Review and pics: Miley Cyrus thrills as Hannah Montana
Click on the link under the photo to launch a slide show of images from the show.
Aside from relying at times on lip-synching -- the pop-singer safety net that's become common practice in concert -- Miley Cyrus proved to be an entertaining dynamo during her sold-out "Best of Both Worlds" show Sunday at Conseco Fieldhouse.
Vigorously working through the concert's first half devoted to the fictional "Hannah Montana" character she portrays on the Disney Channel and a second half tailored to her own tunes, the 15-year-old daughter of Billy Ray Cyrus couldn't have lost any fans during the 80-minute performance.
After emerging from a video cube lowered to the stage, Miley Cyrus bounced through signature Hannah tunes including "Rock Star," "I Got Nerve" and "Nobody's Perfect."
Familiarity doesn't breed contempt within the Hannah franchise, as a song's chorus is repeatedly hammered home. During "Nobody's Perfect," Cyrus delivered the title phrase 15 times.
The best of Hannah was represented during the full-stage celebration of "We Got the Party with Us." Cyrus, her dancers, her backing musicians and members of supporting act the Jonas Brothers made use of ramps, elevated spaces and a runway that stretched from stage to center of arena floor.
Overall, Conseco Fieldhouse looked and sounded great packed to its roof with people -- a rare event in 2007.
An abundance of glow sticks, vendors hawking cotton candy and the racket of shrieking fans prompted memories of the Backstreet Boys playing two sold-out dates at the arena in 2000.
But while ballads were routine during Backstreet shows, Cyrus rarely slows down. At one point, she commented that she likes to see audience members playing air guitar during her songs.
Her in-concert wardrobe rotated in a blur that could be summarized as '80s irony, casual denim, psychedelic mini, tough-girl leather, dance-floor chic and high-school cheer.
Artistically, the songs "See You Again" and "Let's Dance" helped the Miley segment top the Hannah half of the show.
During "See You," Cyrus sang about waiting for a second chance to make an impression. "I will redeem myself," she vowed.
The arrangement of "Let's Dance" let subtle Spanish textures jut against jock-rock bombast.
These tunes were more sophisticated than the Hannah fare, although Disney's wholesome reach extended to video images projected during "Let's Dance." Suggestive of neon signs associated with nightclubs and liquor stores, the images instead advertised "cappuccino" and "dairy bar."
On the topic of making social statements, Cyrus told the audience that $1 from every ticket was earmarked for the City of Hope cancer research center in California, and she urged donations to the Web site www.adoptaclassroom.org.
Compared to the superficial stardom linked to the Hannah Montana character, Miley Cyrus is easy to root for as a role model and individual spirit.
Before the headliner arrived, the Jonas Brothers played New Wave pop-rock in a style popularized 25 years ago.
Their performance even opened with "Kids of the Future," a recasting of 1981 Kim Wilde hit "Kids in America"
Joe Jonas, the 18-year-old natural rock star of the sibling trio, sang "Kids" with skinny-tie and big-sunglasses panache.
"Her in-concert wardrobe rotated in a blur that could be summarized as '80s irony, casual denim, psychedelic mini, tough-girl leather, dance-floor chic and high-school cheer."
I adore that sentence. Thank you.

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