Ansamcw

AUGH...hate all this waiting...

I'm covering CB...

but their server is slow....and no action yet

but some old songs playing in the background...

Cellstream...

conflicting reports...they say its possible it is an opening act that starts the show at 7:30

prices of program....$15

t-shirt...40

hat... 30

First of all, I want to cry because I have been saving my 1000th post on the CB to post on the first cellcert thread. Oh well.

I am reporting for Lori509, who is at the concert with nzvolclayno, starshiner4clay, and aiken4clay.

Some of things she's told me already:

There are two disco balls, up in the lights, ready to come down, one on each side of the stage.

The concert starts at 7:30.

Pictures will be allowed during the first two songs. (Hope the clack gatherers can do their thing!)

Sound check outfit was tan burberry hat, two shirts, jeans and flip flops.

Songs heard during the sound check were When Doves Cry, Invisible, Living La Vita Loca. Ain't No Mountain High Enough, and Freedom.

EEEEEE cellsream is on the AIR....

EEEEEEE we can hear you Ivana.,,,,,

OMG I had a double take when I got to Clayboarrd...its looks so much like the CH...I guess they changed their board...freaky...

WELCOME!!!!!

First cellcert party at FCA FORUM......we will start giving cellcert at 7:30....

That would be eastern time, correct?

Also known as 6:30 Central time, 4:30 Pacific.

EEEEP!!! Very excited!!

I do believe so...I hope Couchie and the other west coasters can make it on time...

WOOHOO!!!

The spoilers are getting me so psyched!!!!

WELCOME!!!!!

First cellcert party at FCA FORUM......we will start giving cellcert at 7:30....

We will start to bring Cellcert reports at 7:30 pm...see you all then!!!!!

Latest SPOILERS:

HeardLiving La Vita Loca during Souncheck, also Freedom by Aretha Franklin, Ain't No Mountain High Enough

Bringing all these post from the Main Thread

JBT PROGRAM PICS!

Thanks to the CH!

eta: we also now have it in our JBT gallery

thanks so much to snowdrop of the Clackhouse....

SPOILER ALERT:

Some early reports from all over....

Playbiller called me from the sound check!

She has a terrible phone! So all I hear is noise!

But it is GREAT!

He is doing heard it through the grapevine!

He is selling black things with a red heart!

She already bought me one, in case they run out

some more reports on songs:

also nights in white satin, heard it through the grapevine,

when doves cry

all night long--lionel richey

madonna--celebrate!! (I think this is Holiday-Angela/Q singing maybe?)

HEART-How Do I get you alone

SPOILER ALERT:

LOTS of dancing!

Angela and Quiana dancing very very close to Jacob, who is Clay's stand-in for this, evidently...no Clay sighting.

So I think grindage will occur...esp. since they are doing WDC!

BOTW - the Simon & Garfunkel arrangement, diff. from any he has done already

MORE SPOILERS:

From Nova at the CH

Sailing (Christopher Cross)

Invisible

Mr. Sandman

My Girl

Aint No Mountain Higher

MORE SPOILERS:

From Nova at the CH

Sailing (Christopher Cross)

Invisible

Mr. Sandman

My Girl

Aint No Mountain Higher

Radiomax

Listen for LIVE reports from Toms River, NJ with RadioMax Correspondent MIXY from the debut night of the 2005 Clay Aiken Jukebox Tour. Tonight during the Ron Kovacs Show 6-10pm EDT

SPOILER ALERT:

LOTS of dancing!

Angela and Quiana dancing very very close to Jacob, who is Clay's stand-in for this, evidently...no Clay sighting.

So I think grindage will occur...esp. since they are doing WDC!

BOTW - the Simon & Garfunkel arrangement, diff. from any he has done already

From Clem at the CV:

From Amanda130 at the CB:

Clay is in the new people magazine with Jude Law and Sienna Miller on the cover. The date is August 8th. There are some really sweet pictures of him with the kids in Uganda.

here is a scan of the page...from CB

SPOILER ALERT:

Some early reports from all over....

Playbiller called me from the sound check!

She has a terrible phone! So all I hear is noise!

