Christmas came early to the LC Pavilion on Thursday with the WNCI Jingle Ball 2006.
Hundreds of fans lined up outside the doors despite the frigid temperatures of a December night in Columbus. Although the LC provides an intimate setting it wasn’t the best venue to house the high-profile headliners Nick Lachey, Rihanna and Bowling For Soup.
The majority of fans opted to cramp the standing-only space leaving the rest to scurry for the balcony, only to be told the small number of seats were for the sponsors of the show.
Distinguished Gentleman opened the show with an act that was nothing short of embarrassing, and that is putting it politely. The Hip Hop/R&B duo performed a short act which seemed to go on forever – and left an unimpressed group of girls loudly pleading for the men to exit.
Josh Hoge more than made up for the sour opening act. Equipped with a guitarist, Hoge went into his blend of Pop and alternative R&B. Hoge’s voice had the same southern soul and mainstream Pop appeal much like other Blue-Eyed soul crooners such as Justin Timberlake and Robin Thicke. The audience predominately comprised of teenage girls clapped and cheered along with Hoge’s music.
The crowd got even rowdier when Hulk Hogan himself came onstage to introduce his daughter Brooke. Mr. Hogan should’ve been the host of the event because he had a hundred times more energy then official host JC Chasez of ‘N Sync.
Hogan kept the crowd dancing with her infectious pop. The 18-year-old stars in the reality show “Hogan Knows Best,” alongside her famous father and the rest of her family and is well on her way to filling the void left by Britney Spears. Hogan might not have the top notch dance skills of Spears, but she has the pipes that Paris Hilton wishes for. Hogan even brought out rapper Paul Wall for her hit “About Us.”
Host Chasez didn’t appear until after Hogan to introduce Bowling For Soup. All in all, Chasez spent about five minutes on stage. He wasn’t lively, he didn’t plug his album (although his single “Until Yesterday” was played twice in-between sets) nor did he use the intimate setting to his advantage.
Bowling For Soup put on a rousing act full of hits such as “High School Never Ends,” “Punk Rock 101,” “1985” and “Girl All the Bad Guys Want.” Lead singer Jaret Reddick’s spunky personality never ended and the group’s energy was infectious. Bowling For Soup put on one memorable set.
Rihanna, who performed at the OUAB Welcome Week Concert, has achieved megastar status since that appearance. The 19-year-old from Barbados was recently named the new face of Cover Girl Cosmetics (following the foot steps of Queen Latifah and Brandy), beat out Mary J. Blige and Beyonce for Female Artist of the Year at the Billboard Awards and went on an oversees tour with Jay-Z. Rihanna performed her top hits including “S.O.S,” “Unfaithful” and “Pon De Replay” and kept the crowd on her feet with her sassy attitude and sexy dancehall moves.
Nick Lachey closed the show, or so it seemed, and proved he is still a heart-throb to screaming teenagers and adults, who threw their panties and bras onstage during his set.
Lachey performed songs from his album “What’s Left Of Me” including the hit title track, “I Can’t Hate You Anymore,” and “Resolution.” Lachey opted not to perform any tracks from his dismal debut album or the catalogue of hits from his days of 98 Degrees.
The Jingle Ball didn’t live up to its own hype. Missing were LoveSick Radio (who played at the show’s after party), the video messages from Danity Kane and Vanessa Hudgens, and for some reason Saving Jane played after headliners Rihanna and Lachey. The majority of the audience, including this author, assuming no one would play after the marquee acts.
On my wish list for next year’s WNCI Jingle Ball is a better venue, better host and, please, no Distinguished Gentlemen, I promise I’ll be nice.
