bottlecap

I can't believe Clay got to pet a penguin! I also can't believe I didn't go to the Toledo Zoo early on concert day so I could lurk around looking for Clay! Is it too soon to look for an mp3 of tonight's new song? Refresh, refresh, refresh....

I wasn't sure if I should put in a line of EEEEEEEEEEEEEs!, EHEHEHEHEHEHs!, or extraneous U's in honor of tonight's Toronto concert. Best wishes to Ansa and her family, along with all the other Canadian attendees! I'm sure you'll have a blast, eh, and maybe Clay will wear his shirt in your favourite colour. [sorry, I'm not very fluent in Canadian. And don't get me started on the whole kilometres / miles issue.]

Hey, would one of you hoochies - I mean one of you fine, upstanding, highly intelligent women who are going to the east coast this weekend ask Mr. Aiken where my website merchandise is? It's been three and a half weeks today, and it is apparently still not shipped. At this rate, it'll arrive in time for the end of the Christmas tour. Happy travels, y'all. Bring us back good Clack.

I went to see Kelly Clarkson last, and it's definitely not just Clay's fans that consider the slow songs as the perfect time to proclaim their undying devotion. Of course, in Kelly's case, it's mostly male voices that are doing that. The newscast said the show was sold out, so yeah for us in Toledo again. I hope the sell outs for both Clay and Kelly mean that Toledo gets more readily included as a stop for future tours by other current artists. coughBoBicesolotourcough

So now the Front Row not only has the responsibility for gathering primo Clack, they also need to provide sheet music for the Stump the Band requests? Loved the "When a Man Loves a Woman" video - thanks for posting it.

Great pictures, guys! buzztechie, I got a little distracted by your U2 photos. One day, Clay will fill stadiums.... Skatejoy, no pictures of Clay's security detail this time around? I wonder why. [coughNoJeromecough] I thought Derek was the cutest drummer ever, but your picture of Felix is making me reconsider. I'll get a chance to compare tomorrow when I go see Kelly's concert. So I was reading out the check-in posts yesterday, and decided I needed to do a little follow-up with carol1957bikes, who commented she had won the meeting with Clay at GMA through the Womans Day magazine contest. With her permission, I am posting her comments and some of her pictures. Let her know what you think. carol1957bikes' e-mail to me: I put Carol's pictures in an album, which I hope works! Please don't post these photos elsewhere without Carol's permission. Carol's GMA Photos

On Sunday, August 21th, Dateline NBC is doing a piece on the "night commuters" in Northern Uganda. This might give some insight into what Clay experienced when he visited Uganda for UNICEF.

Yeah, couchie, I'm an amateur, and will probably maintain that status. At least I'm not longer a "virgin". By the way, my niece was a little taken aback when the South Carolina ladies we were chatting with before the concert squealed: "Oh, you're a virgin!" at her. I had neglected to explain that little bit of fan terminology before the concert, so she thought they were making an extremely personal comment. My internet company is enabling my Clack habit. A lovely lady from SBC called me today and offered me a speed upgrade on my DSL service, at a lower price than I'm paying right now. Gee, let me ponder that offer for a millisecond!

skatejoy, I think it was an Eos Rebel (per her instruction manual), with what looked like a detachable lens that was quite long. Maybe that's not really what you consider to be a telephoto lens, but that's what I considered it to be in my mind. [Keeping in mind, my photographic experience is primarily with one-time use cameras ... stop cringing!] Based on the shots she was looking at during intermission, she was getting a lot of tight shots of Clay's face from the fourth row. She was definitely focusing manually, because she made a comment to another seatmate about not getting a shot because Clay came to an unexpected part of the stage, and she was focused for the other end. eta: Can I tell you how happy I am to see Scarlett's Toledo Clack start to get posted? I saw a couple of video cameras dead center in the first row, and I was hopeful that one of them belonged to that extraordinary goddess of Clack! I'm also glad to see the WMV versions posted here, since I know I can burn those onto DVDs, which, by the way, my sister is already asking about. Also, can I say I don't know how you guys survive traveling to multiple concerts? I rearranged my vacation, partly to accomodate my one concert, which was at a venue 20 minutes from my house. I left that concert dehydrated, hoarse, and with a sore knee from standing funny on the slightly sloped ground. I hustled home, wrote my long-winded recap, caught up on the boards, and finally tried to go to bed at 4:00AM. Gave up trying to go to sleep at 5:00AM, signed back on and did some edits to my recap, and watched the news. Went back to bed at 6:30AM, and finally got a few hours of sleep. Spent yesterday in a fog, with a sore throat, surfing around looking for Clack. If I had to add traveling and partying into that mix, plus actually providing Clack, it would be R.I.P. bottlecap.

