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“Hannah Montana” sensation Miley Cyrus blew into the Windy City and blew away concert goers at Chicago’s United Center.
She also drew out the usual prudish blog critics who tut-tutted her outfits and risqué moves on stage.
The 16-year-old pop star has shed her “Hannah Montana” persona and is touring solely as herself in yet another bid to assert her independence from the Disney machine.
Miley set the tone early with her own take on rock rebel Joan Jett's "I Love Rock 'n' Roll." She sang perched on a cherry red motorcycle that hovered on wires 25 feet above the audience.
Miley went through frequent set changes in what was clearly a big budget production.
She morphed from a construction zone, to a prep school classroom and, briefly, a dune buggy course.
Cyrus seemed intent on pushing her boundaries (as always).
Supported by a seven-piece band, she breezed through rock-tune "Breakout", country ballad "These Four Walls", her perky pop tune "Fly on the Wall" and a duet with brother Trace on "Hovering.”
Cyrus is as polished as any 16-year-old can be as a performer, but her musical style right now is probably as eclectic as any teen’s clothes closet.
The good thing is Miley seems to be calling the shots, and seems equally willing to stretch her comfort zone in every direction -- exactly where she needs to be at this stage of her career.
Success in music today is all about cross-over, and Miley seems determined to keep all the doors open.
Critics were out in force after the show, noting again, that Miley’s clothes seemed just a little too snug, her shorts a little too short and her gyrations just a little too suggestive.
But Miley just isn’t any 16-year-old. She’s a bright, determined, self-confident young woman, who is remarkably free of the hang-ups that shadow most teens her age, not to mention her boo-birds. She’s no shrinking violet, but do you really expect anything less?
Read more on Miley Cyrus below:
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