ldyjocelyn

I honestly can't choose a favorite section. I'm an equal opportunity swooner.

Sing it, Angela. I'm "listening."

His whole schtick about not being cool cracks me up. I love it.

I thought the jacket thing was about taking off his jacket....but I could be wrong.

pax, you've got fantastic ears. Please hang around more often. (BTW, thanks for the site....)

What's all the crowd noise here? Damn it, I missed it.

I'm beginning to think there should be a drinking game attached to this show now: take one drink every time he thanks the orchestra. Take a looooooooong swig every time he says "Sloooooooooooooow."

That could be fun, if inebriating.

we're such happy nerdy people

Isn't that a REM song?

As far as your "guy" comment jmh, I'm not sure if he's aiming for making it a guy show, he's just doing what HE wants to do, and if that includes more guys, more power to him. Of course, I could be talking out of my ass too.

WY is such a lovely, lovely thing.

I just knew he would do this on this tour, after the Capitol Fourth performance 3 years ago (can it be that long ago?!?!?!). It sounds fantastic, as usual. I think he's gotten way better on it as time as gone on with this tour.

WY now....chill inducing live. I like hearing that this is favorite from ATDW to sing live.

Yes, CH is still out...and the CV one is really unlistenable to me....but now it's coming in better with SSTBTHW.

Isn't technology amazing?

CH is now back...with MOAM. Sound is much better.

Somebody yelled out "Us Indians like it hot". He said back, "Us white boys don't"

What a quick wit. Gotta love him.

lickiest1 -- you wanna do the reporting, since we seem to be cross posting?!?!?!? :F_05BL17blowkiss:

Uh oh....CH cellcert seems to be down.

15 minute break....

According to the certer, he's playing it pretty straight.

The mic stand -- he put it on the floor and managed to "finally get it up." Certers words, not mine. *g*

Quiana is a "black yodeler. Are there other black yodelers?" "Patti LaBelle." "No, she's more of a screamer."

Came down the aisle next to the cellcerter. Jerome was walking behind him. There were stairs behind a black curtain, and he went behind the curtain to get on the stage.

It's a really dark venue, black backdrop, so the flashes really stand out.

No announcement made about stuff.

Scarlett is doing audio only -- security told her no video.

Giving Angela and Quiana their props for their voices. "two best voices out there."

Did he say something about Justin Timberlake?

Billboard Blog -- Mobile Beat

Clay Aiken, The GreekTheater in Los Angeles, August 4, 2007

August 05, 2007

Clay Aiken, The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, August 4th, 2007

Part concert, part comedy show, Clay Aiken and a live orchestra performed in front of a few thousand of his most dedicated fans on Saturday night. Before the show, I had spoken with fans of the American Idol runner up, or Claymaniacs, who told me that an Aiken concert is as much about his interaction with the audience as it is about his trademark big vocals. I was a little skeptical about how this would turn out because I appreciate rapid fire performances in live concerts. However, many an Aiken concert veteran assured me that I was in for a great night on this stop of The Soft Rock & A Hard Place Tour. Thankfully, Aiken delivered. In an entertaining two hour set, Aiken and his background vocalists Angela Fisher and Quiana Parler put together an upbeat night (somehow, in a set filled with ballads) that was just as filled with laughter (legitimate “LOL,” “LMAO,” “ROFL” laughter) from the audience as it was with strong performances coming from the performers on stage.

As is inevitably the case with many a stop on the Mobile Beat tour (big ups to the Mobile Beat bloggers who have encountered some unexpected surprises in this past week), not everything went according to plan pre-show. By the time I made it to the venue, I was convinced that there was no way that I was going to pay $15 to park in the general stack parking area (which took 2 hours for me to break free after The Fray concert earlier this summer). Last time, the marketing director of the company who put on The Fray concert helped me out tremendously, literally dragging me from “the pit” and into the photo area so that I could get clear shots of the stage. Before the show, she told me that I should have parked in the press area. Already facing past due payments on my car and student loans because of this summer’s concert tickets (who cares about my FICO score… other than my future wife, who I hope is reading this), I took a calculated risk and passed on the regular parking area and headed straight towards the non-stack parked VIP lot to work my munchkin-like charms.

I’ll admit that I name dropped. It was shameless.

“Hi, I’m Dave Chung and I was supposed to be on the parking list for tonight (I am lying at this point). Could you double check on that for me?”

