http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2009/11/american_idol_finalist_matt_gi_1.html
Matt Giraud had his “swagger on high” Saturday at his first solo concert, warmly engaging the sold out crowd with his marvelous voice, gorgeous piano playing and outsized charm.
“You may know me from that little TV show,” he said, referring to “American Idol,” in which the Kalamazoo resident placed fifth on Season 8. About 850 music fans packed the sanctuary of Cornerstone Church’s new building in Caledonia as part of the church's grand opening celebration. The second show of the day at 7 p.m. also sold out to a full house.
“Y’all mind if I get my swagger on high?” he asked the enthusiastic crowd. No one minded a bit, welcoming the first of five original tunes Giraud had penned since his Idol tour ended in September.
Written with Marcus Hummon, co-writer of the Rascal Flatt’s smash “God Bless the Broken Road,” “Go On and Sing, Boy” was full of jazzy soul with a honky tonk heart, with “Great Balls of Fire” piano trills and a tune more contagious than the flu.
Naturally, hearthrob Giraud has a romantic side, which he showed on several numbers, including “Have You Ever Loved a Woman?” This sultry Bryan Adams cover moved smoothly into “My Funny Valentine” as the piano man encouraged the crowd to help him with some “jazzy snaps.”
“Georgia,” which he sang on both the show and the live tour, earned him a standing ovation from judges Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson, but not, he wryly noted, that crusty Simon Cowell. Giraud invested such power and emotion in the tune, it was obvious he felt it deeply. “Ray Charles is my hero,” he said.
The second of Mattie G’s newbie numbers, “Gimme a Break,” was distilled sunshine, a happy, buoyant-as-a-lark ditty—musically Billy Joel at his sunniest, and lyrically John Mayer at his most thoughtful.
For his third original debut (Giraud repeatedly told the crowd they were the “first” to hear these songs), the 24-year-old invited the two crowd members who had traveled the farthest—two young ladies had each, separately, traveled 16.5 hours to see their Idol—to be serenaded to “Whatever It Takes,” a beautiful love song. Both shared a bench with Giraud and appeared to be near hovering to the ceiling with joy.
Gutsy Giraud piled three new songs on top of one another, and tellingly, no one minded a bit. “Breakin’ in a Broken Heart,” written with country star Billy Dean, was smoke-infused blues, and reminded one and all that Giraud’s buddy Adam Lambert isn’t the only Idol to rock a falsetto.
| 4 OUT OF 4 STARS |
Highlight: Giraud’s fantastic cover of The Fray’s “You Found Me,” tied with his debut of the sparkling original tune “Gimme a Break.”
Low Point: None
Time onstage: 90 minutes
• View photo gallery from performance |
A Q and A with TV host Maranda broke up the show nicely and gave fans a chance to ask the man of the hour some burning questions. “Do you have a girlfriend?” was one. “No comment” and a grin was the answer.
Covering such diverse artists as Imogene Heap, Michael Jackson, and Michael W. Smith, Giraud demonstrated his great versatility and big repertoire. His experience in various piano bars showed: The WMU graduate boasted the ease and comfortable vibe of a seasoned showman.
For his encore, Giraud picked another Idol favorite: The Fray’s “You Found Me.” As he sang passionately, his voice filling the room like it was one huge sail, the performance begged the question, ‘Who’s gonna be smart enough to give this guy a record deal?’
“I’m still a West Michigan piano guy,” he said humbly at the end. “I’ll never change.”
Swagger on, Mattie G.
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Subject: Matt's first concert review! 
Mon Nov 23, 2009 1:00 am
I cannot wait for his January Show!
