***PHOTOS & INTERVIEW & VIDEOS ADDED*** The second of the two North Carolina shows is Sunday, August 2nd at the Coliseum in Greensboro. As I write this, however, the Charlotte show is still in progress. Michael Sarver has been tweeting like crazy all day on behalf of Anoop, the hometown boy, trying to trend ‘Noop to the top. “Hey guys spread the word in the arena to really show Anoop some serious love when he gets out there,” says Michael. I am liking Michael – he seems very humble and thankful for the experience to do the tour, and it seems he is always supporting the other Idols.
However, I am sure that Adam will be the one to bring down the house. Some of you have already commented on the Charlotte post that you’ll be attending these NC concerts. We look forward to your reviews!
Some of you have been asking about the fan tour photos and where can you view them. Up until now, I’ve been adding the photos to the original TOUR VIBE article for that particular venue. I get the impression, though, that many of you would like to be able to see all the fan photos all in one place. Therefore, in response again to your excellent suggestions, I will be starting a new article in which I’ll be posting the photos. I’ll add the photos already received, and I will continue to add future photos that we receive. I’ll try to organize the photos by city. Hopefully within the next few days I can get this going.
More good news – we are now able to post your videos! So if you have videos in addition to or instead of photos, please send them to us.
There is no concert on Monday, August 3rd, but the tour bus heads for Washington DC for a show on August 4th and Baltimore for the 5th.
So, if you have photos and/or videos from either this concert or any of the past concerts, please email them to us! We never, ever tire of seeing Adam in action. Our email address is tourphotos@glambs.org.
~~Jeanette, Glamb #5
***VIDEOS ADDED*** The tour bus heads to North Carolina for the first of two concerts in that state. On Saturday, August 1st the Idols play at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, and on Sunday, August 2nd they hit the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro. Do we have any North Carolinians (did I say that right?) in the Glamb house? As everyone knows, this is AnoopDog’s home state, and I would be surprised if the crowds here don’t “noooop” him loudly. (BTW, I can’t believe I still see people commenting on idol blogs around the net wanting to know why people are “booing” Anoop. Sheesh!)
I’m sure that North Carolinians are well aware of their rich Idol history, but for those elsewhere around the country and the world, here’s a quick recap. North Carolina is the home of Idol winner Fantasia and finalists Clay Aiken, Chris Daughtry, Kellie Pickler and Bucky Covington. Truthfully I’ve never been much of a Noop fan, but I did root for all of the other above named contestants during their seasons. (I’m going to restrain myself and spare you my current opinion of Clay!)
We don’t have any Glambs Fan Club Leaders attending either of the NC shows, so we’re depending on you Glambs out there to post some reviews to let us know all the details on how these shows go off. Following North Carolina is a concert off-day, and then the bus heads north for the first round of the eastern shows.
If you have photos from either this concert or any of the past concerts, please email them to us! We never, ever tire of seeing photos of Adam. Our email address is tourphotos@glambs.org.
~~Jeanette, Glamb #5
***UPDATE - VIDEOs ADDED - CHECK OUT THE EXCELLENT BOWIE MED VID - UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL!***After the madness in Florida, the tour bus rolls into the Arena at Gwinnett Center in Duluth, GA on Friday, July 31st.
The last few days have been emotional ones for Adam’s fans, both those who attended the Florida concerts, and those of us who watched from afar through the filter of second-hand news. I don’t know how much of what I heard was rumor, exaggeration, truth, or downright lies. But the bottom line is that everyone is safe and excited to be headed to the Atlanta area. Michael Sarver sent a tweet on July 29th that said, “I am fine and so is Adam. We are all ok.”
