Unwavering vocals, uplifting sentiments from the always dependable Daughtry

Photos by Daniel DeSlover

As a committed road warrior, Daughtry always seems to be somewhere, even during seasons when new songs are in the works. Though the group’s been testing out tunes from “Cage To Rattle” for quite some time, the official tour behind this fifth long player (and first in half a decade) is finally here, bringing the “American Idol” favorite and his fairly constant collaborators to the grandly restored Copernicus Center.

Daughtry was a force to be reckoned with right up until the very end, making marvels out of “It’s Not Over,” “Waiting For Superman” and more that kept everyone on their feet.

Accompanied by a sea of swirling lights that could light up a room at least twice its size, the guys stormed through previous and current favorites, checking off one hit off after the next, while taking several variety-filled turns beyond the straight-forward modern rock of the band’s beginnings. That meant the mid-tempo mood setter “Just Found Heaven,” the anthem “Feels Like Tonight,” the dusty stomper “Battleships” and the electronic-tipped “Backbone” to name but a handful from the front half, all of which found Chris Daughtry’s vocals roaring with his bountiful bellows flexed at maximum capacity.

A solo acoustic rendition of “As You Are” may have been the mightiest example, enhanced all the more when the background lights dispersed into a rainbow pattern to echo its inclusive lyrical inspiration. “Home” was another that cast chills in the unplugged format, but the full ensemble’s run through “White Flag” ranked right up there, especially with its theme of unwavering perseverance.

Daughtry was a force to be reckoned with right up until the very end, making marvels out of “It’s Not Over,” “Waiting For Superman” and more that kept everyone on their feet. The ovations continued through the clever combo of “September” with Prince’s “Purple Rain,” adding a soulful, super-charged coda to one of the most dependable aggressive acts around.

Click here for more photos of Daughtry at the Copernicus Center.

For additional information on Daughtry, visit DaughtryOfficial.com.

For a list of upcoming shows at the Copernicus Center, visit CopernicusCenter.org.