MTV Review: Crystal Bowersox, Lee DeWyze & the Top 10 ~ Good Morning America Concert

'American Idol' Top 10 Begin 'Beautiful Day' With 'Good Morning America'
Lee DeWyze, Crystal Bowersox and company strummed and belted through the rain in Central Park on Friday.

With their signs and banners eagerly clutched in their hands, fans marched into Central Park to see "American Idol" season-nine winner Lee DeWyze and runner-up Crystal Bowersox chat with Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos about "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" before two 12-year-old girls competed and a guy who looked like Santa's older brother competed in an "Idol" trivia quiz. And also to see all of the top 10 Idols perform for the "Good Morning America" Summer Concert Series on Friday (July 9).

Crystal was the first one to perform, singing Janis Joplin's "Piece of My Heart" while strumming her guitar, of course. She did the song justice despite the slight spray of rain.

Next up was Lee, again with a guitar, awaiting his time to shine amid the continuing showers. The crowd shouted their love for him, as he responded to their makeshift banners, wishing happy birthdays and anniversaries.

Asked about the life-changing experience of winning "Idol," he said it was "important to remember where you came from" and managed to plug the October release of his upcoming album. He then performed "Treat Her Like a Lady" by the Cornelius Brothers, to which the audience reacted with more enthusiasm and excitement.

Then all of the top 10 took the stage and the band began the riff for Bon Jovi's "It's My Life." The guys gave their best for the rousing anthem, before the girls took over with "My Life Would Suck Without You" by Kelly Clarkson. The rain seemed to bring down the energy of some, Lee in particular, who almost seemed bored at times. But as all 10 sang the song as an ensemble, they gave it a powerful finish.

Before the last song, Lee, Andrew Garcia and Michael Lynche began to beat box and rap for the slightly drenched crowd. But instead of capping off the set with another group performance, Lee went solo for his single, U2's "Beautiful Day" — and fans didn't seem to mind the irony of the bad weather.

Actually, as one fan told MTV News, there's more than one reason to consider it a beautiful day. "It was great to see the American Idols on stage together, and the rain was nice, as it has been so hot!"

Source: Christopher MacAllister, MTV

American Idol Live! Tour 2010 Tickets are NOW on Sale!!! Get them HERE!

The Top 10 finalists Aaron Kelly, Andrew Garcia, Casey James, Crystal Bowersox, Didi Benami, Katie Stevens, Lee DeWyze, Michael Lynche, Siobhan Magnus, and Tim Urban will hit the road this summer on the American Idols LIVE! Tour 2010.

See Crystal Bowersox LIVE!!

America’s #1 show will make 51 stops this summer at a mix of top arenas and amphitheaters across North America giving fans a chance once again to catch their favorite Idols performing live in a town near them. The Live Nation promoted tour begins on July 1st in Detroit and runs through September 14th in Pittsburgh. For the full list of locations.

Simon Fuller, creator and executive producer of American Idol stated, “We are all looking forward to this year’s American Idol Live! Tour. This is always one of the highlights of the year. Each of the Idols have the chance to meet the people that voted for them and perform at incredible venues all over America, another special moment in their developing careers.”

Crystal Bowersox and Andrew Garcia emerge as American Idol Front-Runners In Hollywood

After group night, Katie Stevens, Didi Benami and Haeley Vaughn are also drawing attention.

Yes, the first two rounds of Hollywood Week have just ended, and there's plenty of drama that will undoubtedly unfold before we make it to the top 24. But that has not stopped us from tagging some of the breakout stars that have emerged so far on season nine of "American Idol."

If you can survive the dreaded group round and still have the judges smiling at you, you've already won the first battle, and these singers seem poised to rise to the top ... for now anyway.

Among those who appear to have skated through the first few rounds with nary a scratch is is dreadlocked single mom Crystal Bowersox. The Chicagoan with the Janis Joplin growl, guitar chops and a winning personality, got a rare thumbs-up sign on Tuesday when the audience joined in and provided impromptu backing vocals on her cover of Aretha Franklin's "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman," which ended in a standing ovation.

Another seemingly certain shoo-in Andrew Garcia. The sweet young dad with the neck tattoo, former gangbanger parents and a buttery soul vocal attack has already proven that he's got that certain Adam Lambert-esque shine thanks to his radical acoustic reworking of former judge Paula Abdul's "Straight Up." If this kid doesn't make it to the top 24, we'll be shocked.

With her Colbie Caillat-like groove, Los Angeles native Didi Benami is also an early audience favorite, and it probably didn't hurt that she covered a Kara DioGuardi-penned tune, Katharine McPhee's "Terrified," on Tuesday night and killed it. She's doing "Idol" in memory of a friend who passed away, and her Carrie Underwood-esque good looks and sunny attitude could take her far.

Haeley Vaughn seems determined to become the first black female pop/country artist to break through on the show. Rocker mom Mary Powers appears to be a bit controlling and hard to work with, but works a gritty, Pink-like vibe that has a certain charm. And teen Katie Stevens is emerging as a judges' favorite. DioGuardi told her she could win it all after the group performance of Alicia Keys' "No One."

The judges also seem to like Tampa, Florida's all-American blond Janell Wheeler — who reportedly dated Florida Gators legend (and controversial Super Bowl ad star) Tim Tebow — and her Sheryl Crow-meets-Pink take on Estelle's "American Boy" was impressive. Cougar bait Casey James, the hunky cowboy working a nice-guy singer/songwriter vibe, seems promising.

Backflipping, former Fantasia co-star Todrick Hall, who clearly has the creative chops to survive but is starting to come off as a little gimmicky. Siobhan Magnus. Magnus, a quirky Massachusetts 19-year-old, uses her powerful pipes in a band called Lunar Valve.

Who knows? They could all be gone next week, or one of them could be your next American Idol.