#13 The Aiken Experience. There's nothing else like it.

[atinal]

luckiest, I understand where you're coming from on not reading or caring about bad reviews, but sometimes I'd just like to know what is driving it. How can someone sit in that theater, see the response that Clay is getting from the crowd, feel the fun that is going on around him and not find something positive to say. I would also think that critics have some choice over the shows they review. Why even go to the show of someone you are so obviously predisposed to dislike.

But then again, is he really predisposed to dislike Clay? His early reviews were not filled with disdain. When did he turn the corner to downright near hatred of Clay? It seems so personal, he's critical of Clay for being unprofessional for talking during songs and other things, yet he is unprofessional in bringing his mother into his reviews, I don't have the same reaction I used to get when I read things like his review, but I'd certainly like to understand what drives it, it just seems strange to me.

I guess laughn's explanation is as good as any.

[YSRN]

And I'll have actual paragraphs.

Hee.

Have fun gals! Did I mention the jellusy yet?

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.

[cindilu2]

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.

That's how I feel about insults directed at Clay - doesn't stop them, either. I do feel for this woman (though I wouldn't have known he was her son except for the boards) but he is the one making it personal, by his own hand. I hope that his mom has the wherewithal to avoid reading until it blows over - and it will.

[jmh123]

Here's another pretty. Impish Clay:

Edited August 7, 2007 by jmh123

[stpteach]

And I'll have actual paragraphs.

Hee.

Have fun gals! Did I mention the jellusy yet?

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.

Nah, don't hide. <pulls back YSRN into a mushy, squishy hug!> I'm guilty of posting a comment on the CH and I kind of feel badly about it - not because I don't still think the review was unwarranted in oh, so many ways, but for the very reason you stated, my precious. I feel badly for ocregom; I would not want to see posts skewering my flesh and blood either. But then again, the fact of the matter is, the man wrote a piece for a public forum and while I don't think ocregmom is going to be happy about posters' reactions, I have to wonder if she'll be all that surprised.

Oh, and I think this is my first post. :bier:

[ldyjocelyn]

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*

[luckiest1]

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.

I was tempted to write something eerily similar to this on another board this afternoon, but I just walked away instead. As a mom, I realize that you can't control what your kids do, but that doesn't mean you don't still love them, even if they are behaving like total asses. I know, if I was in ocregmom's position, I'd prefer if people could just drop it.

luckiest, I understand where you're coming from on not reading or caring about bad reviews, but sometimes I'd just like to know what is driving it. How can someone sit in that theater, see the response that Clay is getting from the crowd, feel the fun that is going on around him and not find something positive to say.

I don't understand it any more than you do, but I refuse to let it affect my level of happiness. Sometimes it can be hard to hold on to the joy in this fandom, because the negative opinions and reviews seem to get so much more attention than the positive ones. JMO of course, and my personal pet peeve.

Welcome stpteach! :F_05BL17blowkiss:

Have a great time tonight, couchie and company! :TourExcite:

[playbiller]

I think by identifying this guy as someones son, it takes any fun of a response away from me, all I can feel is the fact that I deal with people who are like that to me personally, but I am not related. I was actually banned from joining in any political discussion at his house because they friends and relatives they have love right wing radio and obviously resent my entering the conversation with facts. I tolerate it, but do harbor a resentment because the conversations continue with their biases, so I go downstairs to play with the children and fill their heads with liberal nonesense, hee.

Have fun everyone with a concert, I will sees some of you in Cary, for which I will be packing tonight!!!

[bottlecap]

So I guess it's inappropriate and immature for me to drop in my "www.FindingBen'sWeiner'.com" joke in here? :eusa_whistle: Well, crap....

Have fun at Indio tonight y'all!!

[playbiller]

I am uncomfortable talking about him - it is just an opinion - everyone has to decide for themselves.

Whers is indio?

[YSRN]

Nah, don't hide. <pulls back YSRN into a mushy, squishy hug!> I'm guilty of posting a comment on the CH and I kind of feel badly about it - not because I don't still think the review was unwarranted in oh, so many ways, but for the very reason you stated, my precious. I feel badly for ocregom; I would not want to see posts skewering my flesh and blood either. But then again, the fact of the matter is, the man wrote a piece for a public forum and while I don't think ocregmom is going to be happy about posters' reactions, I have to wonder if she'll be all that surprised.

Oh, and I think this is my first post. :bier:

Wee, I snared my darling stpteach! Welcome!!!!! :F_05BL17blowkiss:

Oh, I think his review sucked - yes, I do. The content of it. Go after the article. I just don't want to embarrass ocregmom. I mean, it's hard to explain... comments about the content of the review are one thing. But the comments (all over all the boards - I wasn't thinking of anyone specific) are responding to and about his relationship with his mother. It means he made it personal, and then "we" in turn did too. I know she won't be surprised; she lived through it once and I bet it was icky. I think I'd want "us" (her friends) to leave the personal part off this time. That's just me and my personal thang... I'm sensitive to it for some reason. Can't hep it.

Hee... bottlecap.

Palm Springs, Play!

Edited August 6, 2007 by YSRN

[jmh123]

Welcome stpteach!!! Don't run off YSRN! I hear your point. Didn't stop me from insulting his manhood, just for funsies. If he can laugh at us, I can laugh back. :F_05BL17blowkiss:

More pretties:

Look at these shoulders!!

I like the composition in this one:

He's bringing sexy back:

Guess who's coming to dinner:

Edited August 6, 2007 by jmh123

[jamar1700]

Just made it home from the KC Airport. I had a lovely trip and actually managed to meet a few of you!

Couchie, ansa, muski, CG & chacha....at least.

I knew you by your DCAT pins!

---

I had the bestest time. Can't believe it's over.

Will try to a recap tomorrow after work. I can't believe all the stuff I thought I was gonna do tonight when I got home. B'wah. I just crawled into the jammies I had jammed into my carry on a few hours ago and plan to do nuttin' till tomorrow. I can't get my poochies until tomorrow after work so I feel that I should extend my vacation until then. So there.

Did you know...if you don't unpack, it can't be really over? Sad. I loved some of those clothes.

Edited August 6, 2007 by jamar1700

[laughn]

I agree with YSRN

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.

and lickiest...

I know, if I was in ocregmom's position, I'd prefer if people could just drop it.

....and I totally WORD this...from cindilu2

atinal, what I wonder is where the hell is the editor in all this. Do they simply not give a shit that this guy is working out his oedipal issues in their newspaper?

I have a public figure for a son myself, so I sympathize with ocregmom . I do know what it's like to read comments on something he's publicly said, especially the negative. I understand....Fortunately, my son has never included me in his press. Personally, if I were Ben's mom, it would hurt me more to be drug into his reviews and made fun of, more than it hurts to read what others may say about him. I feel badly for her though, any way you cut it.

Lordy, just look at those shiny, happy eyes. I personally don't think this man gives a shit what Ben thinks. That's where I am.

Here's another pretty. Impish Clay:

Edited August 6, 2007 by laughn

[luckiest1]

Totally awesome review/blog:

http://billboard.blogs.com/mobile_beat/200...aiken-the-.html

[Gibby]

Yep, that was an awesome blog, Licky! Very detailed, positive, and factual. He didn't diss the demographic, he listed all of the songs, and was quite fair. I wasn't all that impressed with his pictures - our own clack gatherers do a much better job. But that's a small quibble, because the blog itself was so good.

[atinal]

I read this blog/review. It is long. He seemed to enjoy the show, he noted what he thought was the demographic of the audience, but he didn't seem disrespectful of it. I liked that he put a lot of thought into his write up, giving it his own humorous touches, and he admits, he's not as funny as Clay. I like that this guy admits he has a favorite song on Clay's CD. I liked that he said he would have liked more songs off of MOAM (which gave me the impression he liked MOAM). He also seems like someone who loves music in general and doesn't have a snobbish attitude if its not his preferred music style. I was also pleased that he mentioned Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word and how Clay uses a more vulnerable style in it.

