Full Access Detroit - Detroits Largest Music/Entertainment Magazine - Donny Osmond – Meadow Brook, Rochester Hills, MI

All Photos © Steve Galli + Story by : Chloe Catajan

Donny Osmond brought the classics to Meadow Brook Amphitheatre in Rochester Hills last Saturday. But rather than let nostalgia take the wheel, the iconic vocalist put on a performance full of spontaneity, showmanship, and spectacle.

Osmond’s “Direct From Vegas Tour” takes his award-winning Harrah’s residency show on the road across 46 cities. Each set celebrates his career of six decades with reimagined arrangements, choreography by Nappytabs of So You Think You Can Dance, and striking stage visuals. This stop in Rochester Hills was hosted by 313 Presents.

Lights flashed “DONNY” in all caps, as a live band built up the opening notes of “Soldier of Love”. Osmond, flanked by eight dancers, then took the stage in a shimmery navy blue blazer that matched his crew’s sequined suits. Under deep purple lights, Osmond and company broke into synchronized dance, all on point with their symmetry and stage placements.

The first portion of the set paced through several eras of Osmond’s extensive catalog. Between dazzling numbers like “Soldier of Love” and Start Again track “Who”, came slow-burners like his renowned “Puppy Love” cover and “Close Every Door”. The latter cuts saw Osmond solo center stage, serenading the Meadow Brook crowd. Surrounding visuals changed from broadway lights to a single spotlight and fog cascading the singer.

The scene completely transformed for Osmond’s performance of “I’ll Make A Man Out Of You”, a classic cut from Disney’s Mulan. Dressed in ornate coats, the singer and crew wielded wooden staffs and performed stunts a la the warriors in the film, as the band riffed on the score’s most intense moments.

Exceptional stage presence aside, Osmond’s vocals were a striking force of their own. His tone was rich and resonant. He held out notes with unwavering power. And any genre he took on came second nature to him, whether it was jazzy, soulful, or on the modern, synth-pop side. While the onstage action and outfit changes provided what Osmond considers “eye candy”, his vocals were undoubtedly the soul of the show.

That special connection rang especially true for the night’s second act, where the spotlight was just on Osmond, his voice, and the fans. Osmond, donning a more casual outfit, kicked off the “audience request” segment, where members of the crowd would choose what he’d sing next from a list of songs displayed on the big screen. Osmond went on to perform 14 abridged versions of fan favorites from “Sacred Emotion” and “Seasons of Love” to “Deep Purple” and “Love Me For A Reason”. A fan named Annabelle even got the singer to perform the “Donny Osmond Birthday Song”.

Osmond continued to showcase his diverse talents as the evening went back to its original cadence for the final segment. Next on the setlist came The Osmonds songs “One Bad Apple” and “Having A Party”.

“I am going to transport everyone in this place back in time,” Osmond said, introducing “One Bad Apple.”

The song had Osmond and crew lined up at mic stands variety-show style. He also showed a video clip of a young fan named Rio, singing the closing verse and dancing.

The last stretch of the set also featured a beautiful tribute to Henry Mancini’s “Moon River”, as well as a balladized cover of The Beatles’ “In My Life”, which he dedicated to his sister, Marie.

Osmond rounded out the evening with two more songs off Start Again, “On & On” and “Let’s All Dance”. The two upbeat anthems had the crowd on their feet, as if the night were still young. Osmond took a moment to introduce and show appreciation to his band before saying good night.

Opened in 1964, Meadow Brook Amphitheatre was the summer residence of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra through 1991. It has since become a historic venue for various concerts and shows. It also holds graduation ceremonies for various high schools in the area.

313 Presents is a live entertainment company based in Detroit. It produces and promotes live events held at seven venues in southeast Michigan, including the Little Caesars Arena, Fox Theatre, Comerica Park, Pine Knob Music Theatre, Meadow Brook Amphitheatre, Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre and the Sound Board at the Motor City Casino.

The company takes its name from the area code for Detroit, 313.