But it is GREAT!

He is doing heard it through the grapevine!

He is selling black things with a red heart!

She already bought me one, in case they run out

some more reports on songs:

also nights in white satin, heard it through the grapevine,

when doves cry

all night long--lionel richey

madonna--celebrate!! (I think this is Holiday-Angela/Q singing maybe?)

HEART-How Do I get you alone

BWAH! Good one DJs ....always support truth in advertising...

Some early reports from Toms river...from the Clackhouse:

I just got a scenerycert (shut up) from anntherese54 at Toms River!

There appears to be a different backdrop for each decade. The 50's backdrop is a red and black checkerboard design with "The 50's" painted stage right and a Wurlitzer painted on stage left. There is also a REAL wurlitzer on stage! Looks MUCH better than it did in the AH clips. eeeeeee!

Beanbags are CONFIRMED.

The backups are having a great time doin' the "swim" and whatnot.

Jacob's sax is around his neck (heh). I was listening to him in the sound check. Jacob's sax is CONFIRMED.

Band is to the left and right of the center platform with 5-6 stairs.

NO DISCO BALL CONFIRMED YET! WHEEEEEEE!

There doesn't seem to be a bad seat in the house.

Jul 28 2005, 12:58 AM

Great new article...love it. He sure is reading the boards...

Concert Preview: Clay Aiken fills album gap with pop history revue

pittsburgh post gazette

Thursday, July 28, 2005

By Scott Mervis, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Clay Aiken

Where: Chevrolet Amphitheatre, Station Square.

When: 8 p.m. Sunday.

Tickets: $25-$49.50; 412-323-1919.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On the day we reach Clay Aiken, he's in the middle of damage control, a rare situation for the "American Idol" runner-up and contemporary poster boy for everything good and wholesome.

The trouble is a TV Guide cover story in which he admits that the entertainment industry has made him "jaded" and then appears to go on to attack the population of greater Los Angeles, where he now lives.

"I said I felt people there put too much emphasis on the outsides and not their insides," Aiken says. "What I meant to say was 'people in the entertainment industry' and I kind of generalized 'entertainment industry' as 'L.A.' and it came out that way. I read it back that way and went, 'Oh, crap,' and it kind of stirred a commotion amongst fans and whatnot, and that's nothing that would ever have happened to me before.

"I'm surrounded by people in the entertainment industry, not people that I work closely with, but people in general in this business, who, sometimes I think their priorities are wrong. But I just said it one way and now I look like a jerk, and I didn't mean it that way at all. That's not the kind of thing that would have happened to me as a teacher. I would have said something, people would have realized what I meant and I would have moved on to the next thing."

Fortunately, Aiken's little commotion comes on the eve of his next thing, the Jukebox Tour, which makes its fourth stop Sunday at the Chevrolet Amphitheatre. It's a concept show he cooked up to bridge the gap between his 2003 debut, "Measure of a Man," and the follow-up that doesn't seem to be coming along as smoothly as the first.

Aiken will start from the '50s and, with liberal use of the medley, will touch on as many as 100 Top 40 songs from then till now, including a few of his own.

"A friend of mine was in a show in Charleston that was a revue of music from the '60s," he says. "I thought, that might not be a bad idea, why don't I just pick a decade? But I couldn't really pick a decade, so I thought, why don't we do them all?"

Aiken's career as a young adult contemporary singer -- starting when he turned up as a geek and mama's boy from North Carolina on the second year of "American Idol" -- has defied the odds and the predictions of resident "Idol" critic Simon Cowell, who said he was better suited to Broadway.

"When I got off the show, I saw something on Broadway, and said, 'That's a compliment because those people can sing,' " Aiken says. "Anybody who can do seven shows a week and just really full-out sing as well as those people do, if that's how good you think I am, thank you. That was kind of a backhanded compliment. That's where some really talented people go, so thanks, Simon."

Rather than going to Broadway, Aiken, who was studying to be a teacher and describes himself as "dodgeball bait" when he was in school, went west and rode that "Idol" well. He has enjoyed sales of more than 3.9 million, running just behind Kelly Clarkson as the biggest-selling Idol. It was all beyond his expectations.

