Daughtry - Seneca Niagara Events Center, Niagara Falls, NY - June 23,2011

Review and photos by Diana MacDonald

Niagara Falls, NY - 'Daughtry,' named after singer/guitarist, Chris Daughtry, performed to a mixed crowd of both the young & old, inside the nearly sold out Seneca Niagara Events Center.  Prior to Daughtry taking the stage, the excitement started to build, as the main topic of discussion seemed to be how everyone felt that Chris should have been the winner of the fifth season of American Idol.
 
Once the band hit the stage, they proceeded to play for an hour and a half, covering most of the material from Daughtry's 2006 self titled CD, and 2009's, "Leave This Town."  The set started off strong with "Everytime You Turn Around," with the crowd immediately getting in the groove.  In between songs, Daughtry (at times) joked with the crowd, requesting everyone to go out and buy his albums.  Not just one, but "8 or 10 copies," for 'all of our friends too.'  To show he hasn't become some aloof celebrity, he also said that he still shops at Target.
 
Although Daughtry didn't address the crowd that often, it was the music that everyone wanted to hear, and the things that he did say, really had everyone cracking up.  Especially, when he asked us if we all gambled (at the casino), and said he and his band were going out later that evening to try to win some money, but they would have to explain to their wives (later) why they were all broke.  Daughtry did in fact gamble, as he played a new, unfinished, unreleased song called, "Rescue Me," a song they are looking to record for their upcoming, not yet named album.  In addition to "Rescue Me," Chris said they had about 25 new songs written, and to expect the third Daughtry CD to be out before the end of the year.
 
The crowd seemed pleased with the show, and Daughtry in general, but at times, watching Chris Daughtry was like watching a fledgling rock star, still learning how to work a crowd, as he would sometimes go completely quiet on stage - in between songs - and not interact with the audience.  The dead silence, and the inability to keep the energy going, seemed to kill the momentum.  For what the stage show may have lack at times, was definitely made up by the great sound provided by the casino, and the pro camera work for the video screens.  No matter where you sat, the sound was good and you didn't miss a thing, as the whole show was being projected on the two screens on each side of the stage.
 
All in all, it was a really good time, and from the positive crowd reaction, it's only going to get better and better for Chris Daughtry, and maybe soon, he will be shopping at Macys rather than Target.