[JennaZ]

Great blog! Now that's what I'd like to concentrate on, rather than the review.

[muskifest]

Woot! The crew is in the hotel room now after a super dooper concert at Fantasy Springs! :Tour3: I was concerned at first, looking at the crowd...you know, typical casino---high rollers up front, slowly coming in...lots of flashes during the first few songs (Thankfully, that calmed down as the show went on.)...but you know what? It was a GREAT! audience! VERY, very involved and fun...

In fact, it was a very FUN concert! I didn't make Pala, as you know, and heard wonderful things about that one. Last night at the Greek was good, too...but tonight the crowd and Clay and Co. were more INTO it? One thing's for sure: Mr. Aiken was feisty tonight! Cool stuff...he almost said either f*** or motherf***! It was when he was making up names for composers writing fast songs for orchestras... He even talked about how close he came to saying something not so good...It was a riot!

And at the end of "Big Butts", his hand did more than just quickly slap Angela's ass...he caressed/squeezed it...yum!

And he said that he kept Angela and Quiana around to entertain him...everybody "OOOOOOhhhhed and AAAAAAAhhhed"....and then he said, "Now you know I don't mean....I MEAN I keep them to perform on stage for me.....that is, for my enjoyment.......stop that! Purely my LISTENING enjoyment!" etc...

He showed skin mucho times and was just cute as a button and his hair looked the best I've seen it on this tour---of course, as he got sweaty, it started to look like it usually has...heh.

And it was the RIVET jeans! :medium-smiley-070:

Pardon me while I open up another beer! :F_05BL17blowkiss:

[atinal]

I knew I was waiting up for something. Thanks Muski, it seemed like the cell cert reports were a little more vague this evening, especially for the banter.

[Totally]

I'm so happy to hear that tonight's concert was so enjoyable! Can't wait to hear more about it! How was the attendance?

It was so wonderful to meet some of you these past few days - waves toCouchie and Ansa! And it was great to see you, Claygasm and Muski!

I was in no shape to go to a fourth concert in a row tonight. After a long drive home last night, I got up early this morning, took my ten year old to a church play that I had missed Friday night (Bad Mother that I become when Clay gets too close to me), and then came back home and crawled back in bed. I still haven't recovered from the past few days.

I'm so thankful that I got to go to the first three Southern Cal concerts. I enjoyed the Greek, but Pala will remain one of my very favorite concerts in my memory - up there with the Charlotte NAT. And it reminded me why I love him so much (and I needed some reminding after not having been to a full concert since Novemeber of 2005. He is an amazing performer when he's ON, and boy was he ON Friday night in Pala. He was so funny - just naturally, spontaneously funny. And he was beautiful, adorable, and sang purty too.

I'm in a happy place again. I'm even over the teeth.

[Gibby]

Wow, sounds like a great concert! Thanks for the report, Muski. Clay is really loosening up. That's great by me! And rivet jeans again? Can't wait for the pictures!

[ldyjocelyn]

Did someone say PICTURES?

*pulls out ruler to try to figure out square inches of skin showing*

One more, for bottlecap from the Greek:

[luckiest1]

*pulls out ruler to try to figure out square inches of skin showing*

Yowsa! He sure likes him some teensy tiny undershirts this tour, doesn't he? Not that I'm complaining. Heh.

Been sitting here enjoying some clack from the past couple of shows. Love, love, love that Invisible926 shot a fairly full bodied version of WY from the Greek! And some of this banter is just priceless.

Heading off to Walmart shortly to continue my search for glow sticks. :Tour3: :Tour3: :Tour3:

[Clayzorback]

O.M.F.G....................................Whip me.. Whip me good!!!!