Chris Daughtry belted out some of his top hits, hoping to get fans riled up at last night’s show in Syracuse at the Oncenter War Memorial Arena. As soon as he emerged onstage, the lead singer of the band Daughtry pointed the microphone to the crowd, looking for an echo. It would have been the loudest sound heard that night, that is, if microphones could pick up the sound of apathy.

Although the streets were packed with fans, cars and limousines prior to Daughtry’s 7:30 p.m. show, the importance of a good parking spot seemed to rank higher on the attendees’ to-do lists than active participation in all that a concert has to offer. Besides drinking the beer offered at the concert, of course.

Alternative-pop bands Cavo and Lifehouse joined Daughtry in the trip to Syracuse in an attempt to give faithful followers a lively show. Unfortunately, any rise of excitement was not made obvious, and though Daughtry was the headliner of the show, Lifehouse ended up stealing the stage with its superior performance.

While the ice rink-turned-concert arena boasted a seemingly large crowd, the overall show displayed a contrived sense of excitement. Screaming teenage girls, mothers and the ‘American Idol’ fans showed up in full-force to croon over ‘Idol’ alumnus Chris Daughtry and Jason Wade of Lifehouse, who was the second act of the show, following Cavo.

Lifehouse and Daughtry did what they could to excite, but fans seemed like they’d rather be watching ‘Dancing with the Stars.’

Lifehouse was a highlight of the show. Wade strutted out on the main stage with his bleached-blond hair and white V-neck into the nosebleed seats while grazing the outstretched hands of starstruck fans on the way.

Corinne Maltese, a student at Cayuga Community College from Weedsport, N.Y., and her sister, Lauren Maltese have been fans of Lifehouse for years.

‘I thought she was going to have a seizure when he came over,’ Lauren Maltese said of her sister. ‘But I was freaking out, too.’

Lifehouse performed the hit songs ‘First Time,’ ‘Whatever It Takes’ and ‘Hanging by a Moment’ while throwing in a few new tunes to promote the band’s new album, titled ‘Smoke and Mirrors,’ which was released on March 2.

Opening to a song reminiscent of the epic ‘Star Wars’ theme, Daughtry ironically pulled out a loudspeaker to add effect to the act’s first song. Perhaps he should have yelled a bit louder. The former ‘American Idol’ contestant belted out his hit songs with passion, though few seemed to take notice.

‘Everyone was pretty dead,’ said Emanuel Colon, of West Syracuse. ‘It’s like they are here because it’s something to do, but people don’t know how to enjoy it.’

What got the crowd going toward the end of the show happened to be a song that Daughtry is not known for at all. Under a ray of green lasers, he sang a heavier rendition of the Phil Collins rock-ballad ‘In the Air of the Night.’ Parents and kids alike finally chose to sing along, ending a night that had previously been characterized by poorly timed cheers and early departures.

The problem was not the bands as much as it was the repetitive content and lackadaisical crowd. Daughtry and Lifehouse band members showed strong stage presence and flexed their pipes like they had something to prove. Between the three bands that performed, the concert’s overall sound seemed as if it could have been written and produced by the same person, complete with similar melodies.

‘The music scene is very few and far between here,’ Colon said. ‘I guess the reaction is just because people aren’t used to it.’

However, there were only so many raspy rock voices singing emotional love songs that could be digested in one night. Daughtry and Lifehouse gave a solid effort, but not even the swaying bodies of intoxicated fans could return the favor.

akgould@syr.edu
 

Published on March 23, 2010 at 12:00 pm