‘American Idol’ notes: The latest from Lee DeWyze, plus what’s coming up

There aren’t too many opportunities where we get to focus on a single artists in an “American Idol” notes piece, but given that the holidays are approaching, we’re going to be doing a few individual pieces here and there to catch up a little bit with some of our favorite past contestants … so why not start things off with Lee DeWyze?

In case you haven’t heard yet, Lee has been touring for most of the fall and performing music from his upcoming album, which he has been hard at work on for some time. He has spent the last few days performing in Pennsylvania, where he specifically scored some rave reviews from his performance in Bethlehem. He was also in Pittsburgh just last night.

We’ve been in agreement with much of what this reviewer in the link above has been saying for some time: with Lee’s musical talent and the grit in his voice, music with more of a folk tinge suits him personality. This is the direction he’s been going in for some time, which is why it’s been relatively easy to pour some praise on him. He is one of those artists who possesses the gift of being a great storyteller along with being a singer, which is why we especially appreciate some new tracks like “Who Would Have Known” and “Like I Do.”

Want to see Lee live? There are few opportunities still coming up this year, and there is also a StageIt show that he is performing on December 22 from the comfort of his Los Angeles home. A portion of the proceeds from the show are going to cancer research organization Demand Cures Today, so you’re getting a chance to listen to some great music while supporting a great cause. You’ll also still have a few days afterwards to shop for Christmas dinner.

Of course, keep checking back over the next few weeks, as we’re going to have plenty more when it comes to Lee’s upcoming album and some upcoming performances. If you want to see what else is breaking across the “American Idol” community, you can do so over here.

Photo: Fox