I have a couple of remaining notes on the last two Idol concerts I attended in Manchester, NH. You can check out my videos from both shows (and all the other shows I attended) at GoFish. I’ve also put up a bunch of photos on my MySpace blog.
I’m posting Blake Lewis’s last performance of “You Give Love a Bad Name” ’cause it’s sweet. After Blake’s heartfelt thanks to the audience and a little shout out to his parents, you can hear his mom shout back “I love you too!”
Blake’s mom had made her way to the front of the stage to see Blake’s last performance. She was standing right next to us. I hear the venue security had given her a hard time where she was sitting originally, because she was standing out in the aisle. (!!!)
Venue security hassled me too. They almost threw me out. I was warned during intermission to stop taking video, or security would erase my video card. Ok, I’ll admit that I didn’t heed their warning, but what was really creepy–security came after me before the encore. They took my camera and pulled me out of the arena. From what I understood, they were taking their marching orders from Idol security, and from the sounds of it, they were watching me very closely–they even saw me sit down and change my video card! Can you say creepy?
I’ll just say this. I was one of the few bloggers who covered this year’s version of the Idol dog and pony show. Pretty much everyone else wrote off the season at the end of May. Being threatened and hauled out of a show is a pretty shitty way to treat a fan, if you ask me. But then, after hearing stories about friends and relatives of the Idols being treated similarly…well what can I say?
Anyway. A couple of last notes:
- Top 16 contestant Nick Pedro was at the after party with his girlfriend. He’s currently living in Fall River, MA and doing some appearances. Here is his picture! He waited behind us to talk to Jordin Sparks.
- Phil Stacey and Haley Scarnato sat quietly on the barrier in between the audience and the stage to watch their fellow Idols perform one last time.
- There were a few funny pranks on the last night. The roadies were dressed as Amish guys, with long beards suspenders and hats. At different times during the concert, Mickey Mouse hands would pop up behind one of the stage props. The hands swaying back and forth during “America the Beautiful” was pretty funny.
- All the girls got roses. I missed it (probably in the back being harassed by security), but Blake Lewis presented Chris Richardson with a rose. Heh.
- Jordin got very teary eyed during her performance of “I Who Have Nothing”. I’d actually captured it on camera, but you know…
The end of the tour signals the end of another Idol season. Me and the 5 people who actually liked Season 6 had a great time. I keed! Seriously, I’m always a little sad when the tour ends and the Idols scatter. It’s finally the end of an Idol season.
On to Season 7!
ETA: I had so much fun on this tour, so much fun. I really have gone through withdrawals a little bit these past two weeks.
This year’s crop should really be proud of themselves. They put on a great tour. I wish more people got to see it.
Related Posts
This is sweet. Good luck Blake!
I love Blake’s mom’s comeback: “I guess I can’t give birth to him either!”
And I’m proud to be one of the five people that ♥s Season 6!
MJ is clearly a national security risk. Thank gawd for Pat Acts one and two, otherwise she’d a given away top secret war strategy.
The best news FOR ME is that this season is over. Im looking forward to season 7, it will be the defining moment for me as to whether Idol has hit its zenith or was the past season just a bump in the road. We’ll see.
Thats only an opinion, my opinion.
I didn’t love this season as much as past years, but I must admit that I started to like most of the contestants reading the concert goers reviews here at MJ’s. I wish them all success. I will be crossing my fingers to get a cd from Mindydo and Sanjaya. Oh, and Phil too, I love his big voice!
Thank you, Dingo. (And I have enjoyed hopping back on here and reading your posts lately.)
I am right in there witcha. Somewhere in a closet I have a Team Indifference T-shirt for Season 6. I am fervently hoping Idol brings us a year of interesting performers and compelling competition for Season 7.
I must say I loved Season 6! I attended 3 of the concerts & thoroughly enjoyed all of them. I hope all 10 of them do well - especially Blake! I am going through end of tour withdrawls and appreciate all the great information, videos and pictures MJ has provided! Thanks for putting your life at risk so others may enjoy, MJ!!
This season was one of the best. IMO the best all around group, they really were a big close family. What a shame the producers didn’t show more of the background stories. Oh well, I am pretty sure many will be successful in their solo careers.
Thanks for the Blake video! He is such a sweetheart! I wish him all the luck in the world with his debut album. It’s gonaa rock!
Thanks for covering everything, MJ. I totally love being able to get my Idol fix ALL YEAR LONG!
As far as the videotaping goes, well, if you’re not supposed to do it, you’re not supposed to do it. You can’t really blame those guys for enforcing show rules. It’s their job. It’s not just the Idol tour, a lot of big time acts prohibit photography and videography.
But I’m glad you did it anyway! :-)
I don’t blame the venue security (although they were awful snotty) they were just taking their marching orders from Idol security.
Lots of bands don’t allow cameras at shows. But there are many that do…particularly the jam bands. When I post photos and video on the site, it actually increases the excitement and the interest, rather than the other way around.
I think the Idol people are really missing the boat on this one.
I agree that the videos increase excitement and interest and that they are missing the boat. If they think someone will see the videos and NOT buy show tickets because of that, they’re crazy. It would be the other way around.
Sorry if this nugget was already posted, but…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3xeiBJwz94
Ha ha. That’s funny. Blakes friend Ethan is moving to LA? That’s cool.
This is fairly loltastic too…I guess The Janitor/Security Guard had a name:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiAnXRszPIw
And oh yeah, Ethan’s been keeping a blog about his move!
I appreciate the nod to South Park…
Respect my Auuthoritay! LOL
Ah Nick! If only America hadn’t broken your heart…
To read that Nick had to wait in line to talk to Jordin…wow, that’s a big ouchy for my normally cold, dead heart, lol. Seriously, though, Nick was my favorite–along with AJ–and when the two of them got the boot on the same night, it was like getting the wind knocked out of me. Hey, Nick, come to MN and do a gig at the Dakota in Minneapolis–you’d be perfect there!
And MJ, I, too, think the AI folks are misguided on their no-video policy. I understand they don’t want anyone to sell bootleg concert DVDs, but all the show clips on Go Fish and YouTube are just free advertisement, and they increase interest and excitement. No need to hate, Idol people! Surely there could be some fair-use clause.
Thank you, MJ for bringing us such wonderful videos and pictures!! :)
I never noticed Blake’s mom shouting “I love you too!” at the end till now. So precious!