Lesser Idols launch cabaret tour in S.F.

Aidin Vaziri, Chronicle Pop Music Critic

Friday, June 13, 2008

Beginning in July, 17 castoffs from the first six seasons of the popular Fox television singing competition will get a reprieve from the county fair circuit as part of the "Idols in Concert" tour, which settles in for a nine-week engagement at the Rrazz Room at Hotel Nikko in San Francisco. The city is the first stop for what producers hope will be a traveling cabaret.

Under the direction of "American Idol" pianist Michael Orland, finalists such as Gina Glocksen, Constantine Maroulis, Lisa Tucker, Christina Christian and Paris Bennett, plus a handful of less memorable names - most of whom placed between fifth and eighth in their respective seasons - will reprise the performances that got them the most votes on the series.

Each week, the Rrazz Room will host three acts. The residency kicks off July 1-5 with Anwar Robinson, Lakisha Jones and Jon Peter Lewis.

Calling from home in Los Angeles, Season 3 finalist Lewis said, "It's always fun to be onstage performing in front of a live audience."

He said the performers will each get 15-minute solo sets, which he plans to use to play material from his forthcoming album, "Break the Silence."

There is also some talk of closing each set with a couple of duets and ensemble pieces. "I was never a fan of the song-and-dance routines on the show, though, so I'm not going to dance," he said.

This tour should not be confused with the "American Idols Live Tour 2008," which features the Top 12 performers from the most recent season, including winner David Cook and runner-up David Archuleta. That show should feature plenty of singing and dancing and heads to HP Pavilion on July 8.

Idols in Concert: Jul. 1- Aug. 30. 7:30 p.m. Rrazz Room, Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St., San Francisco. $45-$55. (866) 468-3399, www.therrazzroom.com.