It sounds like everyone had a good time in Florida in spite of Adam not coming out after the Tampa show. (Did he come out after the Sunrise show?) A couple of sex toys were thrown onto the stage in Tampa (handcuffs and a cat-o’-nine-tails) which Adam took in stride. During Fame he twirled the red CO9T and swung it over his head, clearly taking advantage of the moment to please the crowd. (By the way, I now have an obsession with the CO9T – Adam wore one for Ring of Fire and also Black and White. And thanks to very detail-oriented fans before me, I now realize that on the itunes video for ROF the cat tail moves from Adam’s left hip to his right hip to his left hip. Go look! Some not-so-nice editing with some rehearsal footage cut in with the live show footage. But I digress…)
But after this incident, the Adam blogosphere went crazy. When do fans cross the line? Everyone seems to have a different opinion on this when it comes to throwing things on stage and also when it comes to the meet and greets. Is it okay to throw some things, but not other things? Should nothing at all be thrown? A bra or even the CO9T seems harmless, but what if Adam or Allison or any of the performers slip on something and fall? Are over-zealous fans early on in the tour going to spoil all the fun for those of us whose shows are late in August or September?
Should Adam’s fans try to reign themselves in at future shows? As some of you Glambs have mentioned, this could be a double-edged sword. For the sake of everyone’s safety, we certainly don’t want fans going off the deep end and possibly hurting Adam, themselves, or other fans. On the other hand, if fans try too hard to “chill,” might that give the impression that a crowd is giving Adam less support than he deserves? If Adam’s fans DON’T scream at the top of their lungs every time Adam’s face is shown on the screen, will the journalists write that the crowd did not respond to Adam with the same enthusiasm as crowds at earlier concerts did? Is it even possible for a fan to try to control their passion when it comes to Adam?
So where should the lines be drawn? I think it’s probably a bad idea to throw things on the stage, even “harmless” things, but I know people are going to disagree with me on that. But it’s a matter of safety. It’s also a matter of this type of behavior escalating from show to show. Where does it end? As for the meet and greets, mostly I think people should just treat Adam and the other Idols with common courtesy, which means you don’t grab people or even touch them, unless they offer first. I am already resigned to the fact that I probably won’t get Adam’s autograph in the future due to the stupid things some people have already done. It’s too bad, but I think the one thing we ALL agree on is that Adam’s safety comes first, and if fans are going to be out of control, that is the price we and Adam are going to have to pay.
So here’s my opinion on where those lines should be drawn. I think what it boils down to is that we have to restrain our behavior, not our enthusiasm. Actions like throwing, grabbing, or even touching are not good things. I think these are the things that need to be moderated. Dressing up, screaming (as long as it’s not right in Adam’s ear), the signs, etc. are all good and show Adam and the world that we love him.
If you’re going to the Duluth show, we want to hear from you! I am more curious than EVER to know how the shows are going! Comment below with your experiences and opinions, and if you have photos, email them to tourphotos@glambs.org. You can either email us links to photos you have on a photo-sharing site, or just email us your jpeg files as attachments.
~~Jeanette, Glamb #5
It has taken me a week to process not only my photos and writing, but also my emotion from attending this spectacular concert. I hope you enjoy reading my blog post from the Dallas American Idol Summer Tour Concert! Dana {CatEyes}
The fans in Dallas, TX on Thursday evening July 23rd filled the house and fed enough energy back to the performers that we could have bottled it to light up the whole city! The American Airlines Center was vibrating, even before the doors were opened. While fans gathered for the evening’s event, Ford was very proud to show off a Mustang and Fusion at the front entrance. I have to say that the Mustang’s sex appeal perfectly matches Adam’s style and personality, while the Fusion is the low-key family car that likely blends with Kris’s more traditional tastes. (The car in Dallas was a beautiful shade of blue…thanks everyone, for letting me know Adam has the black version of the Mustang!)
Earlier in the afternoon, a few of the idols gathered behind the barricade for a small flock of fans. Matt and Scott were out, chatting with fans while I was there around 2:30 p.m. They had more time for autographs and conversation than they did after the concert. As expected, Adam did not make an appearance. It has been reported that he doesn’t come out before the shows because he is resting his voice and taking it easy indoors. I also suspect that more security would be needed if he did come out…and if that is not available to him, safety might be a concern.
And then, it started to drizzle… Texas has been in a drought since May! Why, on this night, does it need to start raining? I started to become anxious that the weather would ruin the autograph signing after the show. I don’t often worry about things I can’t control, but this was really disturbing me! I kept looking out the window as we were getting ready back at the hotel room. Dark gray clouds were circling everywhere.
