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Kelly Clarkson: Piece By Piece Tour

By Christine Petralia

Photo by Christine Petralia

Seen July 16, 2015 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

 

July 22, 2015

 

The original and first American Idol winner has done it again! Ms. Kelly Clarkson’s Piece By Piece Tour is everything you’d expect it to be and more. And to top it off, she performed the whole show barefoot. I mean, who doesn’t want to be comfortable in front of an audience? Clarkson is not only a down-to-earth entertainer, but she has the pipes to match. She performs, with ease, songs from her latest album Piece By Piece, as well as her classic hits for everyone to sing along to.

 

Opening with my favorite from the new album, “Dance With Me,” Clarkson right off the bat proves her star power. She goes right into two classics, including “My Life Would Suck Without You.” In between each song, Clarkson tells stories and jokes around with the audience. Before performing the title track from the new album, she explains that the arrangements were recently changed and apologizes if she either messes up or breaks down, as it’s an emotional song about her relationship with her father and her current relationship with her husband and daughter. “Piece By Piece” is very emotional, and she does crack at the end, proving that she is just like you and me.

 

In between some songs, she brings up a performer from her Open Mic movement. Chuck Rite is his name and her performs “Rather Be,” with Clarkson and her singers as back-up. It was fun to see Clarkson play around in the back while letting someone else take the spotlight. After that, it was back to business and she sings a few more from the new album, including “Take You High” and “Tightrope,” as well as some classics, including “The Trouble With Love Is,” from the Love Actually soundtrack. She also sang a fan favorite pick, which is something she does at every show and every tour. This time around it was Nick Jonas’ “Jealous,” which she, of course, nails!

Before her encore, Clarkson brings out her opening act, the a capella group, Pentatonix, to help her perform “The Heartbeat Song,” the first off her new album. During the last songs, a mash up of “Walk Away” and Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk,” Clarkson brings out her step-son to help break down the song with the audience. The encore allows her back-up singers to showcase their skills during “Bang Bang,” a cover of the Nikki, Arianna and Jessie J. song, before she kills it with her first hit “Miss Independent” and “Since U Been Gone.”

 

I really liked the banter between the songs, as well as the times she messes up, which proves she can actually sing. And did I mention she performed barefoot? My highlights included the encore and the mash-up, as well as the opener because I love those songs! If you are really looking to be entertained by someone with a lot of talent, try to catch her on tour and definitely by her album!

 

Her opener was Pentatonix, who was great with the a capella form. It was pretty hard to believe they performed each song without instruments, showcasing their vocals. They performed covers as well as original songs, further proving they deserved to not only be Clarkson’s opener, but share the stage with her.

 

Setlist:

Dance With Me 

My Life Would Suck Without You 

Catch My Breath 

Nostalgic 

Mr. Know It All 

Open Mic Cover by Chuck Rite - Rather Be 

Jealous (Fan Pick Cover of Nick Jonas)

Invincible 

Piece by Piece 

Because of You / Breakaway 

Tightrope 

Take You High 

Second Wind 

Behind These Hazel Eyes 

The Trouble with Love Is 

Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) 

Heartbeat Song (with Pentatonix)

Walk Away / Uptown Funk 

 

Encore:

Bang Bang (Jessie J, Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj cover)

Miss Independent 

Since U Been Gone 

Our favorite boy band from the 80s is back! Singing their hits over the past two-and-a-half decades, including Step by Step, The Right Stuff and much more! Seen June 20, 2015 at Nassau Coliseum with Nelly and TLC.

 

Great for all ages and fitness levels, this Ridiculous Obstacle Course is a 5K with 12 Wipe Out-style obstacles. The race came to New York, in Brooklyn, on Sept. 13.

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