My friend and I arrived at the Xcel center at around 2:30 and looked for the tour buses but there weren't around.  We saw a van marked "American Idols" and asked the driver where the buses are and he said they weren't there because tomorrow they're all flying to San Diego.  We looked disappointed and he told us that the kids were inside the Xcel Center probably resting up for the show.  The doors were open so we went inside and chatted up one of the security guards who was a proud grandpa who showed us pics of his 3 grandchildren. We thought to ourselves, "this guy will let us sneak through to the meet and greet," muahhhahaa. Well much to our dismay, he said no, he was sorry but only 60 people are allowed and they have their names on a master list and must identify themselves with a drivers license.  Ok so we decided to plop ourselves down on the steps, it was too hot to go outside anyway.

 

At 3:45, a couple of girls in black shirts wielding clipboards (clipboards give too much power) told everyone who was invited to the Meet and Greet to line up and present their ID, at which time they were given a 4" round sticker to put on their clothing which would give them entrance to the meet/greet.  I told my friend that WE are getting into that M & G. After all the stickers were given out to the happy fans, we went to the end of the line, carried our purses on our shoulders while crossing the other arm across our chests so they wouldn't see that we weren't sporting stickers.  What were they gonna do to two middle-aged fangirls?  Haul us to jail?  So we walked in like we belonged, full of confidence and hutzpah.

 

We made it past the guards, got on the elevator and smiled and high-fived each other. Lucy and Ethel pulled it off!  A little girl who was in front of us said to her mom, "but mommy-they don't have stickers..."  The mom knowingly winked at us and told her daughter that we had put them in our purses.  Smart mom.  So in we walked to the room where "the table" was.  It kinda looked like that table in the Last Supper portrait, but Chris was seated in the middle of the table in Jesus' chair.  Now I'm Jewish, but even I know that Chris is not the Saviour that 19E made him out to be. You know, with the fire and light show they gave him all season.  Anyway, I digress.

 

First in line was Bucky. I think he's adorable and goofy and a pleasure to meet.  Then the Pickle..I tried to make small talk about how she should have her own talk show-she's funny- I told her I loved her red-carpet bit on the Tonight Show a couple of months ago- she said, "do whot"?  Oy, never mind, my allergies are killing and I don't have the patience for this.  So Chris(t) is next. His personality is  MEH, but my kids think he's great so I told him so. I think I saw a smile, but not sure, it faded quickly so maybe it was gas.

 

So next in line is the REAL reason I'm even at the concert, and that is my boychik, Elliott. I LOVE this kid.  I leaned over the table (we weren't supposed to do that, but hey, I was on a roll, I got this far, I was going for broke, and I whispered in his (good) ear that he was the Best singer in the group and I can't wait for his first album. I told him that his voice touches my soul and wished him luck for what I'm sure will be a bright and successful future.  He looked genuinely touched, and very sincerely thanked me. Love, love, love him.

 

Moving right along, Lisa- she's adorable, Paris- she bugs- Ace is drop dead gorgeous and he was sweet.  Mandisa- very beautiful and cordial. Then there she was, Spawn of Peesher and I so wanted to skip over her to get to Taylor, but she stuck her hand out for me to shake it.  So I said, hi, glad your foot is better. She smiled and thanked me.

 

Ok bye spawn, gotta move on.......and there he was, WAY more good looking in person, Mr. Hicks.

 

He was so welcoming and adorable.  Now I hope ANA is reading this because I swear to God I said this to him, "one of the girls on MJ's blog wants you to always put gel in your hair."  He laughed and said, "yeah, they always put that gunk in before every show, but I sweat it out."  And believe me, that did happen during the show.  So "Ethel" and "Lucy" left the room, giddy like two tweeners just meeting Paul McCartney.

 

On to the show.........we had good seats, center row 22, seats dead center of stage.  Cheapy, tinfoil stage, confirming every review I've read.  First Mandisa. She shoulda been in the top 5. Powerful voice, total command of the stage, she looked gorgeous and her little preachiness didn't bother me at all. I hope she is successful in whatever genre she chooses.

The Ace/Mandisa duet was gorgeous.   This guy is eye candy and he knows it. Ace is cheddar on rye. Father Figure was just as expected, with the little strip-tease going on; he knows he thrills the ladies. Big screams from all the tweeners in the crowd.  He's got the whole package, that's for sure.

 

Next - Lisa. I enjoyed her, think she's very talented and she should go far. 

