She sings “Blue Bayou” by Linda Ronstadt. Very nice.
Cardin McKinney 20, Nashville, TN
She sings “One Night Only” from Dreamgirls in a beautiful, clear tone. Simon doesn't like her. I hope she'll make him eat his words.
JoAnne Borgella 25, Hoboken, NJ
She sings “I Love You” by Celine Dion. She is a plus size model, beautiful, with a great voice.
Alesha Stelzl 18, Ontario, CA
She sings “Surrender” by Celine Dion and truly suck. But Randy and Paula hear something in her, asked her to go learn a Dolly Parton song and come back. Alesha learns "Island in the Stream", and actually sounds good! She's through!
Chikezie Eze 22, Inglewood, CA
He sings “All the Woman I Need” by Luther Vandross in a beautiful tone. Going to Hollywood!
Danny Noriega 17, Azusa, CA
He sings “Proud Mary". I dind't think he was that good, but he's still through...
The Bad
Luke Reeder, 26, Hollywood FL.
Didn't make it. Really?
Tiffany McCambell 21, Anderson, IN
She sings “Halleluah”. Oh boy.
Cory and Chris Lane 22, Kernersville, NC
They sing a weird rap they made up, and are not very good at.
Ashley Lawing 19, Maiden, NC
She sings ”Red High Heels” by Kellie Pickler. Painful. She walks in with a little puppy that Simon falls in love with. You could tell he really wished Ashley could sing. Unfortunately, she really can't.
Joshua Moreland 25, West Palm Beach, FL
He sings “Beautiful Lady” very badly, in a very theatrical way. Meh.
What can I say about the Oshawa show? Amazing? Yes, it was. Fantastic? Damn straight. Freaking awesome. You betcha.
Channel One
Once again, this band from Ottawa was opening the night. Since it was an all ages show, it started a bit earlier than the previous shows. The crowd was really, really freaking small, but it was still a great crowd. Channel One did their set, same as before. They are good... I like their sound. I like it much better acoustic than plugged in, and it sounds better without the drums. The guitarist is pretty cute and fun to look at...
Greg Neufeld
Oh Greg. Why you so good? Greg was awesome once again this night. It was his last night on tour, and he acknowledge Lukas for giving him the opportunity to tour with him. Greg was playful with the crowd, tuning his guitar a few times and joking about it not sounding right. Lukas came out to watch him, and Greg got teased a bit. Lukas wanted to pull his pants down... Greg, not wanting to flash us, kept an eye on Lukas, turning the mike around to sing while looking at Lukas. Those two really seem to get along... It's great to witness it all.
Final Set List:
-Your Eyes -Daughters -Map of the Stars -Sleep you Off -Lazy Eyes -Ever You (*thud*) -Say It To Me Now (OMG, that was so GOOD!) -Secret (hummmmmm...) -Leaving Song
And of course, the beautiful Alleluia at the end of Lukas' set. So beautiful how he works that guitar, it's amazing how beautiful it sounds.
The crowd was great and Greg got a really nice reception, despite the really low turn out. As usual, Greg charmed the pants off of every fan in the place.
I'll miss seeing Greg play regularly - I've seen him 4 times now in a little less than 3 months. I hope he'll be back soon! Some great things await this man...
Lukas Rossi
Lukas - Oh the boy was having so much fun last night. He played around a lot, was playful and just wonderful, as usual. J Englishman sang more songs with him than he did in Toronto, it was really nice. Here Comes The Rain Again was absolutely magnificent, and Car Crash is quickly becoming one of my new/old favorite. LOVE it. He did Riddled! Oh boy that was awesome. We heard snippets of Rebel Yell (so different than what he's done before, it was amazing) and Valentine. He of course sang Headspin, which I love, and he did it in a much more angry, powerful way that I've seen before. Everything was absolutely mesmerizing. And Alleluia at the end... The most beautiful I've heard it. Greg's guitar playing was fucking amazing, and Luke's voice was so beautiful, so pure, so.......... on. Just WOW.