"I had no faith, to be honest with you," he says. "I'm not a pessimist, but I try to be a realist as much as I can and realize that thousands of people are trying to do the same thing that I'm doing and four people are doing it well -- and I'm not sure that I'm one of them. So, I kind of have to realize that it could honestly end any day. I'm enjoying it while I can. I kind of chalk it up to a good summer camp experience. If it doesn't end up working out for the long term, I have memories that I would never have gotten any other way."

One of the keys to his continuing success is the Claymates, a fanatic fan base that follows his every move on fan Web sites and makes sure that any critic who says anything remotely negative about him is deluged with e-mail (this writer got 65 of them once). So, how does Aiken deal with his Claymates and all their high expectations of him?

"It's difficult for me to answer that. I think they do have expectations and sometimes, to be completely honest, it's almost, well, I don't want to use the word 'burdensome' ... sometimes it's tough to live up to everyone's expectations because they are so enthusiastic. And some people want my hair to be short, and some people want my hair to be long. And some people want my hair to be blond, and some people want my hair to be brown. It's hard to please everyone, but in general, they do kind of help keep me sane, because they are so enthusiastic and I'm constantly wondering why the heck people like me. I don't even get it. I get confused every time I see a fan site, I just laugh. I think sometimes they think I'm better than I am. It's tough to live up to their standards, but it's a good challenge for myself."

Which brings us to the long-awaited follow-up to "Measure of a Man," which was scheduled for the fall but is looking more like early spring. Aiken is working with producer Jaymes Foster-Levy, and the challenge is to find 11 or 12 songs he can really get excited about. "We're not going to rush it this time," he says.

Does that mean he wasn't happy with the first one?

"I wouldn't say that," he says. "I was new. We walk off the stage of 'Idol,' and two days later, I was handed my songs by the label: 'Here you go.' Fortunately, I liked them all. I think they did a halfway decent job of picking songs that I sound good on. But a lot of the songs were angst-driven. 'I Survived You' and 'No More Sad Songs' -- it's not necessarily any emotion I wanted to express. There were definitely elements that I thought were good, the songs were good. I was thrilled to work with the producers I got to work with. But this time, I want this one to be everything I want. You kind of have to fail on your own. If I don't have a full stake in it and it flops, I have an opportunity to blame someone else. If I put this together and it flops, at least I can say it flopped on my terms."

Jul 28 2005, 08:16 AM

Weekend Hotlist

Pittsburgh Post gazette

Clay Aiken, caught between albums, arrives at the Chevrolet Amphitheatre, Station Square, running through the history of pop music from the '50s on up. To the Claymates, he can do no wrong. But can he pull off Elvis? The Beatles? Will he, like Paul Anka, dare to try Nirvana? Find out at the Chevy at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25-$49.50; 412-323-1919.

Jul 28 2005, 08:16 AM

Concerts & Clubs

Stamford Advocate

Clay Aiken, Mohegan Sun, 8 p.m. tomorrow

"American Idol" has set popular music back in ways we may not yet even realize. And the fact that kids will be plead with their parents to spend this kind of cash to see this geek is disgusting. Even disposable pop stars used to have to earn a career, not place second in a nationwide karaoke contest and be immediately propelled into one. The Idol-ism of America makes 1980s mall acts like Tiffany look like troubadours. On this tour, Aiken will preview songs from an upcoming album, but mainly stick to pop standards. Aren't you supposed to wait until you're Rod Stewart's age to do that? $40 and $50. Mohegan Sun Arena, Mohegan Sun, Uncasville. (888) 332-5600.

Just Idoling

TheDay.com

Aiken's stop at Mohegan Sun will be his second concert on a tour focusing on cover versions of songs from the 1950s through the '90s. Which can't be all that different from Aiken's other concerts, can it? It's not like he has a huge catalogue of original songs. This time, the hits he plunders were originally recorded by Sam Cooke and Elvis, Goo Goo Dolls and doo-woppers. You can expect, too, some tunes from Aiken's “Measure of a Man” and his follow-up CD, whic

h he's recording in the fall.

