12.18.15 St Louis Recap+ More News
Dec 19, 2015 8:18:37 GMT -5
Post by theosgma on Dec 19, 2015 8:18:37 GMT -5
I can't even begin to explain, how anyone could oome up with 'tepid', when seeing and hearing Adam, and clearly, they guy was not planning to give him a positive review, no matter what, and the 40 minute wait probably did not help.
I have to say though, that the word 'perfunctory' hit me hard, because it summed up, what I had feared. when I saw his set this year. Adam is so superior to anyone else out there, sings these songs and all its vocal gymnastics with such ease, that it looks much simpler than it is. And that perception, in the hands of someone who does not appreciate the intricate detail of what Adam is doing, may come across as 'oh, it must have been easy'.
It's kind of like in ice-skating, I know the Axel is the most difficult jumps, a salchow is a much easier one, but I cannot even begin to see the difference, when watching a performance. So, if three skaters do a triple axel, and two fall down and one does not, you know that the one that landed it perfectly, did something fine. But, if all three stick the landing, then it looks like the jumps must have been easy.
Adam does triple axle after triple axle and does vocal moves that nobody else out there has ever done in regular pop, and he makes it look effortless. This reporter was able to see the countertenor of PTX sing and he was fascinated and thought that this group had the best vocals, yet any professional will tell you that Scott and Mitch (the two male singers from PTX), are very good singers, but neither could hold a candle to Adam, and Adam can pretty much cover the range of both of them, give of take maybe one or two low notes. But in middle and upper range neither of the two could compete with Adam on either tonal quality, dynamics, strength, resonance, register changes or any other measure you want to employ, and they are great singers. And I am saying this as fan of PTX, who loves to hear them sing and seeks out their videos regularly.
Neither of the two could touch Adam, and they know that, probably would not be upset at hearing someone say that. Insiders know.
But to a layman, like this reporter, it all looks simple what Adam does. Add to that, that he feeds off the widespread prejudice that assumes pop, and especially dance is vocally inferior to rock, and hence he acknowledges that Adam can wail with the best of them during Lucy, but the writer assumes that these dance diddles do not even test Adam, so they must have been simple.
I am not sure what the answer is, because what is Adam supposed to do? Throw bum notes in there, just so someone understands that what he does is not simple? Obviously not. If they don't get it, in a direct same-concert-comparison with another vocal act like PTX, nothing will make them get it. And Adam never even tries to show off. Never brags about his vocal abilities, and during concert never shows how hard it is, because let's face it, for this freak of nature, it is not quite so hard, what to others is impossible. The basic training he has received, and thankfully he was in good hands vocally, and did not get trained by some quack, like Sam Smith for example. But in essence this training, is what he still lives off of, sufficiently internalized, regularly exercised, handled with care, but in principle, he is using his professional tool-kit. Just that he has tools at his disposal that others could only dream of.
Having said that, it boggles my mind, that a professional reviewer is not able to see, how much energy, soul, spirit, and heart Adam throws into every performance, how fluidly he mixes dance moves, lead singer duties, interpretive elements, and vocal elements, and creates a completely unique experience for anyone listening with an open heart or mind. Which brings me to one final point. It seems that with Adam those that want to see with an open mind, see, and those that don't, don't. Some are touched and moved by what he does, others don't get it. I think, in some performances this comes out more, like an exotic flavor, that is only to the liking of a few, whereas the same cook, may prepare another meal using more generic ingredients and it appeals to a larger number of people. Some just don't seem to have what it takes to appreciate him. We lived with that for the last 6 years, so has he, it will be fine for the future too, whatever that may bring, but I don't think it will ever be easy for him to find that elusive connection with the masses. Too many folks like this reviewer have their minds closed off to the overall experience that is AL-live.