into a multi-band event, Adam did not get to play a whole set and I will never forgive KISS FM for sponsoring it and adding those extra bands at the last minute. Seeing as it is his first tour and show in Toronto, they should have just had Adam performing. I am sure the show would have sold out without a problem, especially in a big city like Toronto. It was disappointing and I am sad he did not play more songs.

The second qualm is related: Adam did not play "Whole Lotta Love." I guess it is just as well because I may have fainted right then and there on the concrete floor. I have seen him perform this song on his Glam Nation tour (and previously on his media tour) and... wow. Every time I watch a video of that performance, my mouth is dry as a desert (seriously, I have trouble producing saliva for minutes on end). He did the regular version of this song on the Idol tour, but he started doing a slowed down, sultry, acoustic version of it on his media tour (and now Glam Nation). It is just sexy beyond words. I guess I will just have to continue watching the epic Fantasy Springs performance of this song. But yes, it was sad that he never played it at the show here and I feel a small pang of jealousy knowing so many others got to see it live in the US. DAMMIT.

Overall, I felt like Adam was a bit reserved. I really enjoyed the show, of course, but it definitely felt like he was honoring his promise to be "family friendly" on this tour. I am so used to Adam pushing the envelope and doing his own thing. It reminds me of when Elvis was told not to shake his hips on stage. What gives?! Let Adam be who he is! He is a sexual being and the crowd goes nuts any time he does anything remotely sexual--so just let us have our fun. I suppose this sounds like I am trying to paint him as some sexual object, but I am just saying he is a very sexual person and that was clear even on Idol at times. I love that about him. After the American Music Awards performance, Adam made comments about male sexuality being suppressed and taboo in society, and I completely agree with him. Good for Adam for being so ballsy about his own. I just have a feeling Adam was told to "tone it down" for this tour. Regardless, it was still an outstanding show. Nothing could have changed that.

My hearing returned later that evening, but I think I left my heart in the venue. It was an amazing experience, and I am happy that I had the opportunity to see Adam live. I knew it would be an unforgettable event, and I really need to be grateful that he came to Toronto and that I was able to get better tickets than I originally had. I do not think I would have enjoyed myself as much had I gone with the old tickets. Being that close made it so much better, especially for photo-taking purposes. I took 289 photos, and most of them turned out wonderfully. A lot of the ones where I zoomed in are grainy (as you can see), but they look decent when not full size. I was zoomed in 71x for a lot of them, so that was to be expected. The quality also depended on the stage lighting at the time, which was forever changing. Regardless, I am happy with my photos. With my luck, they could have all been horrible and I would have been sulking and kicking myself. But, for once, the stars were aligned and things played out in my favour.

I did take a few videos but not of full songs. They did not turn out as well. It is just as well; security was going around and making sure people were only taking photos (which, of course, is completely stupid because Adam tweets fan footage from his concerts all the time). There are not too many on YouTube from this Toronto show, but I found enough to download and have as keepsakes. I did film most of "Ring of Fire."

Thank you, Adam, for giving me this. It will go down in personal history as one of the most beautiful and memorable events in my life.


Elvis Lip Adam!

Comments

[littlemisstexas.livejournal.com]

I am beyond happy for you, sweetie! : D ♥ It was so wonderful to see how much your heart danced throughout this journal entry and to know that Adam not only surpassed your expectations, but seeing him live turned out to be one of the best nights of your life. That was wonderful to read indeed. You more than deserve it hun, I just hope that you'll get the chance to see him perform live many, many, many more times and that you'll be able to meet him one day. *crosses fingers tightly for you* ; ) ♥

Thank you very much for sharing your report, pictures and film footage with us sweetie, this was an amazing journal entry. *thumbs up* : ) ♥ Oh, and I'm sorry but I have to say this before I go... your eyes are absolutely beautiful and your make-up looks stunning. : ) ♥

Again, I am so happy for you, congratulations! *huge, huge hugs & endless love again* : D ♥

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Love,
Jennifer

[carnivalnights.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you, hun! That is sweet of you to say. :)

I, too, hope I get to see him in concert again. And it would be even more amazing if I got to meet him personally, though I am not sure I could even handle that. I would have no idea what to say, or I might just faint! But at any rate, I definitely hope there are more Adam shows in my future. It does not happen too often, but once in a while we experience things that make life seem worth the effort. ♥

[moonskulled.livejournal.com]

He is soo pretty. This photo is just gorgeous.