Jul 28 2005, 08:54 AM

Runner-up doesn't mean second-best

Norwich Bulletin

Clay Aiken, who performs Friday at Mohegan Sun, took second place in 'Idol's' second season.

By DAVID PENCEK

Norwich Bulletin

Clay Aiken didn't win "American Idol," but he's become as popular as any contestant from the popular reality show who is not named Kelly Clarkson.

Aiken-mania (or is it Clay-mania) was riding high after he finished second to Ruben Studdard in the second season of "American Idol" and after he released his debut album "Measure of a Man" in October 2003.

Aiken has been fairly quiet this year, but that may change because Aiken will be on the road touring through this summer.

The 26-year old Aiken brings his "Jukebox" tour to the Mohegan Sun Arena Friday. Tickets for the 8 p.m. show are $50 and $40. The Mohegan Sun is the second stop on the tour.

Without a new album to promote, Aiken will sing covers of popular songs going back to the 1950s all the way to modern times, which will include some of Aiken's hits such as "This is the Night."

"This started out as a show just to have some fun with, and as I got more excited about singing these songs, it became a bigger show," Aiken said in a released statement. "It's a chance for people to remember where they were when they heard certain songs."

Expect covers of "Bridge Over Troubled Water," "Solitaire" and hits by Sam Cooke and the Goo Goo Dolls.

Although he has a squeaky-clean image, Aiken has been a part of some controversy lately. The Bubel/Aiken foundation, a charity he co-founded to benefit children with disabilities, has come under scrutiny. News reports cite that a document filed with the Internal Revenue Service revealed that of the more than $1 million the group raised last year, less than a third was handed out in grants. Large amounts went to travel expenses, "professional services" and salaries.

It's doubtful that the story will hurt the family-friendly Aiken's popularity.

Also this week at Mohegan Sun, Destiny's Child performs Wednesday in the Arena and Dick Pillar's 40th Annual Polkabration will be held Friday through Sunday in the Uncas Ballroom.

Jul 28 2005, 08:54 AM

Runner-up doesn't mean second-best

Norwich Bulletin

Clay Aiken, who performs Friday at Mohegan Sun, took second place in 'Idol's' second season.

By DAVID PENCEK

Norwich Bulletin

Clay Aiken didn't win "American Idol," but he's become as popular as any contestant from the popular reality show who is not named Kelly Clarkson.

Aiken-mania (or is it Clay-mania) was riding high after he finished second to Ruben Studdard in the second season of "American Idol" and after he released his debut album "Measure of a Man" in October 2003.

Aiken has been fairly quiet this year, but that may change because Aiken will be on the road touring through this summer.

The 26-year old Aiken brings his "Jukebox" tour to the Mohegan Sun Arena Friday. Tickets for the 8 p.m. show are $50 and $40. The Mohegan Sun is the second stop on the tour.

Without a new album to promote, Aiken will sing covers of popular songs going back to the 1950s all the way to modern times, which will include some of Aiken's hits such as "This is the Night."

"This started out as a show just to have some fun with, and as I got more excited about singing these songs, it became a bigger show," Aiken said in a released statement. "It's a chance for people to remember where they were when they heard certain songs."

Expect covers of "Bridge Over Troubled Water," "Solitaire" and hits by Sam Cooke and the Goo Goo Dolls.

Although he has a squeaky-clean image, Aiken has been a part of some controversy lately. The Bubel/Aiken foundation, a charity he co-founded to benefit children with disabilities, has come under scrutiny. News reports cite that a document filed with the Internal Revenue Service revealed that of the more than $1 million the group raised last year, less than a third was handed out in grants. Large amounts went to travel expenses, "professional services" and salaries.

It's doubtful that the story will hurt the family-friendly Aiken's popularity.

Also this week at Mohegan Sun, Destiny's Child performs Wednesday in the Arena and Dick Pillar's 40th Annual Polkabration will be held Friday through Sunday in the Uncas Ballroom.

Runner-up doesn't mean second-best

Norwich Bulletin

Clay Aiken, who performs Friday at Mohegan Sun, took second place in 'Idol's' second season.