I was very intent on arriving early before the concert. I had people to meet and Glambs fan cards to hand out. As my husband and I were waiting in line, I met so many nice Adam fans - I wish I could name all of you! As we entered the door my camera, cell phone, and purse were carefully inspected; and I got randomly pulled over to be scanned with the wand. This always happens to me and I can never figure out why. I must look really threatening…yeah, right!
After negotiating the security delay, I headed straight for the merchandise table. It was already very crowded but we waited patiently. It gave me time to figure out what I wanted to buy. I have to say the tour book is very well done with lots of nice photos and tidbits on all the idols. Although the photos of Adam are quite one-dimensional, they are still nice. I bought a poster as well, but skipped the Adam photo (again, not my favorite picture of him). However, it looked like the merchandise handlers were well prepared - Adam’s stack of photos was three times as tall as the stack of photos for the other idols!
We made our way to our seats, up 3 flights of super-long escalators, and OMG, were they nosebleed! If I weighed another 10 pounds I would have needed a pulley and some oxygen to get me up the 20 or so steep steps! Once I sat down, I still felt like I needed a seatbelt. I was just praying no one next to me would slip or fall. My seat was on the edge next to the aisle and I was going to go down with them…straight over the very short safety glass panel at the bottom, straight down into the floor seats. My palms were sweating from the height anxiety, and I didn’t want to die before seeing Adam’s performance! O.K., maybe this was a little dramatic, but the teenagers in the row behind me even commented that there would be no standing up and jumping during this concert. I’m still convinced these seats at the American Airlines Center were designed for mountain goats, not humans.
Thank goodness the height anxiety passed after about 20 minutes. But I have to say I got really sick of watching the 3-4 Carrie Underwood, 1 Daughtry, and 1 David Cook music videos over and over and over and over as pre-show entertainment. American Idol desperately needs more stars to make music videos so they can show some variety. Yeah, I think Adam could do that!
Once the concert began, the countdown to Adam was almost excruciating. It is not that the other performers were bad - actually, they were quite good. And with the exception of one performer (who shall remain nameless), they have all really grown-up since the early American Idol performances. Their vocals, stage presence, and energy have improved tremendously. But I was there for Adam. It was evident that the majority of fans in Dallas felt the same way. Every time his picture was on the big screen, or whenever his name was mentioned on the sound system, the screams from the crowd were deafening.
Michael Sarver did a nice job warming up the crowd from his home state. He even had some of the people in my goat mountain section standing on their feet and waving their arms. I have to say though, that many of these people had already downed a tall beer. So it is possible that their perception of the danger was just a little blurred!
The countdown continued. Here are a couple of pics from Meg’s set and Anoop’s set.
I especially enjoyed the piano performances of Scott and Matt. Matt gave an especially knock-out performance and hit all his high notes perfectly. I will definitely be seeking out their debut albums down the road.
A 20 minute intermission at this point really wasn’t necessary. Momentum had been building and they really just needed to press on with the show. (I had been waiting for Adam all this time, right?) The people who drank the beer and too much soda just needed to take care of themselves whenever they needed to. The few available restrooms couldn’t have processed the whole venue in 20 minutes anyway. Let’s get real.
So then, we had the top 4. Allison was very energetic and did a standup job with her set. Danny must have gotten some cha-cha choreography lessons for “Maria, Maria” because I’ve never seen him quite so coordinated with his feet while singing at the same time! They drew a stage curtain to obscure the band while Kris performed a more acoustic set with his guitar. He did an awesome job and I look forward to his album as well, even though his musical style is 180 degrees from Adam’s.
Now I begin my next paragraph about Adam’s performance with a little trepidation. I know many will not agree with me, but I think my observations are true even if I don’t like them myself! So let me start by saying that when Adam is not having a perfect performance night, he is still heads and shoulders above the rest. In Dallas, he seemed a little less energetic than other performance nights I’ve seen on video. His stage presence was just not 100%. But goodness knows the tour is a hard road and I’m sure whatever he gave the audience that night was all he had to give. I am the first to realize that in many ways, it is not fair to compare one performance to the next - every day is different for all of us…physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Worse yet, those of us who are avid fans watch even the subtle nuances and shifts in Adam’s body language. We are always looking for ways to interpret and spin an explanation for why something has changed. I won’t go that far here. You can do more speculation in the comments below, if you wish.
