Adam Lambert - the big-voiced and flamboyant runner-up in 2009's American Idol contest - lived up to his nickname of Glambert on Saturday night as he made his only Canadian concert stop this summer at the Molson Canadian Amphitheatre.
Like a peacock showing off his feathers, Lambert strutted his considerable stuff over the course of a brisk, hour-long set backed by a four-piece band - including guitarist-musical director Monte Pittman, best known for teaching Madonna how to play - and four dancers.
The 28-year-old singer made a memorable first appearance at the top of a staircase decked out in a feathered top hat with a big red A embossed on it, a purple, black fur-lined coat with fringe sleeves, black leather pants with cod piece, and black fingerless gloves.
And did I mention the heavy eye-makeup, half-shaved head and major accessories?
Much like Liberace and Boy George before him, Lambert doesn't back down in the fashion department and made several costume changes as the concert progressed.
And much like Freddie Mercury, too, he's got the vocal chops to back up the eye-catching outfits.
Strangely, Lambert opened his set with a recorded version of 'For Your Entertainment,' the song that garnered him headlines last year when he same-sex kissed a male band member while a dancer shoved his face into Lambert's crotch during the American Music Awards.
Maybe he didn't want to court controversy again? Or was trying to make a statement about the over-reaction to that AMA performance?
The closest he ever came to being suggestive all night long was putting his arm around his bass player and pushing his face close to his.
Whatever the reason, Lambert, his band and dancers finally appeared on stage by the next song, 'Voodoo.'
But it wasn't until a slowed-down, harder-rocking version of Johnny Cash's 'Ring Of Fire' and his own 'Fever,' that Lambert finally found his groove as a performer and showed off some impressive thrusting dance moves.
In addition to hitting some major notes during subsequent songs like the power ballad 'Sleepwaker' and acoustic versions of 'Whataya Want From Me,' 'Soaked,' and 'Aftermath,' Lambert moved well during the shoulder-shaking 'Surefire Winners' and 'Strut,' which saw him perform synchronized moves alongside his dancers, and the anthemic set-ender 'If I Had You.'
He was also brimming with sage advice for the wildly mixed audience made up of young girls, goth guys, families and older couples.
"Heartbreak sucks," said Lambert while introducing 'Aftermath.' "But sometimes you have to lift your head up and push on through."
He also did a great job on Tears For Fears' 'Mad World' - a crowd favourite during his American Idol days - during his encore.
Lambert's hour-long display concluded Kiss 92.5's Wham Bam which included appearances by Australian guitarist-singer Orianthi - who was set to tour with Michael Jackson last year before his untimely death - and Toronto rapper Kardinal Offishall.
The strange part was that only about 7,000 people showed up for the day and night-long event - just less than half with the amphitheatre holds - but given it was a busy Saturday night in the city with Iggy Pop playing a free show at Yonge and Dundas Square and Pavement/Broken Social Scene co-headlining over on Toronto Island, maybe it was understandable.
Whatever the reason, I can't wait to see what Glambert does next as he evolves as a performer because he's clearly got the stuff at this early stage in his career.
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***1/2 (3.5 outta five)
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SET LIST:
For Your Entertainment (recorded version only)
Voodoo
Down The Rabbit Hole
Ring of Fire
Fever
Sleepwalker
Whataya Want from Me
Soaked
Aftermath
Sure Fire Winners
Strut
Music Again
If I Had You
Encore
Mad World
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