1.17.12 LENO, Kevin Hastings joins band

OMG, I think this is one of the most beautiful pics ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow indeed. LOVE

Having said that, I didn't love his look tonight. Don't like the high collar, meh on the hair(although I've liked it this way at other times) and miss a little eyeliner. ( Love the floppy hair in the above pic, and the open shirt collar. And not sure if he's wearing eyeliner in the pic, but maybe a little.) I think his look tonight, with so little makeup except the dark eyebrows, makes him look a lot more like Neil. Not that that's a bad thing, just that it takes some getting used to for me. If the general feeling is that this look will attract more fans, I guess it's a good thing.

I think he sounded great, but I really find it impossible to process everything in one view/hearing, and I was aware the arrangement was very different and couldn't quite put together how I felt about it all. I watched on TV and haven't had a chance to watch the vids yet. I actually felt pretty agitated when I was watching. For one thing, for some unknown reason two of my kids apparently decided it was "hang out with mom" night and didn't seem inclined to go home/go to bed (one lives with me, the other doesn't), so I finally had to kick them out/upstairs at 11:20 because they weren't interested in seeing Adam on Leno (both watched the EMA performance and liked it, but no interest otherwise). So I was worried I was going to miss it!

Can't say too much about the band or how they sounded or the backup singing because I really was focused on Adam and Adam's voice. But from what I saw and heard, they looked good and sounded good, and I agree with what Stampsgal said earlier -- that Kevin (and his backup vocals) will be a good balance for Adam, in a way that we haven't had since Lisa. I was SO disappointed when Lisa didn't continue with the band, thought she had a great style and sounded great with Adam. I like Cam, but always thought she disappeared into the background.

One of the things I DID notice was Adam's hand trembling. I personally think it was at least partially nerves, probably combined with excitement and emotion. Which, given all the circumstances, makes total sense. There is no way that was acting, IMO. The way his hand was trembling -- almost vibrating -- is pretty tough if not impossible to manufacture. One of those little reminders that he is in fact human.

I definitely miss the glam a little, but I know Adam has said he's over it, so i guess I'll have to deal with that. When I think of his previous performances on Leno -- WWFM (the *plucking* episode), and Sleepwalker -- I LOVED both those looks. Sleepwalker a little OTT, and WWFM a little emo. Tonight's look, for me, is a little disappointing compared to those. HOWEVER, the profile pic is better than any of the above!! So I'll be happy if he does more of that look. Just keep your shirt collar open, Adam, and let your hair flop.

Looking forward to watching videos of the performance and trying to listen more carefully -- missed a lot because I was focused on the visual.

ETA: I know I'm posting on a probably dead thread again, but also want to say something about the comments that have been made regarding Adam seeming more grown-up and sophisticated, like he's more comfortable in his own skin. I am not really seeing that. But it's entirely possible that others are picking up on something, and I'm just not. I'm not saying he DOESN'T sound grown up and comfortable with himself, but to me he has ALWAYS seemed that way. I listen to some of his old interviews, and I LOVE them, love the way he thinks about his answers and articulates them. To me, he hasn't changed all that much. I'd love to see examples of what people are seeing, because it's likely I'm just clueless -- again, lol. But I hope he doesn't tone everything down too much!