Just wanted to share my observations about the Daughtry concert that I attended last night.
We got the tickets for free from a neighbour whose firm has seats for Air Canada Centre (ACC). They were Platinum tickets....not a box, but in the very good seat sections just to the left of the stage. We even had access to a private lounge downstairs with a hostess, tv, and drinks etc. so it was quite a freebie!

First of all the concert set up was considered "concert bowl" meaning seats in the upper tier level were not being used, so it was not a full capacity venue. The concert was not sold out and tickets were available on the day of the concert still according to ticketbastard. They had a T style stage with a runner stage out into the audience. To the left and right of that runner was a General Admission section. Neither of these were stuffed to capacity. The floor section looked sold out, as did the majority of the seats around the sides. In our section (corporate) and the other corporate section on the other side of the venue there were quite a few empty seats.. sadly that other fans would have appreciated.

Cavo (from St. Louis, Missouri) was the 1st opener. There were quite good, four guys (lead vox, lead guitar, bass, and drums). A little heavy rock at times but did have some good songs and the lead singer had a nice deep voice. They had a nice banner with their name and logo on it. The whole time I kept thinking ... Missouri, Missouri, Missouri maybe David knows of them!!

Theory of a Deadman was the main opener and they were very good. They are too a little more heavy rock, and their songs had lots of "rock 'n roll" references...and quite a few F bombs. The two most known songs were Santa Monica and All or Nothing. There was a noticeable difference in the stage presence between Cavo' lead singer and TOAD's lead singer. They had a large curtain style banner with their name on it. This band is going places as the lead singer is good and engaging, and even has really cool hair!!

The Toronto crowd gave both openers a decent reception and there were definitly some Theory fans as they sang along. The lead singer videotaped the audience on each side and had them light up their lighters, phones, (reminded me of BF on the Toronto gratitewer!) and told them not to be "too cool" to do what he asked (a bossydave in the making). They put on a good show.

Daughtry was expected between around 9pm according a flyer that event staff (that I found on the floor) and he came on around 9:30. There was quite a bit of stage set up and they had a giant banner with their name on it that changed to different images from the CD cover throughough the show. They had a large curtain around the stage so you couldn't see them set up and it acted like a curtain until the "reveal" (think Dave at Blue Springs High Surprise concert or Dave holding the Canada Flag I gave hime at Ottawa!). It was a nice large stage with the runner out to the audience as I mentioned, two ramps up to stage right and stage left with mics there so they could come up there and sing.

Daughtry was wearing all black (black jeans, black v-neck T, and black blazer style leather jacket that he took off by about 2 or 3rd song. By about the 3rd number he did "No Surprise" and it got a good reception as the most known song on the new cd. They used a lot of lighting effects, a fair bit of pyrotechnics (think Dave at All Star game pyro flames shooting out behind Kyle and that was what it was like but more often and indoors.. We could feel the instant heat blast from our seat so the drummer must have almost melted!) About 45 minutes into the set Daughtry went to the end of the runner and did an acoustic set. Nice visual of him on a stool with guitar and spotlight. He did some songs I don't know yet from his first cd, and other songs from the new cd, and he did a cover of Phil Collin's "In the Air Tonight." It was really good. Reminded me of Ryan Star's version on RockStar Supernova. (don't know if that was a Ryan orginial cover or someone else's first). The drummer joined him for the drum section and it kind of drowned Daughtry out for the rest of the song. He also used glow in the dark drum sticks for the In the Air Tonight piece.. which was very cool.

They played for about 1.5 hours before going off stage. However, there seemed to be a long time in between each of the songs they played on their fist set. They didn't have handlers bringing the guitars to them at the front of the stage and so it was often minutes between songs while they went to the side to get the next guitar and got set up to play. It interrupted the "flow" of the concert for me a little.

The audience was interesting. The Event staff flyer said the demographic was "18-30" but it was definitely more like "18-50". Mixed gender... lots of skanky looking young chicks and nicely put together "cougars". Fair number of young kids 8-16. The people behind us who won a VIP package (2 tix, hotel, M&G, photo, and signed program .. yes sweet !) were in their 50's. I think they were Deadheads...in another life.

The people in the Gen Admission section were into it but not like I've seen at other concerts with this gen admission area. All the people on the floors were standing but almost the rest of the venue was seated and stayed that way for the whole show. There were one or two people in each section up dancing (yes women). The people on the floors were standing but there was no masse moving or dancing (ala U2 or even Jonas Brothers!). I must point out one guy (35 +) who basically Lost his S##t when they did a COVER of a 90's song (title escapes me at the moment) and rocked out the entire show after that. (notice that's 2 covers in the set list so far). He sang Over You as the last song before the encore (I think) and that got a pretty big reaction from the crowd. It was the only song that really seemed to get the crowd (en masse) rocking, and they used a lot of lights, pyro, and fireworks to do a big send off.

