Review from the houston chronicle
Lauper brings pride, passion to True Colors Tour
Dave Rossman: For the Chronicle
Cyndi Lauper gets colorful.
Planned pizzazz or colorful coincidence. Whichever the case, Houston's annual Pride celebrations came to an unofficial close Sunday at the Woodlands Pavilion, where Cyndi Lauper's True Colors Tour showcased a virtual rainbow of high-energy music and truly magical moments.
The 15-city jaunt was conceived by the pop icon in partnership with the Human Rights Campaign, the Matthew Shepard Foundation and PFLAG.
The Houston bill included Blondie singer Debbie Harry, synth-pop duo Erasure and lesbian lightning rod Rosie O'Donnell, whose appearance earned a response worthy of a rock star.
Perhaps buoyed by the reception, O'Donnell pounded on drums for a few songs during Lauper's headlining set. (More on that later.)
Things kicked off early with DJ trio the MisShapes, who spun thumping hits from Madonna and Kylie Minogue as concert-goers browsed merchandise booths and ordered drinks.
Comedian Margaret Cho served as emcee for the five-hour event. She incited big laughs between musical acts, railing against everything from racism and President Bush to the late Jerry Falwell.
She even managed to work in references to local bars, which went over well with the diverse crowd. (Yes, straight people were there, too.) Alas, there were no crazy stories about her mother. Maybe next time.
The Dresden Dolls had the unenviable task of opening the show well before sunset, but the Boston duo quickly captivated the crowd. Members Amanda Palmer and Brian Viglione were painted up like androgynous mimes from another era.
Joey Guerra: Chronicle
Debbie Harry works it out during her early Sunday set.
The music was an urgent blast of rock drama, like a sideshow gone deliciously wrong. Particularly enthralling was the jack-in-the-box groove of Coin-Operated Boy. The duo's 25-minute set was just long enough to create considerable buzz.
Debbie Harry, now 61, could have relied on past glories to fill her own 45-minute set. But the Blondie bombshell drew heavily from forthcoming solo disc Necessary Evil (due Aug. 7) and sprinkled in a few welcome surprises.
She traipsed around the stage like a grand dame but looked like she had just left the gym and thrown on some oversized jewelry. It was all an oddly appealing mix of '80s flavor and rock cockiness.
Harry raced through solo hits French Kissin' in the USA, Rush, Rush and Lovelight. But there was nary a hint of any Blondie material, which many in the crowd were likely waiting to hear. No Call Me. No Rapture. No Heart of Glass.
Of the new tunes, wistful ballad If I Had You and the raging You're Too Hot made the most impact. The latter, in particular, was an arresting moment of rock-goddess bravura that finally brought some of the unusually subdued crowd to its feet
More of that same chic-rock confidence was showcased during O'Donnell's 20-minute stand-up set, which crackled with urgency. The ex-View anchor touched on war and weight, and she briefly mentioned her short-lived daytime gig.
"Those heteros will stab you right in the back with a high heel when you're not looking," she quipped. Wonder who she was talking about.
That was nothing compared to her commentary on Larry King, who O'Donnell says once referred to her as "sexually unattractive" alongside on-air nemesis Donald Trump.
O'Donell labeled the bumbling talk-show host a "human Pez dispenser," a "toad" and said he "is turning into a reptile right before our eyes." The crowd roared with approval.
Dave Rossman: For the Chronicle
Erasure's Bell amped up the crowd.
She also confirmed auditioning for Bob Barker's recently vacated post at The Price is Right, vowing she would "gay it up a little" with confetti and a few "Broadway boys."
No need for that during new-wave duo Erasure's 40-minute set, which naturally sparkled with an electric pop energy. Longtime collaborators Andy Bell and Vince Clarke offered nostalgic grooves that found whole sections of the by-now-sizable crowd doing their best '80s dance moves. (A few, however, crossed over into Elaine Benis territory.)
Bell's spastic twists and gyrations were matched by his soaring voice, which is still a thing of wonder. He was supported by three strong backup singers on his way up to the heavens.
Erasure's magic is the way its new material (from recent disc Light at the End of the World) blends effortlessly with the older hits (Love to Hate You, Sometimes). That uncanny mix kept the crowd's mood at a fever pitch.
Chains of Love and A Little Respect were crowd-pleasing peaks. By the end, Bell was dripping with sweat, seemingly possessed by his own music. The feeling - judging by the crowd's rapturous vibe - was mutual.
Lauper's headlining set needed to swoop, swell and sparkle with even more energy. It did, thanks to her savvy song choices, infectious spirit and wildly soulful vocals.
Joey Guerra: Chronicle
Lauper and O'Donnell move with the music.
She zigzagged through obscure fan treats (Hole in My Heart, Shine), fun pop fluff (The Goonies 'R' Good Enough, a subdued She Bop) and signature hits (Girls Just Wanna Have Fun). Lauper also took time to address the crowd about the tour's dedication to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights.
The diminutive singer works hard onstage, more so than any pop act I've seen in recent memory. She pushes the crowd, pushes her band and pushes herself - almost to the point of exhaustion. It's a thrilling sight to see.
She also routinely stepped offstage and into the arms of ecstatic fans, which sent security personnel scurrying. No fear, no pretense. Just passion and performance.
Vocally, Lauper is near unmatched. She absolutely soared on I Drove All Night and was breathtaking during a messy, marvelous Money Changes Everything.
O'Donnell returned - with drumsticks - for the anthemic Sisters of Avalon. The entire True Colors musical cast reunited for a joyous version of ABBA's Take a Chance On Me, complete with mammoth balloons floating through the air; and for a heartfelt run through the tour's title song, which moved O'Donnell - and some of the crowd - to tears.
Joey Guerra: Chronicle
Katy native Kimberly Caldwell at Saturday's Pride Festival.
"Be your powerful selves and be empowered," Lauper said before leaving the stage. Whether she knew it or not, the evening's mix of music and message provided a perfect starting point.
Uncooperative weather threatened to cast a shadow over the multi-colored proceedings, but Sunday's rain (at least in the Woodlands) was relegated to a few unimpressive sprinkles. Umbrellas were thankfully left tucked away under car seats.
It was a welcome respite from Saturday's wet Pride festivities. Katy native and American Idol diva Kimberly Caldwell braved constant showers - and dangerously high heels - to croon a quartet of cover tunes during the Pride Festival.
Her throaty range was particularly impressive on a pair of Melissa Etheridge tunes (Come to My Window, I'm the Only One). It will be exciting to see what she does with the original material she's working on with John Rich.
Caldwell also helped crown the first Houston Pride Idol. After a few months of intense competition, soulful singer Charlotte Simmons - who can slay a song like Patti Labelle - beat out songwriter Robin Leigh for the inaugural title. Looks like Houston may soon have its own stable of stars, True Colors-style.