Mark Ballas Photo Courtesy of Dario Cantatore, iHeartRadio
On June 8, 2011, two-time Dancing with the Stars champion and singer-songwriter Mark Ballas performed at an intimate iHeartRadio show that took place at the P.C. Richard and Son Theater, situated in New York City. This exclusive show was part of iHeartRadio Live, a Clear Channel entertainment production, which features up-close and personal performances with some of today’s biggest stars in music.
The show commenced with a mini-interview with Mark Ballas, conducted by well-respected radio personalities, Bob Bronson and Christine Nagy from 106.7 Lite FM, who host the “Bronson and Christine” morning show on the adult contemporary music station.
Ballas performed songs from his latest “HurtLoveBox” album, all of which he wrote himself, and accompanied himself on acoustic guitar.
Backed with a talented four-piece band, Mark Ballas’ setlist opened with his spitfire single “Hotwire.”
It was followed by “Every Piece,” which showcased his mellow voice, and Ballas remarked that it’s “one of his favorites on the record.”
In “Burn Me Alive,” Ballas showcased his inner-rock star. He revealed that the tune is about “being in a situation where you know you shouldn’t be in the first place, but you go ahead anyway, despite your friends’ warnings.”
In “Done,” Ballas delivered a controlled vocal, on a song that deals with a failing romance; on the other hand, “Light On” had a more positive message attached to it, since he inspires his listeners to always follow their dreams, and strive for their goals, without letting anybody stand in their way and tell them otherwise.
After switching acoustic guitars, Ballas greeted the New York audience and performed his song “Faith,” sitting on a stool, delivering yet another haunting and emotional vocal. Ballas further revealed that the ballad “Faith” is his personal favorite song on the record, and the New York City audience concurred with his song choice.
The highlight performance of the evening was his powerhouse rendition of “All For Nothing.” Ballas noted that this is a special song for him, since he pays a poignant homage to his beloved Uncle David, who had committed suicide. This heartfelt song tugged at the audience’s heartstrings through its raw and melancholic lyrics, leaving them in goosebumps. On a song that raises social awareness, Ballas poured his heart out, while simultaneously showcasing his dynamic vocal range.
His song “Pretty” was an anthem for the ladies in the audience, meanwhile “Regret It” is a song about exiting a situation and telling the other person that they’ll “regret” the decision that they made; moreover, they’ll wish that they had not let that person go.
Ballas went on to express his gratitude to the audience members for coming out and seeing him perform live, and showcased his love and appreciation towards his dedicated fans.
His tenth and final song of the evening was the fun and up-tempo tune “The Way You Werk.”
In summation, Mark Ballas is a gifted vocalist and guitarist who was able to command the iHeartRadio stage, with an eclectic setlist, which made it extremely hard to pick a favorite song. His songwriting talent and guitar skills are equally remarkable. Ballas’ live performance is proof that his album “HurtLoveBox” is definitely worth purchasing and experiencing firsthand! Although many audience members may have been fans of Mark Ballas’ superb dancing ability prior to tonight, they will certainly leave the P.C. Richard and Son Theater in awe of his vocal and instrumental talent as well.
For more information on Mark Ballas, his new album and music, please visit his official website.
Mark Ballas Photo Courtesy of Dario Cantatore, iHeartRadio
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