2008 American Idol finalists Michael Johns and Brooke White have embarked on a brief club tour together, sharing the same backing band. I was able to catch their show at Seattle's Chop Suey. I also spent some time with each artist on the tour bus prior to the show. The pair are currently touring eleven west coast U.S. cities, and were on their sixth show when I caught up with them. Their tour bus had definitely become a home away from home. Every bunk was assigned to their band-mates, tour manager, and even Johns’ dog, David Puddy (who excitedly jumped on my lap as soon as I sat down).
Both Johns (who finished in 7th place on American Idol) and White (who reached 5th place) have released independent albums earlier this year. While chart success has been fairly modest, both albums were well received by critics. Johns' Hold Back My Heart displays his skills as a soul singer, especially on the sultry ballads.
White's High Hopes & Heartbreak places her squarely in the mold of singer/songwriters like Carly Simon and Sheryl Crow. Both explained that they chose to go the independent route in order to maintain greater artistic control over their music. White told me she had her own songs and ideas to develop, wanting to retain her own vision for the album. They even worked with the same producer, Dave Cobb. Cobb had worked with Johns in the past, even before his stint on Idol.
The team up was Johns' idea, who considers White his favorite of the female contestants he competed against in Idol's seventh season. White admitted the audiences have been somewhat small, but always enthusiastic. Chop Suey was exactly the kind of club she enjoys playing, as the close quarters allow for much greater intimacy with the audience. Seeming to hold true to the pattern established in the six dates they had already played prior to Seattle, the club was far from packed but those in attendance appeared thoroughly entertained. Johns agreed that performing in this environment for his dedicated fans was want he values most.
Brooke White performed first, bringing all the natural charm that made her such a favorite on Idol. She had a premium cupcake with her, which she promised was untouched by bare hands, to bestow upon the most enthusiastic audience member. Seated at her keyboard for most of her set, she displayed great passion for her material. As she discussed with me prior to the show, she planned to include a particularly personal track from her album, "Smile," for the first time on this tour. The song conveys the heartache of remembering a lost loved one. Her nervousness before performing it was genuine, and her emotion during the song was palpable. With her voice breaking near the end, she completely convinced the audience that she meant every word. "Don't judge a song by its title," she implored at the song's conclusion.
Article comments
1 - John S.
One correction to point out... Michael Johns finished 8th, not 7th.