The crowd was pumped at this point and did a good job clapping, stomping for encore etc. A woman behind me commented that she had never had to wait so long for an encore. It was only about 5 minutes but seemed longer. Everyone was doing their enthusiastic clapping and then it was kind of like "ok are they coming our or what"

The encore started with a guy from RCA inviting them out to present their Platinum award (Canada) and said Canada was the first place to go platinum for this new CD. He called them on stage, had them turn their backs to the audience, had the audience light up their cameras, lighters, phones, etc and they took some group photos. It was a nice moment. Daughty said " Well that didn't suck!" but more about his ... audience interaction... or lack of it I should say in a moment. His guitarist (Neal equivalent - well there is no equivalent but you know what I mean) took over and properly thanked Canada... Then Daughtry thanked Canada and said he'd like to do a whole tour here (Toronto was the only Canadian stop!) The drummer was a riot during the photo session... they had their backs to us an he pulled up his top... I think people wondered if he was going to moon us.. but fortunatley he didn't... now if that had been Kyle.... wait, I digress.. back to Daughtry.

The encore started with "Home" and it was received really well and then Daughtry said "We have time for one more" as if he was convincing people to stay! The did a really rocking song (don't know the name) that had lots of lights, pyro, fireworks and was received really well from the audience too. He introduced the band at the very end of the show...by name and instrument, and then said "And I'm Chris" and a "Thanks for coming"

So by now you can tell I'm no die-hard Daughtry fan...I bought the first cd when it came out for my kids ( and because Elliott's wasn't out yet and I knew I wouldn't be buying Taylor or Katherine's) and only know the top singles.. I don't have the second cd and didn't like how his voice was higher on "No Surprise" but I would buy it based on the show...so he won me over on that front. But nor am I a die-hard Jonas Brothers fan and they rocked the house this summer at Rogers Centre and I had an amazing time (I was doing the Mom thing and took my daughter) and I only know 3 of their songs.

So here' my bottom line.. no doubt that Daughtry has a great voice (sounded really good in concert... very powerful and his vocie carried around the venue..he hit a lot of glory notes and really has nice range. He seems like a decent guitar player, but to me there was no chemistry on stage. No charisma, no charm, no making us hang on his everyword... or movement... I don't think he really engaged the audience (like our BF does). There was no chattydave type banter with the audience, no banter/ribbing between the guys on stage that we were brought into. His audience chatter was limited to the cliche' "Yeah", "Toronto", "Are you guys having a good time" he even did the "which side of the room can sing loudest" contest and seemed unable to carry that off. He didn't tell any wonderful stories about food he ate, or any backstories about songs, or the writing of songs, or ask us if we want the hat or Thissssss... His "Neal" talked a few times (Hey Neal are you reading this!!) and seemed like a decent, genuine guy who should say more as he might be able to add something to the show. The most engaging person on stage was the drummer... wearing "gay biker" style hat and pleather top over turquoise striped leggings!. He totally hammed it up for the group photo and seemed like he had a ton of personality. Even when he got the Platinum award there was little emotion from him.. we all know BF woudl have been crying!! and heart thumping...

And in his singing, Daughtry was often holding his head back, mic in his face, and his hands up to the air so we could hardly see him, he seemed to be singing for himself or to the heavens, and not really us...this impacted the "engagement factor" for me too.

I remember thinking how "we" would react to some of the things Daughtry was doing if it was BF (like the acoustic set sitting alone on a stage...on a stool ... spotlight on him and his guitar (Sky if you're reading this.. I KNOW how you would have reacted!) the running down the runner stage and touching fans hands, leaning over to them, moving from side to side on the side stage catwalks.. we would have all lost our collective S##T and no-one really seemed to... And we would have brought the house down for the encore and stood up the whole time, everywhere, and everyone... and it's not just because BF is gorgeouliscious... it's the VOICE, and the charisma, that would have had us eating it all up.. I just didn't see that there.. And that is what BF has.. and what Bono has...even if it's a lot of male fans losing their S##T like we saw in this U2360 tour... Daughtry might be given credit for the "C" word (Cred)... but for me (for you) it does not translate on stage...

Also, all the lights, pyro, etc may appeal to the "guy fans" (my 9 year old son liked it) but it seemed like filler...or superficial "toppings" to make something seem more exciting that it really is... Ask anyone who was in Ottawa or Grey Snail and have them tell you what BF did on a 2 foot stage with no lights... just voice, charm, personality and it works.

I remember thinking "wow this is Daughtry's second major tour- What would he have been like on his first when he was knew at this?' And it's not venue size... I felt more engaged at the Jonas brothers Concert (ok I fell in love with Nick... he's my jailbait crush!), which was 56000 screaming fans ( the power of teen lust!!) But seriously, those JOBrros know how to perform and their pyro/lighting didn't seem affected or like an add on. I felt more engaged at the Elliot Y concert...his first outing on a solo tour...a small club in TO on a Monday night in November... and I know I will feel a lot more engaged at a casino show on a Monday night in November in less than 2 weeks.

I feel like an olympic judge giving marks for technical merit, he can sign but in all other areas I came away thinking "He's no David Cook!