I had a couple more thoughts to add about my concert experience at the Toledo Zoo: Upthread, buzztechie concurred with Ansa's decision to see her first concert camera free. I think that's right on the money. I ended up sitting next to a woman with a huge telephoto lens, who was getting some great shots. I made sure to ask where she posted her photos, and voila, I know where to get pictures that are essentially from my concert perspective. Clack gathers and sharers rule!! At the pre-party, one of the fans groups passed out white pennants with "Clay" in red script on them. They really made a great visual in the audience, and I hope they didn't mess with the Clack too much. I thought it was a really creative idea, and I intend to use mine for my pin collection. I thought Clay seemed to be in great voice last night. He hit a couple of bad notes, but they were few and far between. The sound mix could have been a little better, but that may have been a function of where I was sitting. The drums came across as being really loud to me. To all the Indy concerts goers: Best wishes! You get him after a four hour bus trip and a day off. Plenty of time to come up with new jokes and hi-jinks!

Thanks for the well wishes! I posted a lengthy recap over in the Toledo concert thread about my experience, which I hope makes some sort of sense. I'm typically not up and typing novels at 2:00 in the morning, but this was a special case. I expect the post-concert crash to come eventually, so I'm hanging on to the high while it lasts. Bottom line: I had a terrific time, and I was very satisfied with the experience. However, I am content with having seen one JBT concert live, and will happily continue living vicariously through the Clack goddesses. Viva La Clack!