Set List:
Here comes the rain Sunrise Dead Flower Lover You Should Have Come Over It's On Car Crash Good Enough Memories of You I Love Myself Today Valentine Snippet It's All Love Rebel Yell Snippet Creep Hallelujah encore: Headspin
I've seen Channel One only once before (read my review of their Lee's Palace gig HERE. I didn't know their music then. They played an acoustic set, with two guitars and one acoustic bass. It sounded really good! They played a few older songs and a few new ones. Many of them were hand clapping worthy, and I found myself nodding my head along with the beat at many times. Cool guys. Check them out!
I was so anxious to hear the new songs live, I was almost giddy when Greg took the stage. I was there with a bunch of friends who now know of my love and admiration for Greg, so they pushed me up front... I was standing straight in front of Greg, probably 3 feet away, in the "spit zone". I felt a bit self conscious but it was very awesome to witness a show from such an intimate point of view.
He was in the best vocal form I've heard him yet. He was sweating a lot - it was hot in there - and was really into his songs. I LOVED what I heard, the old songs done with a twist and the new ones (that I knew anyway *L*) work so fucking well live... He made me cry during one song it was so beautiful.
Set list was:
-Lazy Eyes (I love how smooth his voice sounds on this) -Ever You (One of my very favorite) -Map of the Stars (new song that I didn't know but already love) -Sleep You Off (OMG, I love it) -Delicate (He made me cry, that was the best I've heard him do that song) -Your Eyes (yeah, new song I love!) -Secret (The "Diiiiiiiirty" gets me every time) -Say It To Me Now (OMFG he gave me chills) -Leaving Song (fucking perfect!)
And he played guitar with Lukas Rossi at the end of Luke's set - they played Alleluia, and it was so beautiful I was in a trance. Greg's guitar playing is very impressive, and complimented Lukas guitar playing and voice very well on this song.
The entire concert was filmed by someone from Lukas camp, so maybe, just maybe something will surfaced... Oh I'd love that.
Greg looked amazing, and so very happy the whole night. He always seem to have a blast not only playing but also meeting the fans after the show. He's such a good sport, and very charming! He had all the ladies in the palm of his hand. ;)
I purchased his album and listened to it in the car on my way home. I love how he reworked "So Far" - it sounds really incredible done in that way. My review of the album will be up shortly (link will be posted here).
My only complaint about his set? Not long enough! I know, I know, he was not the headliner... :)
Oh, Lukas was so freaking great this night. So freaking AWESOME!
Lukas was playful, in great vocal form, charming, incredible. He started us off with Here Comes The Rain Again, yes the Eurythmics song. I knew about the cover, so I recognized, but it was nothing like the original. He made it darker, so much more intense, so.... so Lukas. I think it might have been "War" that he played, and the intensity, passion and shear love of music that he evoked left me totally stunted, speechless, I couldn't even clap I was so enthralled and fascinated. He was unbelievable. He sang Car Crash (yeah!) and two other songs with Jay Englishman, and it sounded so fucking unbelievable I almost cried. Jay's voice really compliments Lukas' well, not to mention he's a really good guitarist. I love the combination.
As far as I can remember, here are the songs he did (may not be in order):
- Here Comes the Rain Again (WOW, that sounded nothing like the original, it was absolutely fantastic!) - Sunrise - Dead Flowers - War (this one left me in a trance, it just took my breath away) - Car Crash (with Jay Englishman) - Trust Me (with Jay Englishman) - Good Enough (with Jay Englishman) - Memories of You ((with Jay Englishman) - Take Two - It's All Love (It's actually really good done acoustic) - Creep (always such a crowd pleaser) - A little line or two of Karma Police (I want to hear him sing the whole thing!) - Headspin - Alleluia with Greg Neufeld on guitar (mindblowingly breathtaking)
I saw Lonely Ones on the set list, but he didn't play it for some reason. I was a bit bummed about it because I love the song, but that's ok, what he offered us this night so much more than I could ever asked for!
Lukas banter was very funny and entertaining. He told us the story of someone (a woman I think) who wanted him to do "Spin My Head", and he was cracking up while talking about this. He also got angry at some loud mouths at the back of the bar for disturbing everyone. But as quickly as he got pissed, he returned to his playful demeanor and said to the silent crowd "Didn't it feels like your dad just yelled at you at the dinner table and now your mom says "It's ok honey, just eat"?" *LOL*
He sings “Don’t Stop me Now” by Queen. Simon makes him sing with his back to them, because his eyes scares him.
