First American Idol is 'Addicted' this summer

Are you addicted to watching the "American Idol" television series? Well, hold your breath pop-and rock-music lovers who voted for the show's contestants. Kelly Clarkson, the warbling winner of the highly touted first season of "American Idol" in 2002, has recently become addicted to performing live and is bringing her Summer 2006 "Addicted" U.S. tour to Florida.

Clarkson will first perform at 8 p.m. Friday, June 30, at the Sound Advice Amphitheatre, West Palm Beach. Closer still is the Ford Amphitheatre, at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, 8 p.m Saturday, July 1. Better yet, secret sources recently revealed that Kelly will include tracks from her forthcoming album on this tour.

That having been said, did I mention that "Rooney," a Los Angeles-based, equally up-and-coming five-member rock band will be "supporting" Clarkson? I always wonder why the blurbs use that term?

However, (if you're asking) Rooney's music recalls the music of '60s artists along with some good '70s pop music performed in a "distinctive style" by guitarists Robert Carmine and Taylor Locke, with Ned Brower on drums, Matthew Winter strumming bass guitar and Louie Stephens tickling the keyboards. Carmine, Locke and Brower also alternate on vocals. The band earned a bit of renown with their album titled "Killer Queen — a Tribute" that was notable for its true-blue track of "Death on Two Legs."

Anyhoo, the boys and Clarkson may really need some support on this whirlwind tour that hops and skips up the east coast for 10 performances in 15 days to open in Boston, Mass., on July 16. There's more gigs (12) performed in venues across the nation all the way to Seattle's White River on August 6.

Clarkson hasn't been idle since she won her Idol title and made her first appearance with her album "Thankful" (2003) under RCA Records. "Thankful" resulted in her first and only U.S. single, but won fans for her powerful vocals. Her second album for RCA, "Breakaway," had greater success with several single tracks that propelled the album to become certified multiplatinum in both the United States and Canada.

Did I tell you that Clarkson not only sings like an angel, she is credited with six of the album's songs? Ticket holders at Clarkson's July 1 concert at the Ford Amphitheatre will be thankful for both the excellent musical performances by Clarkson and Rooney, as well as the choice of seating and variety of prices that night: Reserved seats are $75 and $45; festival lawn spaces are $24 and don't forget the sand chairs and blankets!