HOLY TOLEDO, BATMAN!! I HAD A TOTAL BLAST AT THE TOLEDO ZOO CONCERT TONIGHT!! Excuse the screaming - I think I'm done now. Well, maybe a stray EEEE! or two might leak through. I'm writing this recap without reading anything first, so I can get my impressions out while they're still fresh in my mind. This was my first Clay concert ever, although I have been following him pretty closely online like the rest of you. My older sister, my 17 year-old niece, and my niece's friend came with me, none of who were really up on the whole Clay phenomena. [Niece's friend thought he had won AI, and didn't realize he was the one who sang "Invisible".] I wanted to have the whole experience, so we went to the pre-party get-together. I was able to snag a couple of Lucia's Brazil pins, and we met some lovely ladies from South Carolina. They told my niece how happy they were to see teenage fans coming to see Clay, and told her how cute she looked. I had bought her a snappy fedora at the mall earlier in the day, and she did look darn cute in it! Our seats weren't together, so we got Niece and Friend situated, and Sis and I made our way down to our 4th row seats. The view was great, even though we were packed in tighter than sardines. We were right on the aisle, almost directly in front of the piano. I made a point of going up to check on the blue shoes under the piano, and sure enough, they were right there. I'll try to remember the stuff that struck me as different, or interesting, so this may be a little stream of conscious here: No room for backdrops in the amphitheater, so we just got lighting effects. Geez, Clay's pale and thin! It seemed a little unreal when he came out and I saw him live and in person for the very first time ever. Early on in the Fifties set, Sis turned to me and said "He looked right at me!" Ah the power of the Aiken eyef**k, even on the clueless. Unchained Melody was great - it strikes me that he kept his eyes closed for most of it. Much screaming for the glory notes. I didn't notice the pained, dramatic faces too much for "Love Me Tender", which were evident in some of the Clack from the earlier concerts. The hip and microphone action was great - I really like the angled stance he uses during the Elvis stuff, and the microphone humping is a hoot. It definitely isn't Mary behind the clothing rack - I think Clay said the guy's name is Nolan. I was amused by the Target bag hanging on the end of the rack - I don't think that was vintage [HA HA]. The whole Sixties Medley is so cute - I loved the McCartney head shake. During "Happy Together" on the stairs, both Angela and Quiana had their arms wrapped around Clay's calves, so he ended up throwing his legs over their's briefly. He then sang most of the rest of the song with A & Q both in a headlock. That was really the only foolin' around during the singing I noticed. I was a little distracted by the security guard chasing the constant stream of photographers out of the aisle during the Pip stuff, so I missed some of the moves. Angela killed on "Rescue Me", and the crowd loved Jacob on "Grapevine". I was also a little distracted by seeing Nick and Jerome Jr. getting ready to escort Clay out into the audience. When Clay did come down to do his volunteer search, he went right by us. [This would be an appropriate place for one of those spare EEEEEE's] Sis said she wanted to reach out and touch him, but managed to restrain herself. Tsathy would be pleased. Clay really did go a long ways into the audience, not only to talk to Don from Columbus, but to recruit Tom from Delta. I don't know how his wife managed to get her husband chosen as her 38th anniversary gift, but it certainly seemed pre-arranged. I'd be interested to read her account of it. Clay went up another aisle to return to the stage, so no more "touching" opportunities for us. Loved the disco ball lighting for the beginning of the 70's set. The audience was very appreciative of the spinning and kicking. You go, pasty white boy!! Very cute sychronized legs kicks from the beanbag contingent. Mandy was very good. I didn't realize the back-ups were in their choir robes already for "Bridge Over Troubled Water". Felix was pretty funny doing his 80's spiel. He went tearing around behind the raised stairway [which Clay later mentioned startled him], jumped from the top of the stairs, and dropped into a roll. I think when Clay was coming up the steps to do "When Doves Cry", he stepped on the front of his robe. You may notice him sort of holding the front of it in the Clack, so that could be why. No "Take it Offs" that I heard, but some woman did scream "Where's Waldo". Classy. I was really surprised when he came over to the piano side of the stage to do the initial moves on Quiana. I don't think she was surprised, though, so maybe they had discussed it. Clay did some grinding with Quiana, and when I glanced over, Jacob seemed to be doing some sort of backbend into Angela. Of course Clay later went back to Angela, and did the normal back and forward stuff that I believe we're all familiar with [Please, I know I'm not the only one who downloads at least one version from every concert!] I don't think I have watched any Clack of Jacob doing "Rock with You", so I didn't realize how terrific he was doing that number. He really moves with a lot of fluidity throughout the show [when I remember to watch him], and it is a great interpetation of Micheal Jackson. No messing around during "Sailing", and I had a good view beneath the piano. Angela kept her distance, so there was no repeat of the Dayton hijinks. "Can't Touch This" is really a comedy gem, isn't it. Jacob MC Hammer'ed his way over to sit in a stool briefly, which the audience of course hooted at. That bugged Teacher Clay, who didn't like stuff going on behind his back. With Clay's encouragement, we screamed and hollered at S'von to come out and join the dancers. He finally did, after Clay reminded him who signed the paychecks. S'von did a brief "Robot", and scurried back behind the piano as fast as he could. Angela killed on "Black Velvet", although as normal, I was mostly watching Clay. "Iris" and "La Vida Loca" are another set of songs that I consistently download, so I was especially looking forward to them. I think the sort of screaming he does on "Iris" is really pretty effective for that song. I wish Angela hadn't been blocking my view of Clay's hips for "La Vida Loca", but I got to see the windmill arms and scream at the vest toss. AWHooo HOOO! The crowd settled down nicely during the prelude to "I Can't Make You Love Me", so perhaps KAndre's Howler Monkey extermination program is having an effect. The song is really very moving, as was Quiana's solo on "I Will Always Love You". Clay talked quite a bit before the MOAM stuff, and he definitely said the next CD would be out in 2006, so probably no 4Q05 surprise release is in the offing. The MOAM stuff is kind of a blur. Having Clay sing "1000 Days" on a stool 20 feet in front of me certainly improved my opinion of that song. I screamed my lungs out along with "Back For More", as did a lot of the audience that I could see. Sis did throw some weird looks at me for that one, but I couldn't help it. The audience was also really into "Invisible", and Clay has to feel the love that is being beamed up to him with that song. I grabbed a couple of the streamers on the way out, which Niece and Friend of Niece were glad to get. According to the sponsoring radio station, the venue was sold out. It certainly looked full to me. The TZA has a capacity of 4,500, so yeah for us. I hope the good reception will lead Clay and Company to schedule future tour stops in Toledo. We tend to get skipped over by a lot of current acts for venues in Detroit, Cleveland, and Columbus. Did I mention I had a great time? It's now 2:00 AM, and I don't feel like I'll ever be tired again. Sorry this recap is so long, but I wanted to get everything down before it slips away. I'll post this novel, and go back to catch up on the cellcert commentary. I can't wait to start seeing pictures and videos from Toledo, which may jolt more memories, so I reserve the right to edit like crazy. I think it's appropriate to end with one more EEEEEE!

