MULTIMEDIA

Brian McKnight concert

Brian McKnight opened Circle City Classic weekend on a soothing note Friday night at the Indiana Convention Center.

The R&B singer didn't serve as a hype man for today's Classic football game -- a contest between historically black colleges Alabama A&M University and Tuskegee University at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Instead, McKnight sang pleasant ballads showcasing a voice that's powerful at every pitch.

It's possible the vocalist known for 1990s hits "One Last Cry" and "Back at One" makes it look too easy. A pre-concert video lampooned a former "American Idol" hopeful who had been told by friends and family members that his skills rivaled McKnight's.

In a comical crash-and-burn in the presence of Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson, the non-singer displayed none of the nuance, confidence or charm that defines McKnight as a performer.

Modesty is another part of McKnight's persona. The 39-year-old who grew up in Buffalo, N.Y., referred to his career as a collection of "little love songs."

A rendition of Luther Vandross staple "Never Too Much" allowed McKnight to power up his falsetto amid a less-than-perfect sound mix in the boxy convention center hall.

One of McKnight's most recent hits, 2006's "Find Myself in You," revived the organic approach of 1970s Marvin Gaye to fill the room with hearty sound. Chatty backing vocals and hand claps did the trick.

Before McKnight's arrival onstage, concert promoter Geno Shelton thanked audience members for buying concert tickets in tough economic times.

The show was a bargain at $40 per ticket. McKnight's show featured higher production values than any Circle City Classic concert in recent memory.

Audience members saw the headliner on five video screens, and Shelton deserves praise for booking Lakeside as the evening's supporting act.

The Ohio-based band extracted maximum impact from its signature hit, "Fantastic Voyage."

With a destination of "the land of funk" in sight, the buoyant romp became more infectious the longer it was played.

Vocalist Mark Adam Wood Jr., -- a founding member of Lakeside dating to 1969 -- made sure his group had more than one extended jam in its repertoire. He brought high energy to "All the Way Live," and he mined a deep soul groove during a cover of the Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand."