Well, just like last year, while waiting for the Idols to come out in the afternoon, I got another bad sunburn. I arrived at the Nassau Coliseum around 12:30 PM. There were approximately 100 people already waiting by the ramp. That number grew to about 200 as the afternoon wore on. The barriers were 30 feet farther back from the ramp than they were last year and there were five security guards instead of two.
Long Island’s local TV news station was there for a short while. Fans were there from all over the country. There was even a group of girls there from Finland. I also met a group from Boston who I had met last year. The woman, Laura, even remembered my name. Some of the Idols had street teams there. David Cook’s Street team gave out free copies of Analog Heart. Michael Johns’ street team were giving out pictures with some info on the back and signing people up for his email list.
I was the only vestige of Season 6 there. I wore my Chrissligh.com t-shirt and carried my handbag with Chris’s “Running Back to You” CD cover on its face. I gave out paper with Chris Sligh’s websites listed on it to some of the people who noticed my handbag and remembered him. This bag is now a running joke on Chris’s blog. I call it “Chris” and I take him everywhere with me. When he has an “adventure” I post about it on his blog and everyone has a good laugh.
click the thumbnails for full size photosÂ
More Recap after the JUMP…
The buses arrived just after 2:00 PM. The Idols that came out to sign that afternoon were David Cook, Kristy Lee Cook, David Archuleta, Brooke White and Jason Castro. David Cook spent the most time with the crowd. David Archuleta skipped around the crowd and Jason only came part way down our line, before going back the other way, so I didn’t get good pics of either of them. They were all done by 3:45 PM. I had intended to go home for a couple of hours before returning for the concert, but when I got to my car, I found out that my car alarm wasn’t working and I was stuck. My husband joined me at the venue around 6:00 PM and fixed my car problem.
The concert was pretty good. The arena wasn’t sold out, but it was pretty full. There was a lot of screaming and a lot of young kids. The crowd was on its feet most of the time. The Idols all gave great performances. For the first half of the program, the half of the top 10 contestants performed solo in descending order (Chikezie, Ramiele, Michael, Kristy, Carly). Each performed 3 songs. Then there was a group number before the intermission. The performances continued by Brooke, Jason, Syesha, David A and finally, David C. The Davids had an extra song or two. There was one last group number at the end. All did a very professional job. However, I liked last year’s format better with more group numbers. The “countdown†format just added to the show’s predictability and boredom. I wish there could be more spontaneity to the show. It seems like every word and movement is scripted.
My husband was allowed in with his digital SLR camera, but shortly after the show started, security threatened to confiscate it, so we mainly used my crummy camera. We didn’t take any movies this time. I was too busy obsessing about why my photos weren’t coming out and so did not pay full attention to the singing. After the show ended, we went out to the ramp, since I wanted to get more photos (I had no meet and greets). However, the crowd was several rows of people deep, and we decided to go home because I wasn’t going to get close enough. It was a very long day, but the Idols put on a good show, making it worthwhile. However, I have to admit that last year was more exciting for me!
They gave out copies of Analog Heart??!!!
Oh, lol, and thank you very much for your wonderful photos and your recap. Love the one of Cookie eating CS’s photo. Is there a story to tell about that, or was it just one of those spontaneously hilarious Cookie moments?
They gave out copies of Analog Heart??!!
I’m really proud of whoever’s behind that. David’s music deserves to be heard, and obviously TPTB want to pretend AH never existed.
Seeing Brooke get to re-release her pre-Idol album (which, IIRC, was always up for digital sale on Amazon, even through the competition) while David’s album is swept under the rug… That just doesn’t seem right.
It’s a great album and his fans should get the opportunity to purchase it legally. But if they can’t - I say let them at least hear it, any way they can.
Sorry if this is sort of OT.
Those photos are GOOD! Carly looks terrific.
ITA, Jolene. ETA — actually to delete, cause I got way off topic! Thanks for the nice pics and info on the happenings before the show.
I agree, Jolene. It’s generous and smart at the same time. What a perfectly lovely gift to fans–especially for those who go to the trouble and expense of attending a concert–and good marketing, as well. And it probably helps ease his “guilt” about the overcharging his former friend is doing.
Is this really OT? It is news from the concert. If I’m wrong, I apologize, mj.
Thanks SO much for this news, Rosalee.
Your pics are way awesome. I don’t think you should have been obsessing about them :) Thanks for the recap.
Oh and why is David eating Chris Sligh’s album?
Thanks for the recap. I think it’s great that you bring “Chris” with you. Love that idea! It’s also great to hear of both DC and MJ’s Street Teams being out there in force. I’m going to repeat; “They gave out copies of Analog Heart?” Why wasn’t I at that concert? Dang! I do wish that album would be re-released. David’s fans who have never heard it deserve a chance to hear and own his pre-Idol music.
Hey spritely. Nobody told me I was OT, I said it myself. I started going into the whole thing about AH being pulled etc. Yes, it IS news from the concert! And very interesting, I thought. I would venture a guess that Cook is cool with this? I read somewhere that he said when he would sell or give away AH at his shows, he would tell people that Yes, it’s fine to make copies for your friends, I just want to get it out there.