Kudos to our very own World Dominatrix KAndre! I would like to have a word with you later about smiting some reprehensible worms that have threatened to put a damper on my Clay buzz. But that's a story for another time... On a happier note: 5 hours until I see Clay for the very first time! AWHooo HOOO! We met another concert goer at the mall this morning, indentified by her OFC shirt. I think the encounter went a long way towards reassuring my sister that I'm not completely insane about Clay. Or at least that it's a widely shared insanity....

Geez, why was I too lazy to drive two and a half hours down I-75 to go to Kettering? Hope the concert is great for you guys tonight. Tomorrow's my big night at the Toledo Zoo Amphitheater. EEEEEEEEEEEE! Good luck to everyone who is visiting the Toledo Zoo early tomorrow in order to try to get an early glimpse of the rather elusive Aikenus Croonerious [Native to North Carolina; Diet consists primarily of Hot Pockets, Krispy Kremes, peach ice cream, and bottled milk; Has a distinctive reddish-brown crest; Mating call has proven to have an immediate and potent effect on females in the vicinity] I am planning to hang out at the mall and stalk Angela and Quiana - um, I mean, I will be checking out the back to school sales with my niece. And if the lines at the food court are too long at lunchtime, I may stand on a table and scream: "OMG! I just saw Clay Aiken in the men's department at Marshall Fields!" Thart should clear things out nicely.

I enjoyed your photos, diamond. I especially liked being able to read what was on the 50's jukebox backdrop in pictures 10 and 11. I wasn't sure before whether anything was actually written on the jukebox selections or not. By the way, tell your cute little doggie I said "Woof!" I'm off the inquire about checking out a taser or two from KAndre's weapons locker. I suspect they might be useful, not only against the screamers, but also for getting through the line at the merchandise table.

In general, the new rules at the OFC seem to give the moderators more authority to clean up posts and ban where necessary. To me, the OFC message board has been good for coordinating cross-board activities, like concert pre-parties. I was also tracking the thread about when meet & greet e-mails went out for various venues. (Sniff, my e-mail box was sad and empty. ) Otherwise, I find it to be kind of tough slogging through various threads for any real content. The blogs, on the other hand, are a real hoot. Jemock and Jude's blogs are worth the annual fee all by themselves.

Ticketmaster sent me a reminder e-mail about my upcoming Clay Aiken concert. Gee, thanks guys! It's not like I've been thinking about it every hour of every day since May or anything! I might have let the concert slip by without that heads-up! I think I have been listening to too much live concert Clack. I put MOAM in the cd player today, and couldn't figure out what was wrong with it. Then it hit me - NO SCREAMERS in the background. What a fabulous concept.