By DAVID PENCEK

Norwich Bulletin

Clay Aiken didn't win "American Idol," but he's become as popular as any contestant from the popular reality show who is not named Kelly Clarkson.

Aiken-mania (or is it Clay-mania) was riding high after he finished second to Ruben Studdard in the second season of "American Idol" and after he released his debut album "Measure of a Man" in October 2003.

Aiken has been fairly quiet this year, but that may change because Aiken will be on the road touring through this summer.

The 26-year old Aiken brings his "Jukebox" tour to the Mohegan Sun Arena Friday. Tickets for the 8 p.m. show are $50 and $40. The Mohegan Sun is the second stop on the tour.

Without a new album to promote, Aiken will sing covers of popular songs going back to the 1950s all the way to modern times, which will include some of Aiken's hits such as "This is the Night."

"This started out as a show just to have some fun with, and as I got more excited about singing these songs, it became a bigger show," Aiken said in a released statement. "It's a chance for people to remember where they were when they heard certain songs."

Expect covers of "Bridge Over Troubled Water," "Solitaire" and hits by Sam Cooke and the Goo Goo Dolls.

Although he has a squeaky-clean image, Aiken has been a part of some controversy lately. The Bubel/Aiken foundation, a charity he co-founded to benefit children with disabilities, has come under scrutiny. News reports cite that a document filed with the Internal Revenue Service revealed that of the more than $1 million the group raised last year, less than a third was handed out in grants. Large amounts went to travel expenses, "professional services" and salaries.

It's doubtful that the story will hurt the family-friendly Aiken's popularity.

Also this week at Mohegan Sun, Destiny's Child performs Wednesday in the Arena and Dick Pillar's 40th Annual Polkabration will be held Friday through Sunday in the Uncas Ballroom.

Well the press is certainly being predictable...sigh

I have prepared myself to hear these types of comments. This is all part of Clay's paying dues I guess. When you think about it they are kinda right...he doesn't have a big enough repertoire to keep touring with just his original songs...He did get his success rather quickly...He does have a lot to prove specially when he covers so many classics..so they are not saying anything that we don't already know and he readily acknowledges.

At this point...I say bring it on. This tour is for us and for him. He didn't need to do this, but he is going out there to quench our thirst for his beautiful voice...he is going out there to satisfy his need to perform...

I will just ignore the poor "too cool for school" critics who will never get it. Just glad Clay has enough balls to go out there and tour again when he knows he will get pounded by the critics.

Thanks Clay!!!!

Weekend Hotlist

Pittsburgh Post gazette

Clay Aiken, caught between albums, arrives at the Chevrolet Amphitheatre, Station Square, running through the history of pop music from the '50s on up. To the Claymates, he can do no wrong. But can he pull off Elvis? The Beatles? Will he, like Paul Anka, dare to try Nirvana? Find out at the Chevy at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25-$49.50; 412-323-1919.

Concerts & Clubs

Stamford Advocate

Clay Aiken, Mohegan Sun, 8 p.m. tomorrow

"American Idol" has set popular music back in ways we may not yet even realize. And the fact that kids will be plead with their parents to spend this kind of cash to see this geek is disgusting. Even disposable pop stars used to have to earn a career, not place second in a nationwide karaoke contest and be immediately propelled into one. The Idol-ism of America makes 1980s mall acts like Tiffany look like troubadours. On this tour, Aiken will preview songs from an upcoming album, but mainly stick to pop standards. Aren't you supposed to wait until you're Rod Stewart's age to do that? $40 and $50. Mohegan Sun Arena, Mohegan Sun, Uncasville. (888) 332-5600.

Just Idoling

TheDay.com

Aiken's stop at Mohegan Sun will be his second concert on a tour focusing on cover versions of songs from the 1950s through the '90s. Which can't be all that different from Aiken's other concerts, can it? It's not like he has a huge catalogue of original songs. This time, the hits he plunders were originally recorded by Sam Cooke and Elvis, Goo Goo Dolls and doo-woppers. You can expect, too, some tunes from Aiken's “Measure of a Man” and his follow-up CD, whic

h he's recording in the fall.