'Idol' Auditions, Episode 7: San Francisco Cat Treats

Katherine Skinner with psychic kitty Mustafa #IdolCat

After two disappointing episodes last week, American Idol was back on track in the Bay Area this Wednesday. It is corny to say I left my Idol-loving heart in San Francisco this week? Yeah, it is, but I’ll say it anyway. This was a good night.

The evening offered an array of promising singers, from a couple of young girls with old-soul voices to an adorable ukulele-strummer and a radio-ready R&B charmer. Below, I have all the contestants ranked, from the very best to the just-good. But of course, I must start with the awesome auditioner who really got the fur flying…

Katherine Skinner – Kat the crazy cat lady claimed that her 19-year-old psychic kitty, an orange tabby named Mustafa, told her to try out for Idol. She also claimed that her ratty fun-fur coat was a gift from David Bowie (although it looked more like something pilfered from Macklemore’s closet), and she paired her thrift-shop coat with some Solid Gold marigold leggings. So of course, I decided right then and there that KATHERINE SKINNER MUST WIN SEASON 14. Katherine’s cover of Florence & The Machine’s “Shake It Out” was a little shaky, definitely not perfect, but man, this girl was fascinating. “You’re talented, but you cray,” said Jennifer Lopez. Keith Urban called her “bold and fearless.” Harry Connick Jr. loved Katherine’s feral unpredictability. “I’m ready to be a rock star,” Katherine declared, as she picked up a golden ticket to match her Spandex pants. I’m ready for Katherine to bring Mustafa as her date to the Idol finale, perform with Keyboard Cat and Piano Cat backing her up, and then participate in some sort of crossover promotion with Animal Planet’s own successful reality franchise, My Cat From Hell. Come on, Jackson Galaxy, make it happen!

Maddy Hudson – Maddy came across like a bubbly (or bubbleheaded) teen, babbling about wanting to wear J.Lo’s Maid in Manhattan dress to her prom and whatnot. But when she started sanging, she transformed into a serious star. (Jennifer called this a “bait-and-switch” move.) J.Lo gushed about everything from Maddy’s brick-red Lorde-ish lipstick and “sad eyes” to the acute “goosies” breakout that apparently covered J.Lo’s entire million-dollar body. Jennifer even declared Maddy one of her favorites and said, “I think she could win.” Harry concurred, saying Maddy had “all of the ingredients to be a superstar.” Cooed Keith, “You are sooooo going to Hollywood.” I think Maddy’s going a lot farther than that.

Rayvon Owen – I suppose it’s not saying much to describe Rayvon’s rendition of Katy Perry’s “Wide Awake” as being better than the original. But man, it was SO MUCH BETTER. Hauntingly accompanied by Idol musical director Michael Orland on piano, Rayvon crooned the tune with so much goosies-raising grace, he had me wondering if it’s too late to book Rayvon to perform at this weekend’s Super Bowl instead of Katy. “You can sing!” howled Jennifer. Yes, this was a pretty-much-perfect audition. If Rayvon isn’t in the top 20, I’ll eat his hat.

Chandler Leighton – This coltish, lank-haired indie chanteuse (think Fiona Apple, Cat Power, Rachael Yamagata) looked like a lost fourth HAIM sister, a Nylon covergirl in the making. And I loved her smoky/sleepy/sexy voice. Why was she part of a montage? I would have liked to see more of Chandler, instead of yet another lame blooper reel of contestants trying to find the exit door or some silly telenovela reenactment between Jennifer and a reject contestant.

Reno Anoa’i – This teen from a massive musical family was another standout, with his unexpected ukulele cover of Rod Stewart’s “I Don’t Want to Talk About It.” His voice was so high and so bell-clear and so pure, but with character and grit — and his uke wasn’t a gimmick, which it could have been under other circumstances. (Sometimes when contestants bring unusual instruments into the audition room, it just ends up being a distraction.) J.Lo said, “When you’re singing, I believe you,” but she didn’t like Reno’s runs, which was ridiculous. (Please tell me when Jennifer Lopez has ever sung as beautifully as Reno, even with Auto-Tune at her disposal.) Harry worried aloud that Reno didn’t offer enough variety. (Says the guy who’s recorded niche-y smooth jazz during his entire career.) Why were the judges so rough on Reno? I think it was all for dramatic effect, because of course the panel eventually gave the kid three yeses. I think Reno could be the biggest little voice on Idol this season.

Ryan Pinkston – An all-American soul singer with a Pepsodent smile and, as Harry put it, a “pinpoint-perfect” voice, Ryan appeared to have all the makings of an American Idol. But is he original enough? Can he do current pop or soul? Actually, he seems like one of those can-sing-the-phone-book types, so watch this space.

Kellyeann Rodgers - This radiant girl lit up the screen, and not just with her own pair of shiny Spandex pants. (Was Wednesday’s episode sponsored by American Apparel or something?) Kellyeann’s elegant performance of Donny Hathaway’s “A Song for You” showed real mainstream pop potential. And girls named Kelly have done well on this show in the past, I’m just sayin’.

Erika David – Erika was pretty and likable, and J.Lo called her “sassy,” but nothing really stood out about her semi-shouty cover of Alicia Keys’s “No One.” I’m not surprised that the decision to send Erika to Hollywood wasn’t unanimous (Keith said no), or that her audition wasn’t shown in full.

Andrew Bloom – This 17-year-old WGWG, unlike other contestants of the night, received a lot of screentime, and the judges freaked out over his audition. But I didn’t think he was anything special. Alex Clare’s “Too Close” is a played-out song choice by now, and while J.Lo said Andrew had “attack and bite,” I thought his rendition was too laid-back, not convincingly angsty enough. But with his three enthusiastic yeses and generous edit, it seems like the powers-that-be are setting Andrew up to be a contender.

So on Thursday, the American Idol Season 14 auditions wrap up with a second night in San Francisco. Will many more golden tickets be handed out in the city of the Golden Gate? Tune in. Until then, Parker out.

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