Yes, Michigan is also EST.

Congratulations couchtomato! You certainly deserve a chance to meet the Aiken after all your work on the website. So, did you keep a handful of FCA pins to give to Clay and his entourage?

I'm interested in some opinions. Should I hit my Clueless-about-Clay sisters with some Clack before for the concert, or just let them go in cold and be surprised? I keep looking at different clips, and wondering if I should preview a couple of sections on video or not. I'm not sitting with them during the concert, so it might be nice to explain who the back-up singers and band members are. On the other hand, they could be the ultimate not-just-us test subjects with no preconceptions about what they are going to see. Anyone have thoughts on this based on your experiences with family and friends?

A nice cover article in the local paper's entertainment section about Clay's concert at the Toledo Zoo - no new content though. I was happy to see a GMA photo on the inside page, instead of an AI retread. This should help move the last few tickets to this concert. Toledo Blade

KAndre, I wish you luck on the campaign on the OFC against the inappropriate screamers. Unfortunately, I think you might need to do a little public maiming and torturing to get your point across to some of those dimbulbs. It's always the "tweenies", or the "non-internet" fans that take the blame, isn't it? We discuss radio play and DJ's alot in this fandom, so I thought I'd share a non-Clay-related story. I was listening to a local "New Rock Alternative" station yesterday afternoon (Cumulus Broadcasting, by the way.) The DJ mentioned he was having problems with the computer at the station. He began to get more and more giddy as it became apparent that the said computer controlled the station's playlist. Since the computer crashed, the DJ was able to, get this, PLAY WHATEVER HE WANTED TO. What a novel concept! Of course, I didn't hear much that the station doesn't normally play, but the DJ was just so happy about the prospect of getting to pick music himself. It made me realize all the more how difficult it must be to be a DJ who actual likes music, and is not just interested in just being an on-air "personality".

Catching up on viewing various bits of Clack: Ansa, listening to "1000 Days" while reading the lyrics you posted improved the experience for me, but still not feeling the love for the song. Jerome Jr., on the other hand, I find to be very intriguing... If KAndre has any super sekrit assignments that potentially involve being manhandled by that guy, this sub-minion-wannabe is willing to take that risk and volunteer. [Waves to Skatejoy, the original bodyguard devotee.] Has anybody figured out what his name is? What's with the crouching and arm flailing on "Never Going to Give You Up'? Clay looks like a speed skater making a break for the finish line. After watching several videos that include the backs of many bopping heads, I have made a few reminders for myself: 1) Practice slouching. (Sorry, I'm 5'10", blame it on the genes.) 2) Keep arms at shoulder level or below. 3) Consider the humidity, and make sure the hair is appropriately combed. On a related note - 4) If necessary, get the roots touched up before the concert.

So I've listened to the mp3 of "1000 Days" several times, and I can't say I'm really digging it. To me, there's nothing particularly distinctive about it, and it sounds kinda 90's boyband to me. I did put a comment in the feedback thread to JFL, although I suspect it may get about as much attention as the responses to Clay's blog. What I would really like to hear on the next CD is something that showcases Clay's beautiful lower register. I was disappointed not to hear the lower range on MOAM. I love the Elvis medley for that reason (Well, the hip movements and microphone humping add a little something to my enjoyment of that segment of the show! ) Ansa, thanks for the Cary videos. I am anxious to check out the new moves in WDC! Unfortunately, screaming "FASTER, FASTER!" at Get Right doesn't seem to have much impact on the speed of the download process. eta: Okay, after a rather rude interruption from a candidate for the local mayor's race (Dude, Dovus Interruptus is not going to win you any votes from members of the Clay Nation), I have watched the Cary WDC videos. Clay is certainly bendy, isn't he? If he's going to keep including Maureen in the song, I would love to see some actual contact, instead of Clay just crouching and singing at her. Just touching her face or hair would be extremely hot.

A new song?!!! EEEEEEE!!! I hope there's an mp3 up quickly for those of us who don't have access to the cellcert.