Clint Hale
210SA Staff Writer
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Taylor Hicks walked off the stage on Saturday night, having just completed his 80-minute set, complete with encore, before a less-than-capacity St. Patrick’s Day crowd at Majestic Theatre.

Hicks, the latest “American Idol” victory, had little choice to exit the stage when he did, at approximately 10:30 p.m.

But despite the audience being littered with senior citizens, gray hair and enough Ben Gay to heal an NFL roster, Hicks charged through his 16-song set with the energy and pizzazz that so endeared him to “American Idol” voters in the first place.

From the time he kicked off the concert with a cover of the Doobie Brothers “Takin’ it to the Streets,” Hicks brought concertgoers – particularly women in the 40-60 demographic – to their feet.

Surprisingly, those same concertgoers – aside from the occasional bathroom break – stayed on the feet for the remainder of the set.

Whether singing up-tempo tunes like “The Runaround” and “Soul Thing” or slowing it down a bit on songs such as “Dream Myself Awake” and “The Right Place,” Hicks – clad in blue jeans and a sport coat – continued to show why he outlasted all other competitors on “American Idol’s” fifth season.

Rarely breaking between songs, and engaging the audience on those rare breaks, Hicks electrified the crowd with his powerful voice and now-infamous/somewhat odd dancing moves. Sure, he doesn’t have the vocal range of fellow “American Idol” victors Carrie Underwood and Fantasia, but Hicks makes up for it with his charisma and stage presence.

As much was evident by all the gifts that were thrown on the stage, as roses, St. Patrick’s Day beads, a green sombrero and fortunately, no granny panties, were tossed in his direction at various intervals of the set.

Before exiting the stage for good, Hicks – much to the audience’s delight – donned the green sombrero as his seven-piece band concluded the evening.

For much of Hicks’ fan base, it had been a longer evening than usual.

Opening Band Observations

The Austin-based Greyhounds kicked off the show with a seven-song, 40-minute set that featured twangs of alt-country and southern rock, all rolled into one. Though the lead singer was a bit cheesy, for 20-something standards at least, the older crowd found him to be quite entertaining.

Oh well, know your audience.