concert once again on the front page: 'iCarly' star Miranda Cosgrove on first concert tour

'iCarly' star Miranda Cosgrove on first concert tour

DETROIT — This time the school of rock is real for Miranda Cosgrove.

Having enjoyed a long career in front of the camera, the 17-year-old Nickelodeon star is learning about life in front of a concert crowd. Nine months after releasing "Sparks Fly," her debut album of bubbly guitar-pop, Cosgrove has hit the road for her first tour. The month-long run will take her across the eastern seaboard before heading back to her native California.

Cosgrove can expect an eager reception from young fans enamored of her show "iCarly," the high-spirited, high-rated Nick comedy that made her a household name. And you can bet that more than a few have caught her turn as Summer Hathaway in the 2003 film "School of Rock," where her precocious character helped stage a battle of the bands.

En route to Kansas City for her kickoff show, Cosgrove is sweet and polite on the phone — not unlike her levelheaded "iCarly" character. She got a chance to mingle with fans during appearances last summer to promote her album. But she knows that hitting the road for a month of real concerts is a whole different proposition.

"It’s my first time ever being on a tour bus," she says. "I’ve never done anything like this before. So it’s a little bit of everything — mainly excitement, but a little nervous."

The calendar has always been crowded for Cosgrove, who got her start doing commercials as a toddler. But recent life has been busier than ever. Her past year could make an impressive resume all its own: Voiceover work on "Despicable Me." A float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. A performance on "Christmas in Washington." A role in the CBS drama "The Good Wife." A season renewal for "iCarly." A month of tour rehearsals.

"I’m definitely always thinking ahead, what I’d like to accomplish, and it’s changing all the time," she says with a laugh. "I’ll come up with a big plan of what I want, and then a couple of weeks later, it changes."

Cosgrove has been in show business long enough to know the importance of staying grounded and seeking good advice. (As a 9-year-old on the "School of Rock" set, she got rock-vocal lessons from Sonic Youth’s Jim O’Rourke and guitar inspiration from actor Jack Black.) Out on the road, she’s making sure to stay in close touch with friends back home. And with her crew of dancers and four-piece band — which includes seasoned L.A. session players — she’s got trusted voices of experience nearby.

"They’ve been on tour before, which is good, because I’m close to them and they’re giving me tips," she says. "The main thing is just to go for it. When you’re doing so many shows, the thing is to really focus on each one."

Cosgrove is also about to learn what it’s like to push her voice night after night — a challenge for even the most experienced pop singers. She’s already got the tour regimen down pat.

"There’s definitely a need for vocal rest — not talking too much — trying to eat the right things, which is pretty important, and drinking a lot of tea," she says. "And it’s really nice, because I had never really gone to the gym every day, but for the past month I’ve been working out every day. I’m very excited about that. I feel like I’m getting into a good workout plan and hopefully I can keep it up for the tour."

The set list features the bright, upbeat pop that marked her debut album, with a couple of new tunes — "Sayonara" and the tour title song "Dancing Crazy" — and cover songs from the likes of No Doubt.

Music is the focus for now, but true to form, Cosgrove is keeping her options open. With her 18th birthday coming in May, she’s submitted a slew of college applications, though she’s deferring admission for at least a year. She knows there’s at least one more season for "iCarly," and she’s reading scripts as she considers film roles.

"It’s really a fun time in my life where I have a lot of doors open," she says.

She hopes her fans will stick along for the journey.

"I think I’m lucky. I started the show when I was 13, and the people who watch were around that same age," she says. "So they’ve grown up with me. And hopefully they’ll want to watch the same movies I’ll want to do and the same music I’ll want to make."