The nicest part was the excitement generated in the Texas crowd just from his sheer presence. Way to go Texas fans! He was the obvious favorite, hands down. My zoom lens was doing a pretty decent job. You’ll have to indulge my insertion of so many Adam pics here…ha! The “Mad World” photos are my personal favorites!
There were a few items thrown on stage during Adam’s performance. One item was black, the other two were shades of blue. They all looked like scarves, but I couldn’t tell for sure. Adam ignored them all, which also seemed a little out of character.
I absolutely loved all of his lighting effects and “smokey” backdrops. Adam definitely has a way of creating a mood on stage that coordinates with the music. This is just another indication that he is the “whole package,” not just a voice without personality or creativity to go along with it. I could have watched him sing far longer than his too-short set. But time moves on.
Next, I had to unfortunately beeline it down those treacherous steps right after Kris’s third song to get a good spot at the signing barricade. It had started to drizzle again. No umbrella. I held my tour book perpendicular to the ground so it wouldn’t get water spots on it. I made my husband put my poster under his shirt. Was this whole thing going to be ruined by the weather? Fortunately, the drizzle stopped after about 5 minutes, but it was miserably humid standing in the crowd after that.
We waited, and waited, and waited, and waited, and waited. Do you get how long we waited? I had to keep reminding myself to unlock my knees so I didn’t pass out. Even chatting with my barricade neighbors was no longer entertaining. My husband nudged me three times that we had waited long enough, referring to the whole fan crazy scene as “the stupidest way he had ever spent an hour and a half of his life.” He threatened to leave me there, but I wasn’t going to budge from that barricade. At 11:15 P.M., Megan was the first to appear. I suppose you now know which one of us is more stubborn and got their way. 
The autograph signing barricade had been wrapped around the corner of the building with a door at each end. No one seemed to know from which door the idols would emerge. As it turns out, some came out one door and others came out the other door. A VIP line had been roped off near one of the doors. I purposely positioned myself on that end, thinking it was a smart move. Wrong.
Adam appeared at midnight. He started signing at the other end of the line and never made his way to the VIP line or the area where I was standing. He was called away to the bus at 12:15 and simply mouthed the word “sorry” to the rest of us left standing there. Everyone started to scream for him not to leave, and simultaneously the crowd lunged forward. I never did get a close-up picture of my own, and I’m lucky my camera wasn’t crushed. Then he was gone in a flash. Adam’s signature on my tour book remains my elusive autograph.
Disappointed? Maybe just a little. But the rest of the evening was so spectacular that it almost makes up for it.
I have one final reward for you if you made it this far. Angie took this stunning video of Adam signing autographs in Dallas. This was taken just a few minutes before he made his departure. I think I might even see myself in the background of her video. Thanks so much for sending it to us, Angie. Be sure to have the sound on when you start the video…the conversation is quite cute!
Memories do last a lifetime.
Dana {CatEyes}
On Wednesday, July 29th, the tour bus rocks into the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, FL.
Okay, thanks to tweets from several of the Idols, it appears they arrived early in Florida by plane so they could catch a little beach-time R & R. Danny tweets that he and a few others went swimming in the ocean. “That was my first midnight swim.” He adds that “I lost a pair of glasses 2 the ocean. Thx Mother Nature! If U see them on eBay & the sellers name is Mother Nature don’t buy it.” Danny later tweets that he, Matt, Michael and Allison went out on waverunners. “Funnest…day…ever!!! I fell off two times – I’m a daredevil LOL”
Allison tweets that she tried to spell “LA” in the water with her jet ski and flipped off. “Hurt like hell but damn…was so fun!!”
It’s such a shame that Adam’s twitter is still out of commission. It would be so great if he was able to tweet as often as some of the others do. Did anyone hear what Adam did while the others went swimming and waverunning?