“Sure… Sorry, it’s not on here. Are you sure that you have a photo credential?”

“Yeah, it’s waiting for me at Will Call (it wasn’t). I was told that I should be able to park in this lot last time I was here.” (And of course, I was fully aware of the fact that many on the Mobile Beat team have arrived at venues with tickets and passes going missing. But I sounded confident.)

“Who are you here with?”

“I’m with Billboard.”

The parking attendant thought about it for a second, then handed me a parking pass and told me to make my way into the parking area designated for performers, literally saving me two hours.

With absolutely nothing that said I should actually be there, I was in. Hollerrrr.

After claiming my seat ticket at Will Call, I discovered that my photo pass was missing and that I wasn’t on the list. Determined to get this photo pass, I scoured the grounds like a raccoon looking for a tasty looking garbage buffet. Amazingly, I spotted Vanessa (who resembled an angel sent from above by this point, or Waldo in a frustrating game of “Where’s Waldo?”), who had provided me with my photo pass previously, and I ran after her like a crazed paparazzi. After a brief explanation of the missing pass situation and reminder that we had met previously, Vanessa hooked me up with a photo pass. Now, I was really in.

The second I walked into the venue, I knew this was going to be a concert unlike any other. After hanging out with teenage girls (again, holler!) last week at Carrie Underwood’s show, I expected a similar crowd for another American Idol alumnus. Instead, it was a much older crowd than I expected (median age 45?), skewed about 90% female. The stage was set up for a full orchestra, something I wasn’t expecting, but was pleasantly surprised to find. As one of the few non-balding males in attendance (not that there’s anything wrong with balding), I was an anomaly at the show. I found two girls with a “Clay took our concert virginity” poster, which was more of what I was expecting from the night’s audience. Seeing them and their sign made me feel more at ease because I was a Clay concert-virgin that night and they seemed pretty happy with their first experience. I suppose it says something when people come back for more after that first intimate experience…instead of not returning your text messages… nor calling back… perhaps blocking on IM…maybe even Google chat… Wait, what are we talking about?

I’m positive that the beer vendors didn’t have to check one ID the whole night and there would be zero smell of illicit drugs filling the air (there was a skunk smell, which briefly fooled me). In front of me, a group of women discussed how Michael Buble was sold out at the venue for three consecutive nights, but that “he’s just not Clay.” Claymaniacs who had seen him numerous times in concert, like Wisconsin-native and Claymaniac Sarah Logghe, who is travel and attending Aiken concerts throughout the summer, were in attendance tonight and this would become more obvious as the night went on. (Yes, I am that short)

The full set list for the night was as follows:

- Here You Come Again

- Everything I Have

- I Want to Know What Love Is

- When I See You Smile

- Every Time You Go Away

- TV Show Theme Song Medley

- Open Arms

- When the Lights Go Down (originally by Faith Hill, performed by Quiana)

- Right Here Waiting

- Sorry Seems To Be the Hardest Word

- Measure of a Man

- Without You

- The Way You Make Me Feel

- “Cool Song” Medley

- Listen (originally by Beyonce’, performed by Angela)

- Lover All Alone

- Because You Loved Me

Opening up the show with “Here You Come Again,” Aiken brought everyone seated in the pit to their collective feet (after they told me that they were going to stay seated as I kneeled in front of them to snap pictures). Despite the fact that this pit was no where near the pushing and fighting for position that I’ve become accustomed to, the energy and enthusiasm in the pit was impressive. Immediately, I noticed how respectful the Clay fans were and how they attend concerts for the purpose of listening, not to sing along loudly like at a rock concert (see me at The Fray), nor hurl expletives at the stage like a hip-hop concert (see me at any hip hop concert). On a side note, that would really hurt my feelings if I was a rapper, which is clearly the only reason why I haven’t yet been signed by G-Unit, as my lyrical skills is no doubt “fly” and “on point,” naw mean? No? Me neither…).

Next up was “Everything I have,” which is my favorite Clay song off his second CD. If you’re a ballad lover who enjoys curling up on your couch with some hot chocolate, a self-heating face mask, a towel wrapped around your head while you use a deep conditioning treatment, while you get emo to whatever music is playing as you watch a simulated fireplace on your screensaver (because real fire is SO 90’s. Ew.) like I do (this is half true…which makes me self-conscious), this might be one of the better ballads that many have never heard. After the two ballads, Clay performed “I Want To Know What Love Is,” which heavily featured Angela Fisher’s vocals as well. At the end of the song, Aiken and Fisher had an on-stage battle performing runs, which was a lot of fun for both everyone in attendance as the runs were overdone to the point that they were as hilarious as they were impressive.