Paris- like I said, she bugs --way too precocious for me, but can that little girl dance!  She was fun to watch.

 

Bucky - lovable, adorable, loved "Superstishuss". He danced and waved and the crowd ate him up. His duet with Pickle, I don't know.  It went too fast, she didn't seem like she was putting her all into it. The same with Walking At Midnight, I was disappointed because she sang it  so great on the show.  Maybe she's tarred. Hee. Again, big hit with the tweenies. Then she says, Minnesota, you're the best so far. Shut up Pickle, we're not hayseeds so we ain't falling for that worn out line.

 

After intermission, the flames are dancing, the lights are flashing and guess who appears on Stage- the Great White Hope. hehehe, I must be overtired, I'm getting mean.  And I like his voice, although every song he sings sounds the same to me. I gotta tell ya folks, the yelling and screaming for this guy was deafening.  I could actually feel it from the bottom of my feet to the top of my head.  The Twin Cities love this rawker. I don't get it, but I'm old, that's why.  Again with the dead eyes, feh.  Give me a performer that makes love with his eyes (yeah Ace) and I'll like them better than one who sings with a blank stare. With no smiles, by the way.  The crowd screamed through his whole set, no surprise.

 

Then my boychik Elliott comes from behind the chintzy tinfoil doors to join Chris in "Savin Me" and the crowd is so happy and screams for him like crazy and the biggest screams were the ones I heard coming out of this fangirl's lungs. I was like a woman gone berzerk. The duet was so beautiful, I cried. Then Chris leaves the stage to manic screaming and Elliott gets to perform his Al Jarreau number. It's so upbeat and perfect, I cry again.  What the hell is wrong with me, I ask myself.  MMFL does go a little long, but again perfection and...more tears.  TROUBLE- the icing on the cake. He has that song nailed, even shakes his booty. I have no more tears, I'm so on board that E train and never want to get off. Tremendous cheers, I'm so proud of him, I might burst.

 

Then she (spawn) appears, on her knees in a black gown, a tad dressed up but who cares.  She got her share of cheers, nothing like Chris or E, but nothing to be ashamed of either.  She really sang it great, even the Peesher would've been proud, PapaMcphee, well we know how he would react. Oh God, I hope I didn't look like him when I was crying during Elliott's set.  Next came SOTR, beautiful, really. I'm shouldn't be so mean when I talk about her; I shouldn't blame her for Peesher's sins. Kat is gorgeous, and when she's not screeching, her voice is superb. But I'm not wasting too much energy with clapping and yelling cause I gotta save that for Taylor.

 

Everything that you've heard about his performance is true.  He is the ultimate performer.

 

The dancing was even more spazzy than on TV, but that dancing is true conviction and this guy is feeling every beat of every song.  He gives 200%, maybe he could loan some to Pickle.  Anyway, he was goofy with the tambourine and harp and to watch him is pure joy.  The crowd was totally in love, he held us in the palm of his hand, and while the screaming was very very loud, we still could hear him sing. It is so obvious why he won the contest; he is true to his craft, he absolutely loves entertaining and he is gracious to his fans.  By the middle of his set, he was sweating profusely and yes Ana, the gel did melt away. by the time he got to TITTS, he was drenched.

 

Encore songs, We Are the Champions, very cool and once again Chris got the most cheers.  Ok, I still don't get it but maybe if I was 25 and liked the keychain and goat throat warbling, I would understand. Living In America was good also. Again more Chris adoration. OK, I'll admit that I gave him one or two WHOOHOOOS. It was the least I could do for the girl on my right that looked like she was willing to become a human sacrifice as soon as he appeared on the stage.  I thought at one point she was hyperventilating but I pretended not to notice, because I didn't want to miss any of the show.  I told you I was mean tonight.

 

The applause meter results for tonite- in descending order of decibels

 

1. Close race between Taylor/Chris, but these ears tell me Chris was the winner

2. Taylor

3. Elliott

4. Ace/Bucky, too close to tell

5. Mandisa

6. Kat

7. Paris

8. Lisa

9. Pickle

 

The guys are clearly the stars of this show.  We enjoyed every minute of the day. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that my DH was there too, but he was looking at me like, who are you? I guess he hasn't seen the crazy fangirl in me before, and to tell you the truth, neither have I!  If you can get tix for this show, don't miss it!  There's something for everybody.  Now I can go to sleep and have happy thoughts about my fantastic day with the idols.