THE MAN in Milwaukee
One of my favorite songs on my iPod is Hanson’s live (and much older-voiced) version of MmmBop recorded in Albertane, France. The clip I purchased is followed by the introduction to a song called Man From Milwaukee. The crowd roars at the intro to the song. I finally had to listen to the song to try to understand the roar of anticipation, but I didn’t get the excitement. I would, however, understand a roar of approval and anticipation for THE MAN in Milwaukee (at least for one night). Tim Cuprisin of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel certainly gets what Jon Bream didn’t get…
Ex-’Idol’ Hicks loves his work
By TIM CUPRISIN
tcuprisin@journalsentinel.comPosted: March 29, 2007
If you went to Taylor Hicks’ show Wednesday night at the Pabst Theater expecting an “American Idol” rerun, you might have been disappointed.
In fact, the Fox TV show that made Hicks a national celebrity was mentioned only in passing as he thanked the full house at the Pabst for last year’s votes.
Hicks had work to do Wednesday, and he wasn’t going to let some old television show get in the way of the job he’s been working at for a decade. The salt-and-pepper hair that seemed out of place on a TV stage full of teens was just the right seasoning for Hicks’ stage act.
His long years of performing were most evident during an energetic take on The Who’s “Going Mobile,” a highlight of an entertaining 90-minute set.
That ’70s number showcased Hicks’ own easy singing and guitar-playing. Maybe most importantly, it demonstrated Hicks’ ability to back off and let the members of his talented band get their moments in the spotlight.
That’s not “Idol” stuff. That’s a working man in the music business with a healthy respect for the folks playing alongside him.
But let’s be clear: This wasn’t just a workmanlike performance. Hicks is an experienced professional, comfortable in his performing, but never just going through the motions. In addition to Hicks’ rocker side on “Going Mobile,” he demonstrated his ability to do the pop-sounding cuts from his self-titled album; and he showed his true love when he exploded into a number of soul tunes. Those numbers often included appetizing snippets of songs like Sam Cooke’s “Chain Gang” and even the theme from “The Jeffersons.”
Hicks is a performer who seems to live for his time on stage, working himself into a sweat that soaked through his shirt and into his gray jacket. And the harder he worked Wednesday night, the more he seemed to enjoy himself.
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