Clay asked the audience if it was hot outside because he was overheating on stage. Immediately, women started exclaiming, “TAKE IT OFF, CLAY!!!” With the reflexes of a paranoid schizophrenic cat supped up on adderal, I ran into the aisle ready to snap pictures (in the name of the Mobile Beat, of course), only to return blushing and disappointed to my seat. What makes Clay’s show so entertaining is that he, Angela, and Quiana are such engaging personalities who are so comfortable on stage that you can’t help but get drawn in as they joke around with each other and the audience. Clay’s humor is self-deprecating and honestly, much funnier than I would have ever expected. He joked that the few men in the audience there with their wives were probably getting drunk before the show, thinking “This is the only way I’m going to get through this… this, and Barry Manilow…” I can’t make some of this stuff up.

“When I See You Smile” was truly heightened by the live orchestra that paired perfectly with Clay’s clear, powerful, and almost effortless sounding vocals. “Every Time You Go Away” featured Angela and Quiana on some great harmonies during the chorus that would have been a welcome addition to Aiken’s studio version of the song, which the crowd appeared to agree with as it jumped to its feet to applaud the pitch perfect performance.

A first for me, but apparently a mainstay of this year’s Aiken tour, was the TV Show Theme Songs Medley. Clay revealed that he sang the theme to “Perfect Strangers” (big ups to Balki and Cousin Larry) for his American Idol audition before the judges asked him to sing another song. Singing songs from TV shows that spanned about three decades, Aiken and his backup vocalists performed theme songs from not only Perfect Strangers, but Full House, Laverne and Shirley, Diff’rent Strokes, Charles in Charge (which Quiana performed so well like it was ready to be released as a radio single), The Jeffersons, and other well-known TV shows. The unusual and pretty wild medley that saw Aiken take off his jacket and dance around the stage for brief stints, got a rousing standing ovation from the appreciative crowd that enjoyed the trip back in time.

Bringing the audience back to their seats, “Open Arms” brought the audience back to their seats to take in Aiken’s vocals as he and Angela put together some pretty incredible harmonies. It was an interesting experience to be part of such an engaged audience, to the point where a woman sitting next to me took a cell phone call during a song and received some of the dirtiest looks I have ever seen in my whole life (my look being the most fierce, “Blue Steel,” baby) from what was probably one of the nicest audiences I’ve ever been a part of. Next, Aiken gave the stage over to backup singer Quiana Parler. She performed Faith Hill’s “When The Lights Go Down,” which featured some powerful runs and some Whitney-like flashes of vocal brilliance. It was refreshing to see an artist give his background vocalists so much credit, as Clay did at numerous points in the night. It was well deserved because as Clay put it, Quiana “blew the crap out of that song.” If my body could produce such sounds every time I blew the crap out of something, let’s just say that I would never make it off the can in the morning.

After a brief intermission and orchestra tune up (what a trip to see this at a non-classical concert!), Clay and Co. returned to the stage to thunderous applause to perform “Right Here Waiting.” Even as large moths and large airborne bugs attacked Aiken, Fisher, and Parler during the performance like crazed women ripping at my clothes every time I walk into a room (I’m completely joking), the trio pulled off an impressive vocal performance that featured some of the longest notes I have ever heard in my whole life by Aiken. “Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word” was one of my favorite performances, as it featured more of Aiken’s vulnerability in his voice, instead of his trademark huge vocals. Following these two ballads, Clay performed “Measure of a Man,” the title track off his first album to huge applause. Even if you’re a Clay-hater (and I know they’re out there), the piano, orchestra, and Clay’s huge vocals on the chorus made this a performance that would be difficult for anyone not to smile at. It was one of the most electric performances on the night and it made me wish that Aiken performed more songs off his first CD like “Solitaire,” “Invisible,” and “This is the Night,” but it wasn’t meant to be.

