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Natasha shines on stage

Natasha Bedingfield/Kate Voegele/Andy Grammer
House of Blues
Orlando, FL
July 14, 2011

Natasha Bedingfield

Andy Grammer

Kate Voegele

Story by Brittany Fornof
Photos by Nick Masuda

Like a popular jock walking into a high school party, Andy Grammer walked onto the stage with a look of laidback ease and confidence. "What's up Orlando? Hey, hey hey," he shouted into the microphone before breaking into the first song of his set. In his black jeans, black and blue hightops, and white graphic tee, Grammer looked like the epitome of every school girl's fantasy.

"Do you want to be my love, my sight, my heart, and my eyes...my world, my pride, my stars in my skies?" he serenaded the audience. Performing some of his most popular songs, including "Fine by Me" and "Ladies," Grammer entertained the crowd with his clear voice, sweet smile, incredible beat boxing skills and keyboard talent.

Before breaking into the next song, Grammer looked out into the crowd, "You guys are beautiful. Can I take a picture of you? Hold on wait, let me come join you. We can be like a family." Much to the audience's pleasure, Grammer clumsily jumped over the railing, made his way to the middle of the crowd and threw his fists into the air. With the rest of the crowd mimicking his stance, Grammer posed for a quick photo before hopping back on the stage to finish his set with radio hit "Keep Your Head Up" and a cover of Snow Patrol's "Chasing Cars."

Next to take the stage was Kate Voegle, who also stars as Mia Catalona on the CW's One Tree Hill. Voegelees' pile of sparkling necklaces and flowy beige top with large black flowers contrasted sharply with her faded blue jeans and rustic brown boots. With her slight country twang and big acoustic guitar, Voegelee herself seemed like a miraculous oxymoron. With a deep, sultry voice, Voegele sang "Manhatten from the Sky" but the depth of her vocal range expressed itself when she performed "Put a Little Sunshine in My Sky."

"We could pack our bags and fly to Costa Rica," she smiled towards the audience. "You could swing me low and call me Rosalita. Oh put a little sunshine in my sky. Oh what a lovely day to be alive." Throughout her set, Voegelee performed many of her hit songs, including "Sandcastles" from her newly released album Gravity Happens. "So I don't know about you guys," Voegelee whispered into the microphone. "But for me, music gets me through the tough times in life. And that's what this next song is about...how a song can heal you."

"But I got this six-string religion," she crooned. "And I do, I do believe a song can heal me. It's enough for me." Voegelee's voice was clear and soft, yet brave and deep. Her fingers wrapped around the neck of her guitar while her other hand strummed away. The result was beautiful-harmonious and mesmerizing. Closing her eyes, she sang, "I'd rather make sandcastles instead of these wide-world decisions."

Voegelee exited the stage with a resounding applause while the audience awaited the much-anticipated headlining act of the tour: Natasha Bedingfield.

Wearing a pair of black, baggy slacks and a simple white teed cropped over her belly button, Natasha Bedingfield raced onto the stage with an energy and commotion that the audience. "La, la, la, la, la," she sang into the microphone. "Can you feel my love?"

Looking fluid against the backdrop of the stage, Bedingfield shook her hips side to side. She pulled and pushed the microphone stand towards and away from her, belting out the lyrics. Tossing her shaggy blond hair along with the music, Bedingfield drew the crowd in. "Welcome to the Less is More show," she shouted in her thick British accent. "The whole idear is to strip it down to keep it simple. We like these kind of settings. They're intimate. We like that we can see you." Throughout her set, Bedingfield and her band performed several of her greatest hits, including: "These Words," "I Bruise Easily" and "Single." Like a troubled soul, Bedingfield bent down to her knees at the foot of the stage."Everybody hurts just a little too much." Opening her arms wide and letting her stacks of red and beige bracelets dangle at her wrists, Bedingfield sang, "It's wonderful to fall/Let's love and risk it all/I'd rather love just a little too much."

Mounting the keyboard, Bedingfield prepared to play "Try" from her 2010 Strip Me album. In an innocent tone, Bedingfield explained, "When you fall in love with someone...truly. It's not about them being perfect. It's not about you being perfect. You fall in love with something deeper. And that's what this song is all about." Bedingfield and her ensemble of talented musicians closed the show with crowd-favorites "Pocket Full of Sunshine," "Strip Me," and "Unwritten." The highlight of the show, however, was when Bedingfield performed a cover of Prince's "Purple Rain."

One cannot truly realize the extent of Bedingfield's talent until they see her perform live. The key to her identity is not in the success of a few hit singles, the look of one album cover, or even the sound of one note she hits. The true identity of her as a musician lies in her versatility and live energy.

It's impossible to comprehend the raw talent that she possesses until one hears her scream the lyrics of "Purple Rain" in person or watch her press her hands to her heart and reach out towards the audience as she sings "Strip Me." The height-the pitch-the vitality running through her blood is evident as she marches across the stage, commanding the room with her charisma and stealing the heart of her audience with her sometimes delicate, sometimes gripping voice. For those who think Bedingfield's talent is restricted only to the flowery version of herself depicted on the radio, think again. She is versatile. She is spunky. She is alive.