Asia’H Epperson 18, Joplin, MO
She sang “How Do I Live” by Leann Rimes. She quite honestly made me cry. That's a first for me in the auditions! The emotions she conveyed (her dad passed away only a few days before she auditioned) was raw and real, and I felt it. Her voice was a bit rough, but very interesting.
Brooke Helvie 18, Wellington, FL
She sings “Who’s Loving You” by Jackson 5. She's a pageant queen. Certainly the most annoying spoiled brat I've ever seen. I wanted her to suck. But she didn't. She can sing. Damn.
Alex Lushington 16, Douglasville GA
She sings “My Funny Valentine”. Very mature voice.
Amanda Overmyer 22, Mulberry, IN
She sings “I’m a Mean Woman” by Janis Joplin. She definitely has an old school sound. Love it.
Josiah Leming 18 - Morristown, TN
He sings an original song called “To Run”. His vocals are not Idol like, but they are full of emotions, believable and interesting.
The Bad
J.P. Tjelmeland 20, Auburn, AL
He sings “Me and My Gang” by Rascal Flatts. Ouch.
Eva Miller
She sings “1000 miles” by Vanessa Carlton. No comment.
Ex-Idol Contestant Hits the Road Greg Neufeld Releasing New CD, Too
By Angie Valente From the Thunder Bay Spot Transcribed by kissedbythegods
Greg Neufeld was taught how to play guitar by Dave Matthews, sort of. Neufeld, a 24-year-old from Abbotsford, B.C. discovered his voice in Grade 8 music and drama class while acting as an opera singer in a skit, and from choir practice. He then made it his mission to learn every Dave Matthews song.
Not only was it his boy-next-door good looks that landed him a top-seven spot on the national TV show Canadian Idol last summer, but his multi-faceted husky voice that made Neufeld a shoe-in winner. "I was surprised because I hadn't been in the bottom-three for the show's entirety, and then I was voted off," Neufeld says.
All in all, he found the idol experience a rewarding one and hopes people can see it for more than how it appears on the surface. Neufeld doesn't think people give the show and its "talented" contestants enough credit.
In retrospect, Neufeld considers his stint on national TV to have been, above all, a learning experience. "I learned how to be a performer. I used to just hide behind my guitar, and on Idol, you're forced to interact with the cameras and the crowd. I found the happy medium of how I liked to perform. It pushed me out of my comfort zone. Sometimes you get thrown into a genre that you're not comfortable with."
It's these skills that have honed Neufeld into the performer that he is today, and the same skills he'll take on his first cross-Canada tour, which involves a stopover at Jack's in Thunder Bay on Feb. 2.
"The good thing about Lukas (Rossi) is that he's a really good draw," says Neufeld, about his tour partner - a "Rock Star: Supernova" show winner. Neufeld has nothing but praise for his touring buddy. Every show Neufeld has ever played with him has been sold out, or close to. "(Rossi's) a really genuine guy," Neufeld says. "When he told me he wanted me on his tour, he did everything he could to make it happen. I play my set and then I become a fan. I come out into the crowd to watch. It's really insane to witness."
Neufeld's goal on the unplugged acoustic tour is simple: play as many new songs as he can fit into his opening slot. "It's a commercial for me," he says.
Neufeld's self-titled debut album was recently completed and duplicated this week, just in time for the tour kick-off in Winnipeg, the night before the show in Thunder Bay. While the album took only a few short weeks to be completed, no corners were cut.
Though and independent artist for the time being, it shouldn't take long for Neufeld to land a deal with a major label. He's keeping good company, especially considering it's his first time up at bat.
On board was Amy Foster Gillies, daughter of Canadian producer, composer and arranger David Foster, who has written songs for Josh Groban, Diana Krall and Michael Buble. "I flew to Nashville and we wrote three songs together, two of which made it onto the album," Neufeld says. "She's a genius. It was really intimidating."
This is the first recording that Neufeld feels truly represents him. "I've done a lot of recording and usually I get sick and tired of it," he says. "This time I think I've captured what I really wanted to get across to people. It's truly who I am."
Mom Has Stacked Dinner Party Roster
-
GOLDEN, CO—Their eyes widening in amazement as the 43-year-old rattled off
the names of heavy hitter after heavy hitter, impressed members of the
Dreesh...
