Furtado holds court.Story and Photos by Phil Bonyata
When you throw a party, don't forget the krackers and the furtado dip. Because one was filler and the other completely filled you up. KISS 103.5 FM hosted their Star Party bash, you had to buy a ticket, of course, Saturday night at The Rosemont Theatre. The nearly sold-out venue saw the likes of LFO, Eve 6, Uncle Kracker, Mya and Nelly Furtado.
Eve 6 sauntered onto the stage cock sure they had the audience in their hands, but many of the teens and preteens in the audience had other thoughts. Belting out radio friendly, but ultimately bland tasting songs like "Girls Eyes" and "Promise," Eve 6 bit off more than they could chew. Their generic brand of rock will be lost in the memory vault with all the rest of the Toad the Wet Sprockets and Hooties already in attendance.Up next was Uncle Kracker. You know, he was the one behind the turntables in Kid Rock's Twisted Brown Trucker Band. Kracker cut loose with spirited versions of "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah" and the anthemic "You Can't Take Me." His music is a kind of tasty serving of a funked up Detroit rock stew, mixed with a little Motown, country white trash, hip-hop and loose-lipped rap rhymes. Kracker has style, but ultimately lacks real substance. He's another Kid Rock, who's one of those guilty pleasures we all crave occasionally.
The stunning Mya was next on the menu. This girl's got the stage sass going her way along with her special recipe of soulful R&B flavored hip-hop. She cooed through saucy numbers like "It's All About Me," The Best of Me" and Takin' Me Over." Mya's dance moves resemble a lithe gazelle in a jungle ballet. On "How You Gonna Tell Me," the rich soulfulness of her voice sparkled as the bands steady beats helped to add the seasoning. Sweet and elegant, Mya's future appears to be bright.
Nelly Furtado, with her sexy and confident attitude emblazoned all over her chest, lit right into "Baby Girl." She didn't have to reach deep to let the sliding melody complement her uniquely beautiful voice. If the soulful Sade had a younger hyperactive sister, Nelly Furtado would be it. Dressed in a yellow t-shirt, black jeans and a blue scarf, she flirted with the audience, shaking her sexy hips to the maraca flavored Latin rhythms. On "....On the Radio (Remember the Days)" the band beat a path to help Nelly's piercing warbles chart it's destiny. "I'm Like a Bird," her first bona fide hit was the weakest song of the evening. it is also her weakest song on her wildly original debut album Whoa. Nelly! She successfully marries many musical styles. Starting with great melodies and surprisingly catchy hooks, Latin rhythms laced with electro disco beats that blends itself into a completely special sound. On "Turn Off the Light" Furtado has created a masterpiece of pop. Fresh and crazy with great lyrics and infectious hooks, you can't stop singing the chorus even after the last note has long faded away.
Furtado resonates with originality and charm and bleeds star power. Nelly was born to perform and help create a new kind of popular music. She has shown a new road where her music can take us. Let's hope that all aspiring and talented young artists will jump on the one-way ride.
 Nelly Furtado |
 Uncle Kracker |
