14 DAY TRIAL // On that magical night between the years, 5,000 fans who were lucky enough to still be able to get their hands on tickets for Gridlock’s New Year’s Eve Party got to see Adam Lambert perform live. Though the organization of the event was hurried as a consequence of the AMAs backlash, the performance itself was so mesmerizing it stands as proof for why fans love Adam so much, the Los Angeles Times says.
The American Idol alum took to the stage shortly after midnight, introduced by host Pamela Anderson, who also let him feel and see on his own why her décolletage is among the most famous in showbiz. After exchanging a few words with the audience, Adam, in somewhat heavier makeup than usual, started doing what he does best: singing. The set included tracks from his debut album, “For Your Entertainment,” but covers as well. Fans were ecstatic, to say the least.
“Like any good professional entertainer, Lambert delivered, only this time without the cheap theatrics. Sure, there was the occasional crotch grab and pelvic thrust (all self-directed), but his most controversial move of the night turned out to be a dramatic swig from a flask, followed by a disclaimer of sorts. ‘I’m not promoting alcoholism by any means,’ he cautioned, ‘but long live rock ‘n’ roll!’ Downright saccharine compared with the AMAs a month ago,” the LA Times writes.
“Clearly relishing his headlining slot, Lambert hit his groove with dance-floor-ready songs such as ‘For Your Entertainment,’ the title track off his debut album, and ‘Fever,’ which, he explained to the crowd, was also recorded under the influence (Lady Gaga was to blame). But his best moment was undoubtedly the grand finale: wailing Led Zeppelin’s ‘Whole Lotta Love’ with the same conviction that carried him through four months of competition on Idol. So was it as good for the crowd as it was for him? Considering the name of the event, attendees seemed pleasantly surprised by the lack of traffic, both inside the grounds and out, allowing for easy viewing,” the same publication says of the event.
As we also reported a couple of days before the event, Adam’s performance was not taped, televised or streamed because, as he also explained at the time, it was organized in a rush and televisions would not take a chance on him again after the American Music Awards 2009. Luckily for fans, other fans with front-row tickets were allowed to use their camera phones: below is a segment of Adam’s performance on New Year’s Eve. You can find the rest on YouTube. Enjoy.