Summer Music Mania show focuses on TV
By THOMAS BOND
Get Out
May 20, 2004

When is a concert not a concert? When it's a made-for-TV musical event like Fox Summer Music Mania 2004 at Glendale Arena on May 20.
Though the night boasted top-tier stars such as emcee/performer Jessica Simpson, Black Eyed Peas, Ludacris and 3 Doors Down, the dynamic of the show (each act performed only two songs), changeover time between artists and the filming of introductions made the whole shebang last slightly more than three-and-a-half hours.
“The pauses between music were long,” said, Steve Smith, 19, of Chandler. “But it was like being at a TV show and that was cool.”

Indeed, the show's director regularly gave the audience verbal cues to applaud, “Keep your energy up” and the like.

Of course, the magic of editing will make it all look seamless when the event is broadcast nationally on Fox (KSAZ Ch. 10) in a streamlined two hours beginning at 7 p.m. June 1.

Taking the stage first, Simpson was glowing in a pink bustier and black capri pants with white polka dots. After warming up the crowd briefly and flipping her Farrah Fawcett hairdo, she brought on hip hop collective Black Eyed Peas who opened the show appropriately enough with “Let's Get It Started.”

Following a lackluster tune by newcomer Eamon, Simpson introduced Britney Spears, whose performance of “Toxic” was pre-recorded at another venue but shown on tape to the crowd. It wouldn't be the first time an artist was introduced only to never take the stage.

“I thought Aerosmith was coming out! That was happiness interruptus,” said Michael Wood, 41, of Scottsdale, who'd brought two teenage daughters to the show.

Simpson's live introductions often provided comic relief as she stumbled over her lines. Bringing on her younger sister Ashlee, Jessica said “We have the last same name. Ooops!” and went on to take two as the crowd laughed.

Guitar popsters Rooney gave a terrific rendition of “I'm Shakin’,” while their second tune “Popstars” skewered the “money machines” and “killers of rock ’n’ roll” they were performing with. Sadly, the irony was lost on the audience.

In addition to her hosting duties, Jessica Simpson also performed her current single, a remake of Berlin's “Top Gun” song “Take My Breath Away.” She earned a large ovation with some impressive note holding at the end of the tune.

“It was so cool. I was five feet away from her!” said Jessi Merkley, 18, of Tempe.

The crowd's biggest reaction was reserved for Murphy Lee and Nelly who bounced their way through “Hold Up” and “Luv Me Baby.”

As delays dragged on, the crowd grew restless and booed lustily at one point when Yellowcard was about to start playing but the director called for Simpson to redo their intro.

After Chingy's hit “Right Thurr,” fellow rapper Ludacris closed the live show with “Stand Up.”

It was a false ending however as the director had Simpson reintroduce Black Eyed Peas, but announced that the group's second song, “Hey Mama,” performed at the beginning of the show would be the televised closer. That's undoubtedly for the best as the energy level at the start of the night was much higher than at the end.