Thanks to all of you who have posted concert reviews. I am relieved to hear that even in the South Adam is being well received! We’ve also been getting some terrific photos emailed in to us. I’ve posted some great photos on the Dallas TOUR VIBE post from Angie and Candy.
If you’re going to the Sunrise show, we want to hear from you! Comment below with your reactions, and if you have photos, email them to tourphotos@glambs.org. You can either email us links to photos you have on a photo-sharing site, or just email us your jpeg files as attachments.
Thursday is a concert day off, then Friday the bus hits Duluth, GA, where our Fan Club Leader Linda will be in attendance!
~~Jeanette, Glamb #5
Your never know who you’re going to run into while waiting in line to use the restroom! This is how our own Glambs Fan Club Leader Kelly tells the story…
Kelly, who attended the Dallas concert, was standing in line at the “family” restroom area with her daughter, Shelby. Shelby spotted Drake first, and Kelly waved to him in what she describes as an “idiotic way” since she knew he didn’t know her. Kelly said hi and told him that he didn’t know her, but that she had friended him on facebook. Drake laughed and said if it was the PVT one, that was not really him. Kelly said they talked about the show, and he asked if they were enjoying it. Of course, Kelly and her daughter said yes! When Kelly asked if they could take photos with him, Drake responded over and over that “he was nobody.” Kelly assured him that he was indeed someone!
Drake asked for their names and where they were from and agreed to the photos. Kelly describes him like this: “he is so cute, he had on a tank top and jeans and boots…he is a tiny little thing. Tats on arm and chest. Very well groomed…sweet as could be and very gracious.” Kelly showed him her bracelet of Adam, and Drake asked where she got it. She told him ebay, and he jokingly replied that he was gonna sell Adam’s old bed, and did she want to bid on it! He added that she must be a big fan to go to ebay. Kelly said she hated to buy something that Adam did not profit from, but that she got it early on and wanted to show her support for him.
Kelly says that they did not discuss Adam specifically as she did not think it was appropriate, and that she was interested in talking to Drake about Drake. Kelly felt that Drake probably gets slammed with Adam questions all the time.
And finally, Kelly called a friend of hers to say that she’d met Drake, and Drake actually took the phone and talked to her, too! He asked her why she wasn’t at the show, and the friend told him it was because she was in Illinois. He told her she better be at the other one “be there or be square.” Kelly said that Drake then made a funny face as though he wondered why he had said that. Drake told the friend that he thought Kelly was funny and that he loved her.
All in all Kelly thought that Drake was sweet and humble, and from her descriptions, I would have to agree. I have to admit that I had seen some photos and videos that didn’t portray Drake in the best light, so I’m happy to hear that in person he comes off as funny and unassuming.
Kelly’s excellent adventure didn’t end with meeting Drake. She also met Jasmine Murray, who was at the concert with her mom. They all talked a while at the 7Club inside the venue. Jasmine was in town for the week working on getting a record done.
And finally, last, but best of all, Kelly had the supreme good luck to get an autograph from Adam at the Tulsa concert – not on a photo or magazine, but on her arm! Kelly says she’s not washing it, and will take showers from now on holding the arm up!
Way to go, Kelly!!! All of us thank you for sharing your experiences and photos with us. And thanks to Drake, for being as sweet as we were hoping he was, and to Adam, for, well…being Adam.
~~Jeanette, on behalf of Kelly
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On Tuesday, July 28th, the tour bus rolls into the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, FL. With apologies to the Florida fans, I’m on a bit of a rant today, so bear with me.
First, a question. If any of you can answer this, let us know, because a lot of us are wondering! If you went to the Memphis show, you know there was no meet and greet after the concert. The reason given was that the idols had a plane to catch so did not have the time. But, with an off-day before the Tampa show, why was there such a huge rush to get the idols to Florida? I’m sure there’s a reason – I just don’t know what it is!
