Concertgoers get a soggy KISS

New Englanders know what to expect from KISS 108’s annual spring concert at Mansfield’s Tweeter Center: an eight-hour pop music party, tempered by a total lack of respect from Mother Nature.
But KISS Concert 2007 not only suffered from dreary weather; the bill lacked musical integrity. If this is considered a sample of hit radio’s best, pop music is in big trouble.
After lackluster sets from Lumidee and crooner Robin Thicke, a shrunken, two-member Augustana delivered a heartfelt acoustic trio of tunes. Unfortunately the hushed performance wasn’t particularly audible.


R & b goddess JoJo’s vocals fell flat, as did Barbados-born Rihanna’s: Her scandalously short designer black doily was more enticing than her singing.
Akon’s guest appearance spurred much pubescent pandemonium. While his hip-hop may be generic and predictable, “Soul Survivor,” “Smack That” and “Don’t Matter” all brimmed with contagious energy.
Hilary Duff’s sporty boots-and-diaper combo dispensed with some of the “Dignity” of her new CD, as did her suspiciously processed-sounding vocals. Still, it was hard to resist the electro-pulsing hooks of “Dreamer.”
Whether with or without the Black Eyed Peas, Fergie’s always been more about her humps and lumps than about compelling music. So it’s no surprise her energetic set was plenty flashy. Feigning royalty in a tiara and cape that, once removed, revealed sneakers and a sweatshirt with a silver-blue pleated mini in between, the self-proclaimed “Dutchess” sang “London Bridge,” “Glamorous” and “My Humps.”The best performances were from previous “American Idol” contestants Katharine McPhee and Chris Daughtry. McPhee’s CD may have sold disappointingly, but her early evening set with two backup girls featured spot-on versions of “Love Story” and “Over It” plus a soulful cover of Alanis Morisettes’s “Mary Jane.” Curiously, this seemed like a perfect time for many to go get a snack.
Chris Daughtry took the stage bellowing through a megaphone, leading his self-named band through the punchiest rock ’n’ roll set of the whole event, featuring “It’s Not Over,” “Home” and “Over You.”
But by that point, after eight hours of waiting, it was almost too late. Admittedly, a radio-sponsored event like the KISS Concert is more spirit-oriented than anything else, but what does it say about a festival if the best performances of the day were given by two rejects from a televised pop-star election?