I have Analog Heart digitally but I’m an old fashioned kind of girl. I want to hold on to and read the liner notes while I listen…
i had planned on getting the album but it was pulled before i got a chance to purchase it. i’ve really regretted that. i was i was at this concert to get a free copy!
I’m thinking DC is okay with the distribution of Analog Heart. I’ve heard stories of him telling people to burn it and give it to their friends. I guess it is a little balm over the wound that was that whole AI-pull-the-prior-album hoopla.
As for him biting “Chris”, maybe he read this blog. LOL!
David has said to fans that he wants people to hear it, and has no problem with them spreading it around digitally or otherwise.
I’m assuming what the fans were handing out were burned copies, and not the actual original album, because that is very limited in supply and costs a pretty penny on eBay.
These were the pictures taken with the “crummy” camera? I can’t imagine how your hubby’s pix would have been better — these were great!
THAT WAS THE BEST PICTURE OF CHIKESIE EVER!!! THANK YOU!!!
The fact that he does this (allows his prior that which shall not be named album to be heard) shows David for the artist he truly is. ) My favorite artist is giving his album away from his birthday 10/11 until the end of October. You know, I don’t think he will miss a sale. I will download it, but I will also buy it.
I believe the reason for this is just simple math. David has a recording contract, Brooke does not. If she were to get one and release a cd, that’s probably a year off (or like Ace, even longer). David’s cd is set to come out in a few short months.
The people who have David under contract aren’t going to let him release anything from which they make no profit. They won’t let him put out old music just months before the new music, because people only have so much money - not everyone would buy both. Plus it would be confusing to the general public who aren’t aware it’s an old cd - they might think it’s the new one and buy it - totally ignoring David’s official cd when it comes out.
For the record company, it’s a ridiculously risky thing to let him release it. There’s not a chance in hell they’ll take that risk. Obviously, David knows he can’t re-release it during his 19 contract - so that’s why he’s telling people just to go ahead and copy it.
Rosalee,
I absolutely agree with your comments about the show format. The production last year highlighted what I actually thought were less talented singers in a way that engaged me totally - not so this year - I would sadly have to say that I was bored.
Also, very very disappointed to report, that my favorite, David Cook, performed like he was on auto-pilot; and worse, Cookie came across as cocky to me… and this REALLY turned me off. Not saying he can’t sing, but he left me cold… something he never did on AI.
Thanks, Sue
Well, yes he’s under contract now, and I wouldn’t expect a previous CD to be released before his album currently “under constrcution” or even necessarily while he is bound by his current contract. I do think that it would be cool if, SOMEtime, AH could be re-released, exactly as it is. That’s what I was agreeing with in Jolene’s comments, anyway. I too assumed that the AH CDs being handed out were burned copies. (I wonder how many original CDs were produced?)
David’s street team gave out a limited number (maybe 2 dozen?) of these CDs in paper sleeves. I am the proud owner of one of them.
The “David devouring “Chrisâ€â€ shot does have its roots in Chris’s blog entry mentioned earlier. David was just kidding though, and called Chris a “good guyâ€.
I believe in promoting “Chris Sligh awarenessâ€. “Chris†is a great advertising tool. I had the bag custom made with his CD cover for this purpose. I take him everywhere and get comments wherever I go.
The Chikezie pic was taken with my husband’s camera. So was Ramiele’s and Michael Johns’. My husband was able to get through the first three performances before he was told to stop. He got quite a few nice ones of Chikezie.
I am surprised that they went back to the old format. Having different combinations of singers really changes it up. In singing solo there is no interaction with others, and yes, more than one of those performers seemed to be on autopilot. There was something just a little bit cold about the whole thing.
Rosalee, the pictures rock. Yea, Rosalee and Harry for getting these. And you definitely get an A in promotion for Mr. Sligh. Carry on!
I’m sure the “straight set” format is cheaper to produce; less lighting, less rehearsals (for new tunes, etc…) less costumes, less choreography… but oh so less satisfying as well.
Just finished reading Chris Sligh’s blog about Analog Heart. I don’t know why anyone would be offended by that. He thought the songs were so-so (good, not great), the production/musicianship was pretty good for an indie, and most importantly, the album didn’t highlight Cook’s vocal abilities. He also thought the songwriting showed promise for what was to come. I don’t read that as any kind of slam AT ALL. Just a thoughtful review; that’s all.
Thank you Rosalee and Chris for your recap! LOL
At 8:12 PM, rosalee said…
I don’t know if that would work - Remember when that banner was supposed to be passed around at the Idol concerts? It kind of petered out. And shipping could get expensive on a large item. But if each person had their own bag, they could take it to an event, take a photo and tell their story.
At 8:34 PM, DJ in AL said…
I guess Rosalee just started the Chris bag thing with this AI concert - this is from the link posted above too. Good idea, it did get him some attention