"One Tree Hill" actor-musicians outshine fellow performers

The line between real life and prime-time teen soaps blurred Tuesday night at the Moore, as characters who play musicians on the WB's "One Tree Hill" performed as musicians at an actual, nearly-sold-out concert. Also on the bill were a couple of acts whose songs have been heard on the music-rich series, including Gavin DeGraw, whose hit single, "I Don't Wanna Be," is the show's theme song.

Blurring the line ever further was the fact that the actor-musicians turned out to be better than the non-actor musicians.

Bethany Joy Lenz, whose character on the show, Haley, is an aspiring musician who leaves her husband to join a touring rock band, opened with a short set of pop songs that were as bright and sunny as her personality. A thorough pro, she accompanied herself on piano and was backed by a band.

Lenz showed she could probably have a singing career to go along with her acting one.

Tyler Hilton, who plays Chris on the show, is a musician first and an actor second. He's certainly good-looking enough to be a movie star, like a skinny young Elvis Presley, with sparkling blue eyes and a mound of unruly hair.

Hilton, who sang and played guitar, proved to be the best, most entertaining act of the long night. He and his rocking band played a tight, varied set, which showed that Hilton has a gift for romantic ballads and easy-rolling rock, in the vein of John Mayer. Plus, he's a natural showman. Hilton has the potential to become a big star.

The gifted Michelle Branch has teamed with another singer-guitarist, the equally gifted Jessica Harp, to form The Wreckers, whose songs have been heard on "One Tree Hill." Their harmonizing was strong and their band was outstanding. But their songs, while well crafted, were almost all at the same tempo and seemed to have the same theme: man trouble.

Even they acknowledged the slow pace of the set, asking, "Are you still with us?" and "Are you still awake?" It seemed like they played the same song over and over. A few of their best would've made for a better set than the one they played, which was way too long.

Speaking of too long, Gavin DeGraw's crew took an hour to set up, which stretched the show past the four-hour mark. He was introduced as "the future of rock 'n' roll" but was more like the past — a piano man a la Billy Joel, except with more muscular, blue-eyed soul songs. He came on like a big star, intimidating the audience into standing up, coming down to the stage, and singing and clapping on cue. He and his band were competent, but the overwrought songs were unremarkable.

Patrick MacDonald: 206-464-2312 or pmacdonald@seattletimes.com