Tuesday 22 August 2006

Carey is glittery and golden at Garden

For all her diva posturing, Mariah Carey is just another giddy fan inside that curvaceous body she likes to display at all times. And the best moments during last night's 95-minute installment of Carey's current tour - "The Adventures of Mimi: the Voice, the Hits, the Tour" - at the TD Banknorth Garden were when she let that exuberant music lover out to play alongside the bombshell with the glass-shattering voice.

Whether it was the offhand, almost unconscious, rapping along with video of duet partners like Jay-Z and the late ODB, the teasing of her band and dancers, or the singing of a sincere "Happy Birthday" to a devoted sign-waving fan, Carey was at her most likable when she seemed to be enjoying herself as opposed to counting in her head how many hip shimmies she had to do during "Shake it Off".

Of course those hip shimmies (Carey's and those of her considerably more rhythmically gifted sextet of dancers), the peek-a-boo costumes, the mammoth silver-and-white stage dotted with a quintet of video screens, and the big hair were all part of the spectacle one expects. And the singer worked the stage with as much grace as a scantily clad woman in towering heels can.

The pageantry was a bit silly at times, including the requisite intro video of Carey comparing her life to a roller coaster and then falling through the clouds. Trey Lorenz made an "entrance" to huge cheers for Carey's lovely cover of the Jackson 5's "I'll Be There", but he had been on stage all night as part of her trio of backing vocalists. (A medley by the genial Lorenz meant to promote his forthcoming album somewhat defeated the purpose by consisting solely of covers of Luther Vandross and Gnarls Barkley, but presented an excellent restroom break for many in the crowd.)

The generous set list drew on her collection of 17 number one hits, with emphasis on her more recent rhythm and blues successes. Mariah and the crowd, 12,232 strong, followed every impressive trill, belt, and canine whistle with rapt devotion and vigorous sing-alongs.

She hit her breakthrough anthem "Vision of Love" early and strong, summoning up a gospel grit that felt earned and would recur on songs like "Fly Like a Bird", the raucous, choir-assisted set-closer "Make it Happen", and, during a medley, an earthy duet of "Thank God I Found You" with Lorenz. That one particular felt like a glimpse at what takes place on the tour bus, two friends harmonizing with easy joy.

The more calculated balladry of "Hero" and up-tempo, breezy numbers like "Heartbreaker", "Fantasy" - sung on a B-stage near the back of the arena - and "Honey" lacked that same grit, but the former drew a fervent ovation and the latter trio got the hips moving and the crowd jumping. "We Belong Together" ended the show in a spurt of hitching dance grooves and glittery purple confetti.

(The Boston Globe)



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