Also to backtrack a little, the N. Little Rock, AR concert was Kris Allen’s “hometown” show. I didn’t mention this in the AR TOUR VIBE post, nor have I mentioned hometown shows at all. Frankly, I’ve been focused on Adam only and haven’t been paying any attention to the “9 not named Adam.” However, in the AR comments it was mentioned that some tweets were not kind to Adam in AR. I don’t know the details regarding this. If any of you do, can you please share with us? Now obviously Arkansas is a huge pro-Kris state, and Kris did win the voting competition, so it makes sense that Kris would be cheered at his hometown concert more than Adam was. Is this hometown bias for Kris only, due to the sheer number of Kris fans, or is there a hometown bias to a lesser extent for all the idols?
Has anyone noticed any hometown bias at all at any of the concerts that have already taken place? When we get to the Wisconsin shows, will the crowds be more pro-Danny than pro-Adam? I guess we won’t know until it happens, but since I’m going to both Wisconsin shows, this question is very much on my mind. Here are the top 10, their hometowns, and their “hometown” concerts:
Adam- Los Angeles, California… shows in San Diego, Ontario, Oakland, and Sacramento
Kris- Conway, Arkansas… show in N. Little Rock
Allison- Los Angeles, California… Same as Adam
Anoop- Chapel Hill, North Carolina… shows in Charlotte and Greensboro
Megan- Sandy, Utah… show in West Valley City
Danny- Milwaukee, Wisconsin… shows in Milwaukee and Madison
Lil- Memphis, Tennessee… show in Memphis
Matt- Kalamazoo, Michigan… shows in Grand Rapids and Auburn Hills
Michael- Jasper, Texas… show in Dallas
Scott- Scottsdale, Arizona… show in Glendale
Happily, Florida has no hometown idols, so the only thing shining through should be talent, and that means Adam should wow them!
If you’re going to the Tampa show, we want to hear from you! Comment below with your reactions, and if you have photos, email them to tourphotos@glambs.org. You can either email us links to photos you have on a photo-sharing site, or just email us your jpeg files as attachments.
~~Jeanette, Glamb #5
Ending of the San Diego Concert with the Top 10 and Adam’s cool trucker cap:
Our concert was not going to be just getting some cool clothes and going to the show. Noooooo! We had so much to do to get ready for this most amazing reappearance of San Diego’s “Hot Rock God” (HRG). In case there are any doubts who I’m referring to, nah - - I don’t need to finish that sentence, do I?
My partner in crime for the show was Lila, my new BFF that I met at the Homecoming activities and is a Fan Club Leader on this web site also. Be sure to read the article on this web site called “Getting Ready for the San Diego Concert – OR – How I Kissed the Striped Pants” for more details. I won’t bore you and repeat that here. Or at least, I’ll try to keep it to a minimum!
Our plans for the day were to start getting ready together around 11 AM. Luckily Lila’s husband and kids were up visiting relatives in San Bernardino that day and my husband was off on a fishing tournament, so we had the whole day to ourselves. After all, we needed to collect all of our glitter posters, extra glitter for our Glitterazzi assault on The Sports Arena, glitter makeup for later application, make sure our hair was good, share any pieces of jewelry that would enhance our outfits (okay, I had to borrow Lila’s – not the other way around!), pack our chairs, umbrella and cooler, and bring our magazines for signing.
Our hard work!
Lila wanted him to sign a Rolling Stone and hopefully her “Feathers, Glitter and Leather . . . Oh My!” poster, and I wanted him to sign the People magazine that had a picture of Adam and me taken at the radio station on Homecoming morning. Adam was signing my CD of his Idol and pre-Idol work, and I asked him if he got my gift (engraved Ice Cream Dipper). He looked right at me with those incredible eyes and said “Yes, I love it!” This pause in the morning rush was long enough for photographers to get a great shot of him. Lila’s in the picture too because she was shooting it from the other angle. We thought it would be a great idea to get a picture of Adam signing a picture of himself when he was signing something for me! Talk about coming full circle!
I’m holding my People magazine for him to sign. “Our” picture is the lower one.
