An “IDOL” night at The Kent Stage as former American Idol stars, David Cook and Leah Marlene brought their summer 2024 tour to Kent, Ohio. David Cook won the 7th season and has been on the road ever since doing so. Together with a hard rocking band, David Cook played the “hits” of his career, and, finished with his brand-new song, “Dead Weight”.
David Cook seemed to be having a lot of fun and “threw away the script” as he went on various tangents with the crowd all night long. At one point, for 10 minutes or so, he talked about the early days in his career when he would play anywhere just to make a few dollars. He said he became known as “the guy who did not finish songs”. While playing, he tried to play songs that he did not know the entire song and would play a few parts, and then move on to another song. Last night he played a couple of chords from songs by Bon Jovi and John Mayer, stopped and then would say, “that’s all I know”! He was laughing at himself, and the audience ate it up. One lady, of course, yelled out “Free Bird”, he played a couple of chords and said, “that’s it, that’s all I know”.
He also pointed out a young girl (7 or so years old) who was wearing the “pizza tour shirt” and telling her that it would make a nice sleep shirt and she would grow into it (She received a guitar pick, a drum head, and drum sticks at the end of the show.) The “looseness” of the show and Cook’s interaction with the crowd made his set more personable and his fans loved it. His band rocked their asses off and also were just having a lot of fun for the entire set.
At the end of the set, David Cook performed “Come Back To Me” and “Light On” solo on electric guitar. For the last song, he played a brand new single where Cook was joined by his bandmates and rocked out “Dead Weight”.
Opening the show was Leah Marlene who was on Season 20 of American Idol, She performed a 40-minute set of her own music with the “angst” edge that she had on the show. Armed with an electric guitar, Leah Marlene instantly won over the crowd with her strong voice and edgy guitar licks. She talked about her time on American Idol and the doors that it opened for her. Just when she was about to change from electric to acoustic guitar, the stage was invaded by David Cook and his bandmates. David Cook became Leah Marlene’s hair stylist, another band mate put “freezies” on her table and the other two helped with wardrobe. It was fun and the crowd enjoyed the “looseness’ that it gave the concert. Just before Leah Marlene started to play a song on her acoustic guitar, she yelled backstage and said, “How am I supposed to get the “freezies” open?” David Cook ran back out on the stage, tried twisting them open, tried biting them open, and tossed them on the floor. Leah Marlene picked them up and said, “Well, there is a little bit coming out”.
Leah Marlene is on tour promoting her new album, “We’re All Buying Into A Dream” that was released earlier this year. A powerful voice, Leah Marlene, had a long line at her “merch” table at the end of the show, and, met all of her fans, old and new.
During her set, Leah Marlene, said that she grew up in a family of music that helped her with her career. She said her dad was in a 1980s “hair band”. And, indeed he was, Honeymoon Suite (Who are still making music.)!
