www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/jul/03/idol-chatter-adam-lambert-home-del-mar/Idol Chatter: Adam Lambert comes homeBy Bill Pinella 4:07 P.M.JULY 3, 2013
DEL MAR — On my Facebook page, where my likeness is supposed to be shining bright for all the world to see I have a picture of Adam Lambert. I took it in Oakland four summers ago when he was part of the American Idol Summer Tour.
Now comes the real question: Why is it there?
As I watched Lambert perform Tuesday night at the San Diego County Fair, I thought about it and the answer became fairly obvious – I’m envious. The guy oozes talent. He sang 17 songs, performed for about 90 minutes, recalled his own days at the Fair, talked openly about being gay and even watched as a female wearing what looked to be a camera on her head ran across the stage.
“Oh, don’t hurt her,” Lambert asked security personnel, “and let her keep the footage. If that was a camera she was wearing maybe it’ll be on YouTube tomorrow.”
His band was stellar behind him as he bumped and grinded his way through his own work including his own classic “Whataya Want From Me”, a Tears For Fears staple (“Shout”) and even some reggae. “I grew up in Rancho Penasquitos,” he said. “And I think if you look hard enough out that way (he pointed to the east) you might be able to see it. In the summers my dad would put on Bob Marley records. How great was that?”
It wasn’t like the runner-up of Season 8 of American Idol was playing in front of a packed house. But it was close. An hour before the 7:30 p.m. show there were still $8 tickets to be had. And that was a much better option than the $7.50 it was going to cost you for a corn dog and fries.
“I remember coming to the Fair as a teenager,” Lambert recalled, “and eating funnel cakes. The girl I came with wore these jelly sandals and she was called a slut because of it.”
With a pair of guitarists, a drummer and a keyboard player backing him up with precision, Lambert gyrated his way through the show and the longer the show went on, the more pronounced his gyrations got.
Unlike many of today’s acts, the focus of the evening wasn’t on a huge choreographed presentation. The backup band, a mini-fog machine and some rather annoying strobe lights was it. No huge dance numbers, no big costume changes. Just Adam. And for this night it was plenty.
And he had nothing to hide regarding his sexuality as he did through much of his Idol run when he finished second to Kris Allen.
“I don’t want to get all political here,” Lambert told the crowd, “but my people now are equal to your people.”
To that he received wild applause.
Adam Lambert came home Tuesday night and he did what he does best – he entertained.
I think I’ll leave his picture alone.