[carnivalnights.livejournal.com]

I love that photo too. I could get lost in his eyes. And I agree: he is so, so beautiful. ♥

[matertenebrarum.livejournal.com]

Your eyemakeup = GORGEOUS

Your photos = GORGEOUS

Bummed that you walked away feeling a bit gypped. :/ I guess everyone has their own expectations of what they want the show to be and he can't possibly fulfill everyone. I've never found anything he has ever done to be too outrageous or shocking anyway, so I'm not sure what people are expecting him to do that he's not doing.

[carnivalnights.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you! So glad you liked them. :)

No, you are right. He cannot be everything for everyone. He did not disappoint me; I just thought it was more toned down than usual. I guess shocking is the wrong word because he does not really 'shock' me but rather pleasantly surprises me. Heh. But Adam was saying in that article recently that he gets as wild as the crowd does--so maybe our crowd just sucked. ;) At least there is YouTube! Those New York shows looked amazing. THAT crowd must have been wild. :P

By the way, you have likely seen it but: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mArT7lcG-pM

I have been watching that one just as often as the lick one! :P

[oh-you-dork.livejournal.com]

OMG. Your pictures are gorgeous! And I love how excited and passionate you are. I seriously cannot wait to see him. FOUR DAYS. He's playing at a general admission kind of place here, and I may even try to push my way close, even though I'm terrified of crowds. That is what I would do for him. I'm going to be a bundle of nerves. =)

[carnivalnights.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you! I am so glad you like them. They are a bit grainy but I honestly don't care. I love that I got so many amazing shots. :)

Excited and passionate is putting it mildly! ;) But I am glad you enjoy that. I enjoy it myself. Hehe. Sometimes it is nice to just be a schoolgirl again and forget about what an idiot I look like. Adam makes me nuts. I'd rather embrace is because it feels good.

I am terrified of crowds too, but I made the sacrifice as well. He is JUST THAT WORTH IT. When you get back, drop me a line if you do a write-up! I would love to read it. :) I have no doubt you will have an amazing time. He will blow you away, just you wait! ;)

Thanks for the pictures!

[dreamabella.livejournal.com]

I was at this concert and I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT!

I agree with you though, it did feel a little tame compared to some of the other stuff I've seen online (like the NYC concerts).

For some reason, this was the first concert I walked away from with my hearing in tact (no ringing sound!). Not sure how that happened, but I was just happy. I think because I sat through the entire concert (from 3pm onward) that maybe my hearing got used to the noise? I dunno, but it was pretty sweet.

It went by way too fast, but I was glad he did most of his Glam Nation concert. When I saw the crew setting up the stairs I squealed like a little fan girl. I hope he comes back again for his next ablum (and hopefully I can get better seats this time, I was in 203 J which wasn't totally bad, but when you're short and there are tall people in front of you, it makes it difficult to see anything).

Re: Thanks for the pictures!

[carnivalnights.livejournal.com]

GOOD! That makes two of us. ;) I squealed like a fan girl more than a few times. But to be honest, I didn't care. I was in ecstasy the whole time he was on stage.

Yes, I agree. Those NYC concerts were CRAZY! Adam said in an article recently that he gets as wild as his audience, so maybe our crowd just sucked? Haha. I thought everyone was pretty crazy and certainly loud as hell. Oh, well. At least we have YouTube, right? :P I am happy that in this day and age there is a way to see all kinds of footage from all of his shows.

Wow, really?! I could not hear a thing for quite a few hours and that was JUST from the Adam part of the show because no one was flipping out during the three that I saw. I was yelling when talking because I could not hear myself, haha. But I suppose you could have gotten used to it, yeah. :P

Yup, definitely went by way too fast. It was so sad. Nothing could have spoiled my mood after that show but I really wanted it to be a bit longer. I agree about the seats! I am short as well and paid a small fortune for that very reason. I was at the Molson Amp to see Radiohead once and could not see a damn thing. I had a HORRIBLE time and found it pointless. So I forked over a bit more money for these to make sure that didn't happen again. I feel sorry for those lawn people though! Geez. That is just terrible.

DEFINITELY going next time he comes. Maybe we can go together! :D It would be so cool to go with someone who actually wants to be there instead of dragging my boyfriend again. Haha. He likes Adam but obviously not to the same degree. :P

Re: Thanks for the pictures!

