Clay Aiken Concert Dazzles with Fab Vocals, Loads of Fun

Clay Aiken opens Tried & True Tour with varied styles, song list.
Photo by gerwhisp is double clickable.

Clay Entertaining as Always

Tried & True Opener Sets Pace

Clay Aiken and Quiana Parler opened the 22-city Winter Tour in Miami's Adrienne Arsht Center with a show that is sure to please audiences up and down the Tried & True trail.

The vocals by Clay and his longtime friend/backup singer were fabulous, the band rocking, and the repartee with concert goers entertaining as ever. The phenomenal arranging by keyboardist Ben Cohn shines throughout the concert, running the gamut of musical styles from jazz, pop, and big band to Reggae, country, and a touch of scat.

Video clack is still in upload mode; but Deborah760's audio, available for download at Clack Unlimited, is amazing. Below is a tentative set list compiled from the audio file.

Will it be the same in Orlando tonight? Who knows, but it's bound to be another evening that's off the charts!

Tried & True Tour Set List - Miami

Overture
Theme from Love Story
There's a Kind of Hush

Banter

Can't Take My Eyes Off You
It's Impossible
Something About Us

Banter

Medley
The Way
Don't Stop Believin'
Vogue
I Want It That Way (Clay and Quiana)
The Right Stuff
The Glory of Love
Love the Way You Lie (Quiana)
Baby One More Time (Clay and Quiana)
Footloose (Quiana)
Invisible

Cry Me a River - Quiana

Banter
Suspicious Minds
It's Only Make Believe
Moon River
What Kind of Fool Am I
You Don't Have To Say You Love Me

Who's Sorry Now in 3 styles (Clay and Quiana)

Band Intro

Mack the Knife
A Foggy Day in London Town (Quiana)
Crying (Clay and Quiana)

Banter
Build Me Up Buttercup

Banter
Unchained Melody

Banter
In My Life
Solitaire

From the opening overture in near darkness, the concert segues
to Clay singing 'Theme from Love Story' at 1:24 (visible at 2:01).
View video by Scarlett full screen at YouTube.

Recaps Paint Opening Night Canvas

Message board recaps describe a concert not to be missed. Below are some of the accolades and tidbits that help tell the story of opening night:

Starting the concert with "Love Story," Clay seemed to be singing to each member of the audience.

Quiana singing "Cry Me a River" -- what a talent!

"Invisible" done jazzy! The "clutch" is still part of the song!

Jazzy keyboards from Ben Cohn -- genius!

Jazz "Invisible" = Genius!

Love the rim shot from Felix when Clay was bragging about taking time to work on his hair!

Yes, the hair was atrocious and he was so proud of it! Said it took 6 cans of hairspray and would be flaking off on his sweater all evening

Clay was happy, sexy, silly, romantic, sentimental. He had us alternating from laughing and hooting to swooning and sighing.

That opening number rocked the rafters, and his Solitaire closed it the same way. In between, he gave us all the shades and nuances he's perfected over the last eight years onstage. He was charming, funny, personal, familiar, powerful, gracious.

It is a beautiful evening. Intimate, yes! A beautiful voice, omg yes! It is nothing like any other show, and I loved it. His voice was subtle and nuanced and then it just soared! He needs to be heard in person.

A few hours before the opening concert, Clay blogged to his fans: "So off we go ... into uncharted waters, but with aplomb!" From all I've read and heard, the show was this and more!

The remaining 2/3 of the Florida 3-fer take place at the Hard Rock in Orlando at 8 pm tonight and in Sarasota's Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall at 8 pm Saturday. For the complete Tried and True Tour schedule see the 2/10 Carolina blog entry and to the sidebar calendar.

Have an awesome weekend, Clay Nation!


Signature by Linda/ABM