WEST VALLEY CITY - David Archuleta told The Salt Lake Tribune earlier in the day that he usually avoids dairy because it makes his throat "phlegmy."

The Murray teen must have had a lactose-free Monday as he provided the vocal highlights, and the most screams from tweens and soccer moms alike, at the first of two "American Idol LIVE!" shows at the E Center.

The tour features the top-10 finalists of the most recent season of the FOX TV juggernaut. Each finalist is given three songs to sing, with second-place finisher Archuleta getting four songs and winner David Cook five songs. Group numbers are limited this year, with a mid-show U2 song and the show's closer, Rihanna's "Don't Stop the Music."

The boys received the most applause throughout the evening, with Archuleta earning the most squeals, multi-colored signs proclaiming their love and T-shirts bearing his likeness.

Archuleta proved that he had the best, purest and strongest voice of the competition, although at times he was hard to hear above the hysteria from the crowd. Highlights were Robbie Williams' "Angels" and a soulful, emotional take on OneRepublic's "Apologize."

"It is so good to be back here, more than you know," he said after "Apologize." It was hard not to smile as the shy incoming Murray High School senior basked in the glow of adoration from the crowd. He sang "Stand By Me" as a serenade to the fans, thanking them for their support. In the closing moments of his last song, he wiped tears from his eyes and said, "Look at what you made me do!"

Because the show started off with the 10th-place finisher (Chikezie Eze), then the ninth-place finisher (Ramiele Malubay), and so on, the show took awhile to build up steam. But once eight-place finisher Michael Johns manned the stage and sang Queen's "We Are the Champions" and Aerosmith's "Dream On," the crowd came alive and the show began generating electricity that was only amplified as it went on. Cook, with guitar in his arms, received huge cheers for his rock touches to Lionel Richie's "Hello" and Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean," as well as an invigorating version of Foo Fighters' "My Hero."

All singers were in fine form, likely because they rehearsed their songs to death and the fear of getting voted off the show was gone. Judge Simon Cowell's visage was replaced by the adoring faces of 12-year-old girls.

The orchestra that accompanied the singers during the TV show's run was also gone, replaced by a tight five-piece band and two back-up singers. Crowd favorite Brooke White played piano on two of her numbers ("Let it Be" and Coldplay's "Yellow") and guitar on another (Feist's "1,2,3,4"). The dreadlocked David Castro elicited many shrieks when he played the ukelele on "Over the Rainbow" and guitar on Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy."

Admittedly, the show was very karaoke, but with the brightly lit video screens backing each singer and screams overwhelming the singers at times, it was the best karaoke bar out there.

'American Idol LIVE!'

Where: E Center, 3200 S. Decker Lake Drive, West Valley City

When: Monday night, second concert today at 7 p.m.

Tickets: $36.50 to $51.50; available at E Center Box office, 801-325-SEAT, or www.ticketmaster.com.

Bottom line: Murray's David Archuleta comes home as conquering hero in slick, sold-out show.