[(Anonymous)]

I just added you to my friends list. I haven't made a decent post in a while. Sometimes I have not a lot to say, sometimes I have so much to say I just don't know where to start.

Yeah, going with someone is important. I couldn't find anyone that wanted to go or that could afford tickets, and I'm glad the way it worked out. I know not everyone likes to sit for 7+ hours for a concert, but I'm such a music junkie I wasn't going to miss any of the performances. I paid to go, I might as well watch the show. If I had gone with someone else they probably would get bored and try to talk me into leaving the venue for a bit (to which I'd have said hells no!).

I can't wait until he comes back. New album in the new year :0D

Re: Thanks for the pictures!

[dreamabella.livejournal.com]

That's me by the way, sorry. I'm logged in on a different window, so I didn't realize it would post annonymous.

[apori.livejournal.com]

Amazing! I can't say much more, except you really make me want to see him live, which I don't think I will at least for a year or so :(, but like you, for me a concert needs to be WORTH it because crowds is not my thing, and I get complete social anxiety, but this makes it seem so simple and great, so you're making me want to go see him :)

Also: your make up skills are great! I wish I could go for some real colors as opposed to just gold, grays, earth colors etc. but I'm very poor at the moment, but even if I had actual colors I still wouldn't know what to do with them. Yours looked GORGEOUS though, and a perfect fit for Adam!

[carnivalnights.livejournal.com]

That is a huge compliment and I thank you for that. :) If I have inspired you in any way to want to see him live, I have done more than I set out to do! I have Social Anxiety Disorder, as you may know, and a show has to be really, really worth it for me too. I know exactly what you mean. I rarely ever go to concerts, but Adam was definitely an exception and it was so worth it in every way.

Aw, thanks for the make-up compliment! I have been heavily into make-up artistry for several years now. I just love it. It is such a fun hobby. If you lived here I would teach you! I was scared to stray from neutral colours at first, but then I became a fan of MAC Cosmetics and learned to love bold and bright. :) And glittery!

[k9paw.livejournal.com]

Hey, thanks for posting-I was there too. It was my second time seeing Adam perform-last year with AI in Hamilton was the first. I believe the Glam Nation set is only 65 minutes. We got the whole deal honey! I was afraid we were going to get something condenced and uncostumed(like he did at Kfest a few weeks before)but seeing that staircase being rolled out confirmed it. Yeah I would have loved to see WLL as part of the encore but Adam decides what he does each night. Given that it was hot, sticky and humid and open aired-he might have decided not to push his voice further(he had the MMVA next night). It wasn't like the crowd didn't want more! LOL I think he and the band/dancers enjoyed the TO crowd, diverse in age it was! Hey it was a fun night and I look forward to when he does a longer show.

[carnivalnights.livejournal.com]

You are so lucky you got to see him in Hamilton. I was not even a fan back then because I never watched American Idol. Haha. (I hate reality TV.) Later, though, I went back and watched all of his clips. :P

Wow, are you sure?! That is really weird. It did not feel like a whole show. Was it exactly an hour, from 9-10? If so, I guess we missed about two or three songs. I should take a look at the set lists for other shows. Maybe you are right. :P

Yes, having the MMVAs the next night, I could see why he would want to preserve his voice. Oh, well. At least there is YouTube, right? He has done WLL at most of his other Glam Nation shows and I have been watching all of those. :P

I noticed the age diversity too! I actually added that into my review after because it was so cool. :)

[k9paw.livejournal.com]

You know what I think the issue is re: show set/length-its intensely quick! Everything roles together very quickly and before you know it-Adam has rolled thorough 5 songs and you are like-OMG SLOW DOWN, I'm have trouble savouring the glamness! LOL And yeah-thank glamness for YouTube!
I saw David Cook last November at Rama-ticket was only $30, we had good seats BUT his set too was also only an hour with 2 songs in his encore. He also was touring on his first album.

[carnivalnights.livejournal.com]

I agree! It is intensely quick. It is such an upbeat show and I think that played a role in it too. You are right. Haha, "savouring the glamness"! Good way to put it. ;) I looked up the set list and sure enough, the only one we missed was WLL! I do not feel too sad now. Hehe.

