Adam Lambert at the Gridlock on New Year’s Eve

The crowd lights up at the start of a new year just before Adam Lambert’s performance.  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

The “American Idol” runner-up had his work cut out for him at the Paramount Pictures lot Thursday night: executing his first full set of original music in front of about 4,500 revelers, each of whom had paid at least $150 to get in.  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

Lambert hit his groove with dance-floor-ready songs such as “For Your Entertainment” and “Fever.”  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

At one point during his performance, Lambert took a dramatic swig from a flask, offering this disclaimer: “I’m not promoting alcoholism by any means, but long live rock ‘n’ roll!”  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

“The show was thrown together last minute ... kind of fly by the seat of our pants,” said Lambert of the $50,000 nontelevised event.  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

Earlier in the night, Lambert reminisced about New Year’s Eve 2008, when he was also performing as part of a cabaret just down the road on La Cienega Boulevard. “I sang at midnight like I’m doing tonight. Only there’s a couple more people at this venue.”  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

The “American Idol” runner-up sang for 40 minutes and ended the performance with a grand finale: wailing Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love.”

RELATED: Adam Lambert lights up New Year’s Eve at Gridlock party  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)