Gavin DeGraw and Phillip Phillips performed recent co-headliner show at Parx’s Xcite Center
By Samantha Bambino
The Times
There’s something to be said about a musician who doesn’t let fame get to their head. Even after “making it big,” whether that means touring the world or having a single reach №1 on the Billboard charts, the core of who they are remains unchanged. The wide-eyed kid who took a chance on their dreams still lives inside.
On Tuesday, Aug. 28, two prime examples of this consistent humbleness graced the stage of Parx Casino’s Xcite Center in a rare co-headliner show. American Idol season 11 winner Phillip Phillips and acclaimed singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw performed favorite hits and new releases for nearly 90 minutes each, all while interacting with the crowd for an intimate, truly unforgettable evening.
First to sing was Phillips, whose gravelly voice and laid-back, country boy persona quickly made him a frontrunner on American Idol. From the moment he walked on stage, guitar casually slung over his shoulder, it was clear he’s still the same guy who auditioned for Randy Jackson, Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez six years ago.
Donning slightly faded jeans and a solid grey V-neck, 26-year-old Phillips gave off that familiar, unassuming, guy-next door vibe as he greeted the crowd with a simple “hello” in his slight Georgia drawl. But the instant he began strumming his guitar while crooning out the lyrics to “Man on the Moon,” a track off his debut The World from the Side of the Moon, it was as though someone else had materialized on stage.
Phillips was completely in his element as every one of his muscles somehow moved to the music. Whether it was light head bangs or his signature knee lift (watch any live performance on YouTube and you’ll understand), the energy that exuded from his body was infectious. And the crowd was absolutely loving it.
As he transitioned into “Lead On” from his 2014 sophomore album Behind the Light, and the darker, angstier “Don’t Tell Me” off his 2018 release Collateral, shouts of “yeah!” and cheers of appreciation could be heard throughout the venue.
During the radio hit “Raging Fire,” Phillips got the audience involved. While he repeated the anthemic chorus, “C’mon, c’mon, c’mon, won’t you turn my soul into a raging fire,” nearly every person in the crowd pointed their index fingers to the sky in unison.
“You got it, you got it,” Phillips encouraged between lines.
Crowd participation continued during “Magnetic,” a bluesy track off Collateral, during which he led a sing-along of the song’s catchy “na na na” opening. Phillips then took a step away from the folk-rock sounds he had showcased thus far, performing “I Dare You” — a mellow yet pleasant surprise on Collateral that boasts classic rock undertones.
It was at this point in the show that Phillips’ fan following became evident. In the brief moment of silence, one attendee took advantage and requested at the top of her lungs “U Got It Bad,” an Usher cover Phillips performed on American Idol. At first, Phillips laughed it off. But before he could dive into the next song, a wail of “come onnn” came from the same fan, along with murmurs of agreement from more of the crowd.
Phillips obliged, and, after the Xcite Center was dimmed in a sea of purple light, performed a hauntingly beautiful rendition of the song that garnered him millions of votes once upon a time. Despite “U Got It Bad” not being on the setlist, it was arguably the best moment of the night.
“That was for you guys,” he said. “I haven’t played that in years.”
The remainder of Phillips’ set was an enjoyable blur of guitar solos, shouts of “I love you Phillip!” and a handful of hits including “Gone, Gone, Gone” and “Home,” which holds the title of all-time best selling song from American Idol.
After a 25-minute break to swap out the instruments on stage, DeGraw emerged to an equally loud roar of cheers and applause. Like Phillips, DeGraw dressed casually, though his black baseball cap and tan jacket added a little extra flair. DeGraw took a seat behind his piano, opening with “Best I Ever Had” off his 2013 album Make a Move.
Even from the comfort of his bench, DeGraw was ever the showman, smiling easily and engaging the crowd, who belted out every single word. To ensure neither half of the venue felt excluded since the piano was situated to one side of the stage, he made it a point to emerge from behind the instrument at least once per song.
DeGraw’s setlist, like his discography, was laid-back and easy to listen to as he continued with “Candy,” a track off 2011’s Sweeter, “Relative” from his 2008 self-titled sophomore album, and “In Love with a Girl,” one of his most well-known hits to date. He then took things back further with “Follow Through,” which is featured on his 2003 debut Chariot.
“You sing good by the way,” he told the crowd as it sang along with him. “Real good.”
The night continued with “She Holds the Key,” which DeGraw said is his father’s favorite song (he’s not sure why), followed by another fan favorite “Chariot,” which received one of the biggest reactions yet. With the entire crowd now on its feet, DeGraw hinted at what was about to come.
“Somebody told me this was a party crowd,” he said, warning that the next song required a lot of “booty shaking.”
For those diehards in attendance, they were ready to scream-sing “Sweeter” — one of DeGraw’s more high-energy, rock-inspired tracks — before he finished his sentence.
The latter half of DeGraw’s set was just as entertaining as the first and included “Take Me to the Pilot,” “Not Over You,” and “I Don’t Want to Be,” the single that catapulted him to stardom when it was featured as theme of the series One Tree Hill.
Parx Casino and its Xcite Center are located at 2999 Street Road in Bensalem. For information on upcoming shows, visit parxcasino.com/xcitecenter. ••
Samantha Bambino can be reached at sbambino@newspapermediagroup.com