One thing I did enjoy was the order of the songs. I think it was fantastic! Start off semi-fast, then he slowed it down, then it picked up again and ended with people jumping and throwing their hands in the air with If I Had You. They did a great job choosing the song order. But wow, leaving that venue after hearing WLL would have been soooo amazing. Damn. ;)

I think maybe I have just been to weird concerts where the artist does a long show! :P It is usually an hour and a half to two hours.

[k9paw.livejournal.com]

There is an excellent chat with Adam and Slezak(of Idolatry fame) about the set list and Adam's preception on the journey. For me, it worked great! I think they all enjoyed Toronto judging from their Twitter accounts-we showed them a whole lotta love-I mean, we have made the album platinum so 'who loves ya' baby!'. I think most concerts are closer to 2 hours-next time Adam, next time!(he is already writing for second album)

[shalowater.livejournal.com]

hey! thanks so much for this review and letting me relive the concert once again. it was so so amazing and yes heartbreaking when it was over. WLL would have been great but makes sense that he saved his voice. i told me friend next to me (that was avoiding spoilers before her concert ; i was trying to as well) that he might do WLL as an encore and she got all excited. i am sure she watched other concert footage of it afterward. i guess you were just getting there when adam was outside getting ready to do his interview and great fans briefly.
here are some vids if you have not seen them yet.
interview:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiFow6wu9nU
fan footage:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSKoTK5H7vg&
^^ i am at the bottom of the stairs in that mess. lol

who's youtube vids of the concert do you recommend?

[flourishing.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous Gorgeous Gorgeous photos - you were so close to him! Amazing. I can't believe security were checking no one was filming - what crap! Like it makes any difference whatsoever.

I completely agree with him being reserved on this tour. . .the many videos I've watched from various venues and he does seem held back. But it's understandable, it being his first tour and all. Can you imagine how smokin' the next tour will be? And the next album?! He'll have more control over those which will be fantastic.

Thanks so much for putting all this into words. I love sharing experiences like this!

We're definately going to see him when he comes to the UK in the fall - so beyond excited!! x

[carnivalnights.livejournal.com]

Customer service clearly stated that cameras were allowed, as long as they were not professional cameras with huge, detachable lenses. They had to assume almost all of those cameras, along with cell phones, have the ability to record. It was senseless to try and stop it, I agree. And by the number of videos of YouTube, they obviously 'caught' very few people. Hell, I managed to take a few as well! Silly.

I think it was less Adam's doing. *nod* Although, I did read an article that said Adam gets as wild as his crowd does, so maybe Toronto's sucked? Heh. Did you see the clips from the NYC shows? I would have given my left arm to be at one of those. They were HOT, HOT, HOT. I cannot believe some of the things I have seen him doing with/to Tommy on this tour! Wow. *drool* But yes, I bet the next tour will be even more outstanding in that respect. He will have more control over it, I agree. I am dying for the next album already!

You are most welcome! It was fun rambling on like a fangirl. ;) I love reading about experiences like this too, especially when it comes to music. It is all so magical. It is not too often I attend a concert, but usually when I do it is to see an amazing artist and I almost always have an amazing time. :)

I can imagine know how excited you must be! I look forward to photos and a full account. ;) You will have a blast. Now, if only I had the money for a UK trip and concert ticket! ♥

xx

[taxcha.livejournal.com]

OMG love your eye makeup (and eye color)!

Great pics and review!

I PM'd you a couple of days ago but maybe you didn't notice. I'm going to post the pics that includes Tommy to tjrpics, with credit to you of course =)

[carnivalnights.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :D

Oh! I just posted it on the 24th but did not get any notifications that I had any messages. I apologize! Yes, that is perfectly fine. Thank you for crediting. :) And I did not know about this community so YAY! I have been drooling for the past half hour looking at all the photos. :D

[taxcha.livejournal.com]

It's okay :)

Yay, glad you like the site! Thanks for friending! At first I wanted to make it as a community, but then I decided to go with an account so I can manipulate the dates and I can arrange the posts in chronological order.

[carnivalnights.livejournal.com]

It's awesome. I am so glad I have a place to get my Tommy fix now! :) I think you have done a great job with it and I like the way it is organized!

[sickforcute.livejournal.com]

your makeup is gorgeous!! you and adam totally matched. heehee ♥

[carnivalnights.livejournal.com]

Aww, hehe, thank you! :D Even before Adam I loved my glitter, but knowing he loves it too makes it that much better! ♥