Before performing “Without You,” Clay joked with the audience about topics ranging from laxatives to the fact the he performs a ton of slow songs and how he didn’t want to bore the audience with ballad-palooza (I made that up, not Clay. He’s wittier). The harmonies on the song’s huge chorus were spot on and I think the superb performance of the track brought many in the audience back to the version by Harry Nilsson that brought the song to legendary status in the 1970’s. For me, it brought me back to the version by Mariah Carey, but there were numerous generations in attendance that were could appreciate the song in different ways. Afterwards, Clay sympathized with the males in the audience, apologizing for all the slow songs, but guaranteeing that “Your wife will be very happy when she gets home,” before performing Michael Jackson’s “The Way You Make Me Feel” as he weaved in and out of the audience.

After confessing to the audience that he was not cool and fumbling over using phrases like “Fo’ shizzle,” Clay, Quiana, and Angela let loose in what I call the “Cool Song” medley, which included radio hits from the past two decades. Kicking off the medley with an orchestra accompanied version of Sir Mixalot’s classic “Baby Got Back,” the medley included “Like a Virgin,” “Bills, Bills, Bills,” “1999,” “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy,” “Oops, I Did It Again” (which was accompanied by some hilarious Clay Aiken faces), “Yeah!”, “Sexyback,” “Achy Breaky Heart,” “Opposites Attract,” and “Beat It.” It goes without saying that this was a big crowd pleaser, more about the medley itself than the vocals. If you took a step back, it was hilarious to realize that all these songs were performed with a full orchestra of people in white button down shirts. It reminded me a bit of the 50 Cent Vitamin Water commercial where the orchestra plays the theme to “In Da Club.”

Nearly stealing the show, singer Angela Fisher performed “Listen,” made famous by Beyonce’s performance in the movie Dreamgirls (yes, I saw it, girlfriend). I was really excited for this performance after hearing about it from some Clay veterans earlier in the night. Angela tackled every note with all the passions of a Beyonce’ and Jamie Foxx argument on the big screen and worked the crowd into as much of a frenzy as you can possibly do with a ballad. People cheered audibly during each of the choruses and Angela’s stage presence was an absolute joy to behold. She received what could have been the most well-deserved standing ovation of the night.

Next up, Clay did by performed “Lover All Alone,” a song he co-wrote with David Foster. The result is a really passionate ballad that featured an incredible cello solo to go along with Clay’s vocals and a simple piano melody. Clay finished out the show to a crowd waving glow sticks side to side during his performance of “Because You Loved Me.” Before performing the song for an audience that wanted more, Aiken joked that half the crowd would be at the next show anyways, which resulted in a lot of laughter. After meeting so many Aiken followers that night, I am positive that Clay was being completely truthful in that statement because his fan base really is that dedicated.

In what was probably the most relaxing concert I’ve ever attended with the most respectful crowd I’ve ever been a part of (I am positive not a single expletive was spoken all night), Clay Aiken put on a great show vocally and in terms of entertainment for the audience in attendance. Not only is Aiken a powerful vocalist who has developed his own identity and following that has gone well past him being a “guy from American Idol,” but he puts on a hilarious show that is filled with more laughs that you’d ever expect from a ballad-filled evening. While I wish that Aiken performed some more songs from his first CD, few Aiken fans would ever leave his show unsatisfied, as the singer manages to make everyone feel like they’re just hanging out with Clay and his band for the night. With strong vocals throughout the night and random banter that surprisingly did not annoy me between songs (almost an impossible task), Aiken became more than just a singer to me tonight, but lived up to his reputation as a strong entertainer as well.

Dave Chung

I'm not understand a lot of this banter....

except for "oh we have to keep going..."

Hee lickiest. I'm going to go post that in the main thread....

I just skimmed it, but that was a cool skim. Very nice....

Damn flashers.

Wait, that didn't come out right....

Singing Cheers now too.

That man definitely loves his TV....

What did the cellcerter say was out of control tonight?

I'll bet Clay is "conducting" tonight....

He's so cute when he does that!

He sounds fantastic to me.

I love the arrangement of this song -- the strings at the end are thrilling to me, not to mention the voice.

Hellllooooooo Indioooooooo!

It's gonna be a sloooooooooooow night.....

Teasing Quiana about being a yodeler...."you even look like a yodeler."

The CH cellcert is pretty clear....on the singing at least. We'll see when the banter starts.

IWKWLI -- otherwise known as "riffing central." (See last night's clack to understand that joke....)

Sounds like Quiana -- right?

This song really comes alive in a concert setting. Gah.

Cream colored jacket, dark blue jeans, white shirt.

