Concert review: 'True' singer hits the City of Angels to shoot concert footage for upcoming DVD

By ANH NGUYEN

People know him as Ashlee Simpson's boyfriend. Also, you would see him co-starring along side her on her MTV show, which just wrapped up its second season.

However, Ryan Cabrera is seeking to become a star in his own right, headlining a tour with dates all over the states. His album, "Take It All Away," was released last November and is closing in on platinum status.

On March 31, he came to Los Angeles to perform at the famous Wiltern LG Theatre. The concert was being taped for Cabrera's upcoming concert DVD that will be released in a few months.

Opening act Bonnie McKee, in a shiny short black dress and jeans with a slit on each side, started the show with "Trouble." That very day, MTV's "TRL" premiered her video "Somebody," which was featured on the "Son of the Mask" soundtrack. Her musical style is a little mixed between the Janis Joplin feeling and the new pop punk sound that you would hear from a band like Evanescence.

Then the real reason why the audience was filled with teenage girls, and pretty much only girls, hit the stage.

Cabrera emerged with a toy accordion, playing a few chords before picking up his guitar and transitioning right into "Let's Take our Time." I don't know which was more distracting, the screaming girls or the camera cranes hovering around.

"We are all peeps," Ryan proclaimed while reenacting various scenes from the movie "Napoleon Dynamite" and reciting lines.

With the crowd filled with starry-eyed fans, it was the perfect opportunity to test out a few songs. He sang "Last Night" and "With You Gone," which are potential tracks on Cabrera's upcoming sophomore album, which he is aiming to release later this year.

The funniest occurrence of the night came during "Echo Park," when he took a break in the middle of the song. Cabrera asked the audience if they knew how to dance. He acted upset when the audience stood still, and then the song went right into "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul's hit, "Straight Up." He performed a goofy choreographed dance and belted out "Straight up now tell me, Do you really want to love me forever? Oh oh oh."

What always seems to stop a loud, crazy audience dead in its tracks at a pop show is when a song is being covered. One of Cabrera's huge influences was the great Paul Simon. He covered the upbeat "You Can Call Me Al," but the only people who were rocking out and singing along were the diehard fans who have been to his concerts, and the parents who brought their kids. Good thing it was only one song, and he went right into "She's."

Among the other tracks performed was "40 Kinds of Sadness," which is his third single from "Take It All Away." Another song, "Shame on Me," describes how no matter hard you try to respect a girl for her mind, you cannot help but give attention to everything else.

The concert continued with "Illusions," "Exit to Exit," and "True." Taylor Cole from The WB's "Summerland" (who was also featured in Cabrera's "True" music video) was sighted in the audience enjoying herself with friends.

Overall, this native Texan who was discovered by Joe Simpson, the managerial brain behind Jessica Simpson and Ashlee Simpson, proved to be a great live act.

Keeping the audience entertained and never having a dull moment, Cabrera shows his charisma every time you see him.

If you did not have a chance to see him when he was in Los Angeles, it's rumored that he will be in the lineup for 102.7 KIIS FM's annual concert, "Wango Tango." However, if he doesn't perform, the DVD is only a few months away. Until then, you can watch "The Ashlee Simpson Show" reruns on MTV playing every other hour.

(Anh Ngyen is a Fontana resident.)

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