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concert review
Musical duo hit homers at Fifth Third
'High School Musical' stars Vanessa Hudgens and Corbin Bleu thrill a young audience with song and dance.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
DAYTON — Gabrielle and Chad, er, Vanessa Hudgens and Corbin Bleu — the singing-dancing actors who play Gabrielle and Chad in Disney's popular "High School Musical" film series — brought their youthful charms to town Tuesday night, Aug. 26, for a joyfully exuberant co-headline concert at Fifth Third Field.
The pair, both already entertainment veterans at 19 years of age, performed individual one-hour sets on a simple stage situated along the second-base, infield line.
Bleu opened the early evening concert with a powerhouse show that seemed choreographed down to every quarter beat of the beat-heavy material. Backed by four instrumentalists — playing bass, keyboards, guitar and drums — and four dancers, Bleu thrilled the predominantly pre-adolescent audience with his athletic dance moves and magnetic personality.
Although his segment was plagued by various sound problems that made his speaking voice difficult to follow and cut out the lead vocals through the first half of what could have been a show-stopping "Marchin,' " Bleu never missed a beat.
In comparison, Hudgens' set seemed less orchestrated, though no less appreciated by the adoring crowd, which danced and sang along to the pop-infused songs culled from Hudgens' two album releases.
Backed by six dancers and no instrumentalists, Hudgens gave a looser performance than Bleu's, and the heavy use of pre-recorded material made it difficult to tell from the stands when the singing was live. No matter. She was live and in person, and that's what mattered most to the crowd.
Comments
By Kim R
August 28, 2008 4:24 PM | Link to this
We had the good luck to meet Corbin after his sound check. He signed gave an autograph and posed for a picture.
He made sure to ask for my daughter’s name and thanked her for coming.
He took time that he didn’t have to take to make a nine year old feel special. He is one celebrity who really understands why he is where he is, and hasn’t let it go to his head!!
By Kim R
August 28, 2008 4:24 PM | Link to this
We had the good luck to meet Corbin after his sound check. He signed gave an autograph and posed for a picture.
He made sure to ask for my daughter’s name and thanked her for coming.
He took time that he didn’t have to take to make a nine year old feel special. He is one celebrity who really understands why he is where he is, and hasn’t let it go to his head!!
By Joshua Scales
August 28, 2008 3:55 PM | Link to this
The concert was fantastic! Sadly I missed most of WE COME TO PARTY by Corbin, but I loved the rest of his set. Vanessa….what can I say? She’s GORGEOUS! I never thought I would see them live, but especially Vanessa due to how famous they are and how much I LOVE VANESSA ANNE HUDGENS. She did sound a bit tired, and exhausted at times when she performed, but I can understand. When you have a strict-tight tour schedule like them, that can happen. I sure hope I can see them again someday!!!
By Lacie
August 27, 2008 4:55 PM | Link to this
This concert was absolutely AMAZING. Corbin Bleu is outrageously GORGEOUS, and very talented as well… Vanessa ROCKED the stage with Sneakernight. She was completely and utterly amazing as well. The songs they both performed were great… Although I was very upset that he took that girl Mikayla on stage… but other than that Corbin was awesome and so was Vanessa…
By Dorinda N.
August 27, 2008 3:50 PM | Link to this
I fully enjoyed both performers last night. Corbin did his thing! From his intro act to his last song, Corbin was on point! Vanessa put on a good show as well, although I must admit she seemed rather winded a lot. She still managed to wow the crowd though. Three cheers to both of them. They are great role models!
By Dorinda N.
August 27, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this
I fully enjoyed both performers last night. Corbin did his thing! From his intro act to his last song, Corbin was on point! Vanessa put on a good show as well, although I must admit she seemed rather winded a lot. She still managed to wow the crowd though. Three cheers to both of them. They are great role models!
By JennyM
August 27, 2008 12:13 PM | Link to this
I enjoyed Vanessa’s part of the show, although it was hard to tell when she was really singing with all of the track music. It was full of color and dancing and energy. There were a lot of breaks for her, too. I thought Corbin, although clearly talented, didn’t put on an age appropriate show. Know your audience. The back-up dancers for him were wearing some rather revealing clothing. And there were a lot of hip thrusting moves. Large portions of the audience were under 10.
By Corbin Rocked/Vanessa Did Not
August 27, 2008 10:12 AM | Link to this
If you can’t do an entire set, without taking a break, then maybe you shouldn’t be on stage. Corbin’s show was very well orchestrated and my daughter loved it. Vanessa just seemed like she was not into it. Every other song, she took a break. Now, I’m not necessarily in the best of shape, but I also don’t go on stage and perform! I’m glad we went though. My daughter enjoyed both acts, through and through.
By Marie
August 27, 2008 10:07 AM | Link to this
Very very disappointed by the show that Vanessa put on. Her show was very disappointing!!!! Also when we bought the tickets it said and special guest. Who exactly was the guest?
By Chuck
August 27, 2008 9:28 AM | Link to this
Who?
By Stephanie
August 27, 2008 9:05 AM | Link to this
I won tickets for my Daughter and her friend to meet Vanessa and there was maybe 10 girls back there to meet her and she wouldn’t sign anything for these girls. After the show when we were walking to our car Corbien was standing behind a fence signing anything and everything for the kids out there. That to me says alot about them regardless of how their performance was.
By Not Miley
August 27, 2008 8:19 AM | Link to this
THANKS for the REVIEW! Im too old for thiskind of concert but I do like to know whats going on with the youngsters and this coverage helps. It kind of sounds like fun. P.S. I always love music reviewsbecause I dont get to many concerts but your writer makes mefeel like i was there.
By Donna
August 27, 2008 8:17 AM | Link to this
Corbin put on a much better show than Vanessa. Her performance was actually disappointing. How much lip-synchig did she actually do?
By Not Miley
August 27, 2008 8:16 AM | Link to this
Thank you for the review. Theres no way Im going out to a concert like that but I do read about things in hopes of keeping up with the younguns. This kind of coverage does help.
By Tracy R
August 27, 2008 7:44 AM | Link to this
The audience wildly appreciated the duo. We wish Vanessa and Corbin had done a duet. A “High School Musical” duet song with the two (even if it wasn’t Troy) would have been cool. We hope the whole HSM group will tour someday and sing their best songs from 1,2, and the upcoming 3. We want to see it live!