The Fray, Kelly Clarkson, and Carolina Liar Tuscaloosa, AL 9/14/12

When I found out that Kelly Clarkson was coming to Tuscaloosa, I was speechless. Her season of American Idol was one of the few that I actually watched and I remember when she won like it was just last week. The Fray and Carolina Liar were also with her. I did not really like The Fray before this show, and I had seen Carolina Liar before so I was mainly there for Kelly. I got there a little early and I heard Kelly and Carolina Liar do their sound-checks. Kelly sound checked My Life Would Suck Without You. I have no idea what song Carolina Liar checked. Anyway, Carolina Liar was first. I did not know many of their songs but I did know Show Me What I’m Looking For. They also said ROLL TIDE like they were actually from Alabama and that was great. When they were done, I thought The Fray was next but it was actually Kelly, so I was a little caught off guard. But all was well and she braced the stage wearing some black skinny jeans and a wide strapped tank top. She ran out and she sounded out of breath. But once she got moving, she picked up her pace. She played:

My Life Would Suck Without You

Behind These Hazel Eyes (Could not hit the high notes)

I Forgive You

Dark Side (“This is one of those happy-sad songs”)

We Are Young (fun. Cover) (She ran out in the crowd and stood on the left side of the amphitheatre to sing it. Great crowd response)

Already Gone (She ran to the other side of the amphitheatre)

Don’t You Wanna Say (Got back on stage and then got pranked by The Fray. The original song features Jason Aldean and on this tour Isaac from The Fray would come out and sing the song with her. Well this time, when Kelly was running back around, a screen lowered on the stage and she was confused when she walked back around. Little did the crowd, or Kelly know that the night’s show was going to be prank night. So Isaac and the guitar player from his band appeared on the screen and were broadcasting live from backstage. They were in cowboy attire and they had a Kelly Clarkson stand up. It was all she could do to keep from laughing during the song.)

Ain’t No Way (Aretha Franklin Cover) (Kelly lets a fan pick a cover song for her to play every night. She said this song was from a girl named Caroline. A guy from Carolina Liar came out and played the piano. When the song was over she asked what Caroline’s last name was. The person that answered her said “A-Liar”. She said it out loud “Caroline A-Liar” It was then that she had the realization that it was Carolina Liar that requested the song. Then she apologized for being blonde) (Kelly went off for the encore and came back out wearing a black dress)

Breakaway

Since U Been Gone

Because Of You

Mr. Know It All

Miss Independent

Stronger

Then it was time for The Fray. I walked around for a little while before they came on and while I was walking I saw someone that looked like Dallas Taylor from Maylene and The Sons Of Disaster. I did not know if it was him so I did not talk to him. (I was mad when I later found out that it was him.) They played

All At Once

Turn Me On

You Found Me

Syndicate

Never Say Never

Happiness

Be Still

Here We Are

Look After You

How To Save A Life

Over My Head (after this was the encore)

Heartbeat

Surrender (Cheap Trick) (Isaac told the people in the back that they could come to the front and not to care if they get in trouble with the fire marshal or not.)

I Love Rock N Roll (Joan Jett)

At some point during the show, Kelly’s crew started pranking The Fray by hanging a person in front of the disco ball and having them move around. Then at the end ping-pong balls started falling out of the sky and all the bands started playing ping-pong on stage. This is only the second show I have been to where I have actually gotten to see a tour prank and I wish they would happen more often.