He knew the answer.
Actually, the 17-year-old teen idol -- fronting a band of funk/rock Prince veterans -- was more than just good. The kid killed. Jonas took the same kind of artistic leap that Justin Timberlake made when he stepped outside *NSYNC.
Unlike Timberlake, who never re-synced with his bandmates, Jonas made it clear: "This is just a side project that I was able to do. The time was right. The Jonas Brothers [featuring older siblings Joe and Kevin] are fine." There's no reason to doubt that. Backstage, newlywed Kevin beamed at his brother's dynamite performance, only scowling when told his limo was MIA.
As for the concert, the first of two, it wasn't perfect, but few honest rock shows are.
Jonas snarled the vocals to opener "Last Time Around" and in the funk 'n' roll on "State of Emergency" he tripped in and out of his falsetto, screwing his mug into the ugly face, abandoning himself to the music.
Of the new songs, a ballad, "Stay," was a powerhouse that left the kid on his knees pounding the stage with clenched fist. The piano-powered JoBro oldie "Black Keys" was also emotional.
Since Nick Jonas & the Administration are thin on originals, a few cover tunes were included. Songs by Owl City and Kings of Leon were good, but the group hit its stride during Stevie Wonder's "Signed, Sealed, Delivered."
It's easy to dismiss Jonas as a passing pop confection given his screaming, lusty teen-girl fans. But I like that he really sings. His guitar work is propulsive, and despite his multimillion-dollar teen-pop franchise, he's humble. After introducing everyone in the band near at the close of the concert, he added the by the way, "and I'm Nick Jonas."
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