The “American Idols Live! Tour 2009” explodes on to the stage at the San Diego Sports Arena on Saturday, July 18 at 7 p.m. The Season 8 Top Ten finalists — Adam Lambert, Allison Iraheta, Anoop Desai, Danny Gokey, Kris Allen, Lil Rounds, Matt Giraud, Megan Joy, Michael Sarver and Scott MacIntyre —are poised to deliver non-stop, fan-pleasing performances unlike any other Idols tour. “Every year the show is reinvented,” tour producer/director Raj Kapoor said. “We always try and put a fresh spin on the show, keeping up with staging trends and updated video and lighting technologies.?”This year’s show incorporates bigger video screens then ever before. And, we have made the lighting and video elements feel very cohesive in the show design.” Kapoor, who has worked on such productions as the Grammy Awards, “Dancing with the Stars” tour and several world tours for the Dixie Chicks, Josh Groban and Britney Spears, to name a few, said this year’s “Idol” tour is more contemporary than in past years and focuses on “musicality” and the individual artists. “We have given each of the Idols their own video content that help reflect their individual personalities,” Kapoor said. “This year’s show is essentially 10 mini concerts all rolled into one, with the bonus of a couple bigger group production numbers.” He called this year’s top 10 finalists extraordinary. “They are all so supportive of each other,” Kapoor said. “I think they all?really want each other to enjoy further success, and it shows every night on stage.” He complimented all 10 performers, saying they truly want to do their best. “Their?dedication to working on the singing, arrangements, choreography — and their ability to take direction — has been unsurpassed by any other top 10 so far,” Kapoor said. The 2009 tour’s frenetic 50-city schedule began July 5 in Portland and concludes Sept. 15 in Manchester, N.H., stopping just about everywhere in between with very little time off. “Idol” hometown stops are highlights of the tour for the performers and crew alike. “I think when we are in an Idol’s hometown, the show has an even more exciting edge,” Kapoor said. “The love of a hometown for their own Idol is absolutely amazing.?I think every one of them is looking forward to being in front of their hometown. “The recognition and extra support are invaluable to the performers. The support of the fans is what keeps this show successful on television as well as on tour.”???San Diego’s own “Idol,” Lambert, is sure to cause excitement at the Sports Arena, as he has throughout the tour so far. Although the mellow, laid-back Allen took the No. 1 spot this year, it is Lambert that the crowds so frequently come to see. Kapoor called Lambert the exception to the rule this year. “He has become so popular,” Kapoor said. “Every night he gets a huge?reaction from the audience. They cannot wait to see him. He bursts onto stage with so much presence, energy, skill and fun. “I can’t imagine that San Diego is going to?top the reaction Adam has been receiving every night because it is already huge. Kids to grandmothers, Adam is bringing them in and making people scream.?Adam is going to be a huge star and this is your first opportunity to witness him live on stage in an arena. It simply is an experience not to be missed.” Although Lambert will have little or no time to enjoy his hometown this trip, he told The Peninsula Beacon that he has often spent time at the beaches. “OB is really cool. OB and PB both… really hip areas,” said Lambert, who undoubtedly will be unable to come to town anonymously ever again. Life, as he knew it, has pretty much changed forever, Lambert admitted. “And I haven’t seen the full effects of that yet,” he said. It is no surprise that Lambert, as well as Season 8 winner Allen and 17-year-old Iraheta, hit the road with record deals in hand. Kapoor said the show is fun, family entertainment. “It is the feel-good concert of the summer,” Kapoor said. “You can bring your entire family and know that they are going to be thoroughly entertained. There is no objectionable material and it is simply two and half?hours of back-to-back music, sung from the hearts of 10 ‘Idols’ who might have actually been (just) a member of the one of the audiences last year.” “‘American?Idol’ makes performer’s dreams come true, and this is proven every night in this year’s American Idols Live Tour,” he said. Season 9 auditions have already concluded and 2010 hopefuls will soon be enduring the grueling elimination process for “American Idol” on FOX TV early next year. There may not be many tickets still available for the July 18 show at the Sports Arena, 3500 Sports Arena Blvd. For more information visit www.americanidol.com or www.ticketmaster.com