Daughtry at Agganis Arena

If Randy Jackson was sitting in the front row at the Agganis Arena on Saturday night for Daughtry, he would have said something like, “Dog, you did your thing.” Paula Abdul would have added, “I could actually feel your performance and I loved it.” If present, even the sharp-tongued Simon Cowell could not have found anything negative to say about Chris Daughtry's show in Boston.  America got it wrong.

With the American Idol competition ancient history, Daughtry has remained on the radio, on the TV, touring and making music that his fans enjoy. Enjoy is an understatement. During his gig at Boston University, moms held their daughters, couples sang to each other while slow dancing, and fans stood on their chairs to scream the lyrics. Hundreds of cell phones were raised in the air, some taking pictures, while others called friends to let the music play into the receiver. The Daughtry following brings some very intense fans.

Jordan and Melissa, from Smithfield RI, were in section 113,  “We actually just came from backstage. We met him and the band. They were really, really nice.” One of them jumped in, “We got an awesome hug!” The other continued, “He’s a good hugger. He was friendly to everyone. We got a ton of signed stuff.” And regarding the Idol show, "It was the biggest upset ever, when he got kicked off.”

Tiffany from Maine had this to say, “I’ve liked Daughtry since American Idol. I was really disappointed when he got voted off and I always knew that he’d make it. I stuck by him and waited for that to happen, and I’m really glad to see it.”

Chris Daughtry came out, rocking ‘all black everything’, two hands on the microphone, and occasionally holding up a megaphone. I swear he resembles AJ McLean from the Backstreet Boys. Not as soft as BSB and no where as hardcore as Metallica, Daughtry sits somewhere in the middle next to Nickelback, Sevendust and Chevelle. It was a family show, but that didn’t mean it lacked anything. The musical experience (although somewhat loud) was enhanced by an impeccably timed light show, including gorgeous green lasers that added the perfect touch to the finale the Phil Collins "Air of the Night" cover. As Chris strolled up the catwalk, eager hands from fans reached up to him. He obliged each time, reaching back to shake and give high fives.

Opening support in Boston included Cavo, who captured the venue by their last song, "Champagne." The second opener, Lifehouse, woke up the arena with: "Hanging by A Moment" - their smash hit from 2000. You know the one, “I'm falling even more in love with you / Letting go of all I've held onto / I'm standing here until you make me move…”

Check out photographs from the show.