By WALT BELCHER, The Tampa Tribune

TAMPA - Some people say they see a younger George Clooney. Some see a younger Jay Leno. And maybe some even see a prematurely gray and slightly arthritic Elvis.

Watching Taylor Hicks strut, hunch, wiggle and shake his booty is so much more fun than listening to his “Taylor Hicks” CD which is a rather bland mix of blues and pop.

Other than “Wherever I Lay My Hat” and “Soul Thing,” there’s not much on it that you want to hear more than once unless you are a member of Hick’s Soul Patrol fan base.

The Patrol was out in full force at the Tampa Theatre Thursday night. The place was sold out and Hicks brought them to their feet often.
The audience looked considerably older than the fans of previous “American Idol” winners.

You wonder how Hicks won the season five “Idol” competition when his audience of more than 1,400 was much more senior and smaller than the 18,000 who watched Justin Timberlake Thursday night just down the street at The Forum.

Don’t get me wrong. I like Taylor Hicks, especially when he cuts loose and covers Ray Charles or does the Doobie Brothers’ “Takin’ It to the Streets.” He also threw in a little “Tupelo Honey” and “Brown-eyed Handsome Man” Thursday night.

Someone behind kept yelling for “Georgia on My Mind” but Hicks didn’t do that one.

Hicks also went through his album and the fans swayed to “Dream Myself Awake,” “The Runaround” and others.

It’s great that Hicks won “Idol” because he is such an anti-Idol type. This 29-year-old good ol’ Alabama boy has a decent voice and his musical heart is in the right place.

That post “Idol” album was probably more reflective of what Hicks’ music producer Clive Davis felt was commercial.

Hicks told the crowd that his new single off the album, “Just to Feel That Way,” almost didn’t make the cut. He said he wasn’t sold on it but “Clive called and said “You need to do this’ and I said ‘Yes, Boss’.”

Dressed in jeans, a black shirt and coat, he was bathed in a red spotlight for most of the show.

He played to his fans, often pausing his bopping and weaving on stage to strike a sort of freeze-frame pose. Fans were encouraged to take photographs. Or they could buy an autographed Taylor Hicks T-shirt for $30.

Hicks said that he was “under the weather” but that didn’t stop him from giving the audience 90-minutes of song, dance and harmonica rifts, backed by his seven-member band.

He thanked the crowd for their votes and said he loved it that they liked “older music.”

Reporter Walt Belcher can be reached at (813 259-7654 or wbelcher@tampatrib.com.

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