American Idol tour comes to Windsor
If you go
• American Idol Live
• 8 p.m. Friday, June 27
• The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor
• 377 Riverside Drive E., Windsor, Ontario, 519-258-7878
• Tickets $35-$95
Recent “American Idol” contestants Jena Irene and Malaya Watson oozed with excitement this week about their first performance on the “Idol Live” tour in Binghamton, N.Y.
“The show is very fresh and modern, and showcases everybody in the top 10,” Irene says. “Each artist shows their originality.
“I am doing some crazy electronic stuff and one of my three solos is a song I chose to sing, ‘Falling in Love.’ We are having so much fun.”
The “American Idol Live” summer tour kicked off Tuesday, and one of the early stops is today (Friday, June 27), across the Detroit River at The Colosseum at Caesars in Windsor, Canada.
The concert features all top 10 of the latest “Idol” finalists. Three have Michigan ties, Jena Irene of Farmington Hills, who won second place, Southfield’s Malaya Watson and Sam Woolf, who was born in West Bloomfield Township.
The performers rehearsed in New York for nearly two weeks before kicking off the tour in New York. They will perform in 41 cities across the country, including at The Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort in Mount Pleasant on Aug. 7.
While in New York, the group was treated to an afternoon off.
“We went to a Mets baseball game,” Watson said in an interview with The Oakland Press. “We sang the National Anthem and threw out the first pitch. It was a little weird because they lined up the catchers and we threw the ball in groups of four. It was great, and the Mets won.”
Both Irene and Watson say the tour experience continues to shape them as young artists because they are stretching their comfort zones and learning new skills. Irene will play the drums along with fellow “Idol” finalist Alex Preston, who incorporated a large kettle drum in an “American Idol” performance. They are also singing back-up for the other performers as well as joining in duets, trios and group songs. Watson says the opening number of the concert is guaranteed to pull the audience to its feet.
“We will touch every emotion from happy to moving you to tears,” said Watson. “You will hear some of the favorite songs from the competition, like ‘Radioactive.’”
Caleb Johnson, who won the competition, will perform four solos and each of the other finalists will sing at least one solo. Irene describes the experience as very much like an “Idol” show, but with less pressure. Watson agrees.
“Thursday nights during the live show were so hard,” Watson says. “You would sing and just wonder while you were singing, if you are going home. Now, we just get to enjoy the music, being together and we won’t get voted off.”
Although Irene admits she still feels pressure, she agrees the tour is more fun for the 10 performers, who she describes as “friends who have taken a unique journey together.” She says she will take inspiration from each tour performance for future songs she will write, but the Windsor and Mount Pleasant performances will be special because they are close to home.
As the tour begins, “American Idol” is having auditions for season 14. Ryan Seacrest has signed up to host the program once again, and just in time to participate in the auditions, Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr. have agreed to return as judges.
Auditions are scheduled to visit New Orleans, La., on June 25; Uniondale, NY., July 23; Nashville, Tenn., July 30; and San Francisco, Calif. Sept 29. This year a bicoastal bus tour will stop at Portland, Ore., Portland, Maine, Reno, Nev., Columbus, Ohio, Richmond, Va., Albuquerque, N.M., Amarillo, Texas, Myrtle Beach, S.C., Branson Mo., Tallahassee, Fla. and Kansas City, Mo., beginning July 9. Hopefuls can also submit auditions online through social media using #TheNextIdol. For additional information visit www.americanidol.com/news.
Also new this season, “American Idol” has created a $50,000 “True Believers” award for people who encourage singers to audition. Each contestant ail have the option to designate a “True Believer,” making them eligible to win a cash prize at the end of the season, if that contestant wins the competition. Check http://idol.ly/true-believer-rules for details.
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