The word "awesome" was used frequently by the 10 "American Idol"
finalists as the TV talent-contest-turned-tour came to the
Arrowhead Pond.

But the term described the enthusiasm of the
tween-to-twentysomething fans, the spectacular oval-arched
staging and the grand marketing campaign far more than it did
any singing on Friday night.

The presentation was so fast-paced and determined to please,
though, that it seemed unfair to have high vocal standards, too.
The first 50 minutes was a series of solo turns on classic
songs, in reverse order of finish for the TV talent contest;
each felt as earnest and intense as a round of auditions.

The more-relaxed second hour mixed group medleys and more solos
by the top finishers. Throw in the chatty introductions to one
another, giant screens and a few ads and it all seemed strangely
familiar. Back in ancient times, I believe similar formats were
used for TV programs called "variety shows" -- kids, ask your
grandparents.

Having missed the TV series (hey, Tuesdays was "The Real
World"), I went into the concert with little in the way of
preconceptions -- I knew Kelly Clarkson won; resident hottie
Justin Guarini was a close second; that one girl, Tamyra Gray,
got voted off before she should have; and that no one liked
judge Simon Cowell.

Friday's performance seemed true to form. Clarkson indeed
possessed a great set of pipes, soulful enough for her to pull
off Aretha Franklin covers. The appealing Guarini was no Marvin
Gaye, though he's got a good voice and is fleet-footed -- just
the sort of performer a less-eccentric Michael Jackson might
have been.

And the one who deserved to finish higher was clearly budding
R&B diva Gray, who was working the crowd and nailing some
serious notes. How she placed behind rock-girl Nikki McKibbin is
indeed a mystery.

Overall, the female contingent fared better than the male --
most notably when they teamed up. The guys opened the second
half of the show with a respectable version of an old 'N Sync
chestnut, "Pop," even though you'd think boy-band comparisons
would be best avoided these days. The ladies countered with a
sizzling take on En Vogue's "Free Your Mind," competing to see
who could land the most impressive line.

The guys' first-round performances were fairly basic. EJay Day
did the Jackson thing, singing Janet's "Black Cat" and taking
some fashion cues from Michael. Barefoot, boyish Jim Verraros'
voice was far too thin for him to do justice to the Commodores'
"Easy." And A.J. Gil worked his hips better than he did the
verses on Stevie Wonder's "My Cherie Amour," though the Latin
spice added to the end of the arrangement was nice. No surprise
that R. J. Helton made it into the top 5 -- his voice was sweet,
yet solid enough to make him the ideal boy-band crooner, and he
pulled out a big finish.

Los Angeles' Ryan Starr was the first girl to get voted off the
show, despite a warmer Mariah Carey-style voice used to milk a
bit too much from "If You Really Love Me." She may not have as
much range as Carey, but the curvy Starr has her beat when it
comes to slinking around in low-rise jeans and skirts. Then
there's Christina Christian, who not only looks like Tyra Banks
but handled herself nicely on "Ain't No Sunshine," even when it
jolted into electro-funk.

If Gray's take on "I'm Every Woman" is any indication, she could
be also be Whitney Houston's nightmare. She's got the poise and
the chops to pick up where Houston left off. Giant gas flames
were all that generated heat while McKibbin was onstage, barely
audible on an ill-advised cover of Janis Joplin's "Piece of My
Heart."

Guarini wound up with one of the best songs of the night, the
Oleta Adams hit "Get Here." It was all romantic drama, from a
the way his gently flaring nostrils brought screams from the
crowd to the way he punched the key line. He caught his breath
sharply when he had to wait for the shouting to subside so he
could continue the end -- after another pause, he showed off
with a high-powered finale.

Clarkson's got the perfect earthy, meaty R&B voice that let her
sock it to the crowd on "Respect." Here's the catch -- Clarkson
concentrates on the oomph so much that she virtually ignores the
stuff in between.

The second hour was more fun and more costume changes. As a
group they tended to sound like an overgrown choir; again, when
solo lines were handed out, the girls fared better.

Guarini's solos were the funk-lite "For Once in My Life" and a
mellow "Let's Stay Together." McKibbin may love Stevie Nick's
"Rhiannon," but it's a mismatch for her voice; the harder she
tried, the worse it got. Gray shamed her with a lovely "A House
Is Not A Home" -- the dramatic end was the night's musical
highlight.

Clarkson pulled out another soul-rock classic, "(You Make Me
Feel Like) A Natural Woman," and ended with one of her two hits
specifically from the TV show, the less interesting "Before You
Love."

That Clarkson didn't do the other, "A Moment Like This," left
many fans surprised and disappointed. They'll have to tune in
next time, when Clarkson will presumably do it on her own tour.