EIH....

EEEEEEEE! It's starting....

Can I say, just one more time, that I wish I was there?

HYCA! God, I love this song so very much.

Coming up the aisle with Jerome! Cool.

Many, many cheers as he wanders through the crowd.

I'll be here too. What time does the concert start Central Time? :TourExcite:

In approximately 5 minutes -- 8:00!!! EEEEEEEEE!

Some purdy pics from jtgranny.....

I love the orchestra members laughing in this one:

I do too. Matter of fact, if you check out somebody's TWYMMF clack from this show (I'll have to go look, can't remember whose it is!), you'll see the blond violin player on the right singing along. I thought it cute.

While I did laugh heartily at this:

Ben Wener's dick is this long:

I also do really have to personally agree with this:

I think if I were ocregmom, I'd be just as hurt by everyone skewering my child, even if he did deserve it. I would wish everyone would just ignore it without having to comment or insult him all over the boards. It seems like it would show her the kindness she probably needs if more people just dropped it rather than dragging it along in public. But, that's just me. If anything like that ever happened to me, I'd just as soon nobody jumped up to bitch about it in my honor. I'd be mortified. Just plain hating on a bad review/critic is one thing, but this is more personal. Eep. I have to go hide now.

Yes, I know -- ignoring in many ways doesn't stop anything. But at the same time, I see an endless circle here -- he writes bad stuff about Clay, the fans write bad stuff about the writer...which in turn may very well likely cause him to write MORE bad stuff about Clay (and the fans and his mother), which in turn causes more of the same, and so on and so on and scooby dooby dooby. Somewhere the circle has to be broken, and I guess I personally choose to be one of those people who says "enough is enough."

But again, that's me.

*waves at stpteach and wishes her a hearty welcome*

I might be a little late for this one, but I'll be here....and I should be awake too!

Final show for the California girls....a bittersweet experience, I'm sure.

:Tour3:

I'm back! Bell ringing went fine, and I got lots of nice compliments. First service I missed a few notes, but the second service went perfect. I should have had my husband video it and then I could have provided ldyjack....

*g*

I WAS AT FOURTH ROW!!!!!!CENTER!!!! EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

oops sorry for shouting...everyone else here is still asleep....but I was at fourth row (not pit) Last night!!!

Oh that's OK, I'd shout too if I were you! EEEEEEEEEE!!!!

anyway...we didn't bother with the bus line last night. But we saw it forming and it was huge. Still don;t know if Clay did walk the line.

Yes, he did. There's clack available.

Finally, because I'm sure you've all missed my poddish comments while I've been on the road:

MANDATE? Yes!

STAYING WITH RCA? Sticks fingers in ears and goes yah, yah, yah, I can't hear you.

Heh.

:F_05BL17blowkiss: artquest! And I was totally serious about having your husband post his responses and such from the past few shows. I could hear him laughing in some of the clack. He sounds like a keeper.

Last night was my only concert, and I must say, it was a joy. There's nothing like hearing his voice live. And he was such a riot, so hilarious and completely comfortable on stage. If there were any fears that he would somehow be intimidated by the venue or the possibilty of industry people in the audience, he put those to rest quickly.

I loved it all. Maybe it's because I haven't been to other concerts this summer, and haven't downloaded a lot of Clack, but for me, everything worked--every joke landed, every song brought a smile to my face, every minute reminded me of why I'm still a fan.

I love this. Simply love this. I'm glad you had a great evening, and was able to share it with friends later. I wish I could have been able to stay up all night so that I could have chatted with you via online.

Off to watch more clack!

OK, just watched the "officially cool" schtick from last night. First of all, totally agree with laughn yesterday when she talked about how he's spoofing himself as much as the "cool kids," and I agree with her that I find that sexier than hell. Secondly -- the man is a fantastic actor. Or just a fantastic ham, take your pick. *g*

Went to bed early because of my headache....woke up a 4:00 due to nerves because of my solo performance this morning at church.

However, this has started my day right...

And some more assorted cool pics IMO:

Welcome sunburstoflight!!!

I really was going to try to stay up for this one tonight, but 1) I JUST finished my movie for the week that I always watch with my husband; 2) I must get up early to provide special music (a handbell solo) for my church tomorrow; and 3) I've got a killer headache right now. I think sleep is the best thing for me.

I hope Clay does a fantastic job tonight! I love him so much.

'night.