Rock Star Supernova Review from DesMoines Iowa 

Wednesday night’s Rock Star: Supernova concert at Wells Fargo Arena was a study in how the ready-mix approach has left this CBS-spawned quartet with a murky identity at best: not really a reunion tour, not quite a cover band, hardly a fresh original, far short of a Billboard chart-topper ready to fill arenas.

Only 3,715 fans filed into the Well for a procession of four different acts and, sadly, fewer highlights.

Spiky-haired Canadian Lukas Rossi competed weekly on prime-time TV to win his role as frontman in Rock Star: Supernova alongside Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee, Guns N’ Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke and Black Crowes bassist Johnny Colt (a replacement for the injured Jason Newsted, ex-Metallica). On Wednesday night, the yowling singer chose to introduce himself to Iowans in the flesh by starting with a cover of the Rolling Stones’ “Let’s Spend the Night Together.”

Bad idea, dude. Might there be a less legendary rock singer you’d like to measure up against right out of the gate?

Rock Star: Supernova remembered to bring all the proper arena-rock toys (seizure-inducing strobe lights, a giant mirror ball, etc.) but forgot compelling songs or true charisma. Selections such as “Headspin” from the band’s roundly ignored debut album settled for the plodding sort of heavy. Rossi and the boys fared a little better with the glam of David Bowie’s “Suffragette City” but confounded with a cover of Don Henley’s “Boys of Summer.”

It’s certainly not a good sign for a rock concert when the musical climax arrives a half-hour into the show: An acoustic duet on Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game” followed by a similarly unplugged version of Radiohead’s “Creep” was the night’s true gem. That was courtesy of “Rock Star” runner-up Dilana and another contestant, Magni.

Dilana also bailed out “Rock Star” host and guitarist Dave Navarro’s new band, Panic Channel, when she emerged to help with a cover of AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell.”

Third place “Rock Star” finalist Toby Rand opened the concert with his Juke Kartel quintet and a cover of the Talking Heads’ “Burning Down the House.”

“If you don’t like me, kiss my —,” he sang in his thick Australian accent.

Good attitude to have when he’s a culprit in a night of songs that have been sung and played far better by many other artists.

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