We’d heard that the busses arrive around 2 PM, and then the Idols come out and sign autographs and take pictures with the fans before going in to get ready for the show. We thought our 1 PM arrival would give us an up-front space in the crowd. Would it be 20 or 200? With San Diego you have no way of knowing. We decided at last minute to print up some Glambs’ business cards so we could give them out to other fans of HRG at the Arena. We arrived at 1:25 PM, and noticed the sign - Event Parking $20 - with no in/out privileges, but they weren’t charging yet. Phew. I glance up and look in my rear-view mirror. HOLY CRAP - the tour busses are RIGHT BEHIND US!! We have to park quickly and get out so we can get our autographs and take pictures!! We parked in the closest space and attempted to go through the area where the busses are now parked to reach the fan area. Picture a round building with the parking surrounding it in a complete circle. Now picture a clock. We were at 2 PM, the busses were at 1 PM and the crowd was at 12 PM. There was no way security was letting us cut through. We grab our cameras and magazines, and take off running from 2 PM – 12PM – no easy feat in Lila’s new studded 4” heels and my new gun metal sandals that hurt like H-E-double hockey sticks!
The Tour busses - all shiny and bright.
We hurried to the other side, and found about 50 people waiting. We went up to the front of the flimsy barricade (some saw horses joined by a string of vinyl flags) and pulled out our magazines and cameras and waited . . . and waited . . . and waited. Then some staff people started selling 8×10 pictures of Adam to the crowd for $5 each. Lila bought one. They finally started bringing pictures of the others for sale, but it was clear who the favorite was.
No one got off the busses for what seemed like forever. And when they did, it was just some of the “other 9″. You know, Danny, Matt, Anoop, Scott, even Kris and Allison. We screamed, they waved, and they went into the Arena. No sign of Adam. After what seemed like another eternity, Allison, Matt and Kris, and some other staffers came back out and we were told they were going to Chick-fil-A, a fast-food restaurant in the parking lot. Should we go? Is Adam there already? What if we go and we miss Adam? So we stayed.
Now it was 2 PM and we saw them walking back with their Chick-fil-A bags and go back into the building. We scream and they wave again. Kris is pictured behind the lead person going in, followed by Matt, and Allison behind someone in the parking lot.
Idols returning from Chick-fil-A.
By then, the crowd which had grown to about 100, started getting some rewards. First Danny came out. He approached the end that was closest to the building, saying something to the crowd about us “coming to see the hometown boy.” He was wearing some pretty cool clothes, a dog chain on his jeans and even some reptilian boots, like you-know-who! He talked casually to the crowd and signed autographs and took pictures. Lila got the back of her Adam picture signed and he posed with her for a picture. I didn’t want anything from him though. As much as it chagrins me, I have to admit he was very cordial and pleasant.
Danny signing autographs at the start of the line.
Lila and Danny
Twenty minutes passed and Michael came out and started at our end of the line again. By this time, I was feeling more generous about the “other 9” so I “allowed” him to have his picture taken with me! He told us Adam put guyliner on him and it was pretty cool! We noticed Danny was still in the parking lot talking to the fans. He must have spent 10 minutes talking to one fan alone. Made her world, I’m sure! Soon after that, Danny went in.
Carol and Michael
Lila and Michael
Soon Matt came out. He had a little attitude, I must say. Probably just tired, sorry Matt. After all, we’ve read that doing the show was nothing like the life that touring is. Matt was signing, but he wasn’t taking pictures. Said he’d come through the line again for those. Whaaattt??? But when he got past us, he realized that was kinda dumb, and came back and took pictures. Every time Allison appeared, there were screams and she’d wave, but she didn’t come over.
Carol and Matt
Then all the Idols went back in for Dress Rehearsal. What? No one else is coming out? No Adam??? It was 4 PM and we decided to stay there, no need to leave and come back 90 minutes later, and have to pay the $20 parking fee. Smart decision to bring all of our stuff with us that morning. Dang it - we forgot the glitter hairspray! Oh well, we’d have to manage without it. Earlier I had moved my car around to the “fan group” area so we could get our chairs. This was right next to the main entrance. Cool, it would be an easy exit later that night. We walked all the way around the parking lot again (yes, still in our shoes!) to Chick-fil-A. This honestly wasn’t so we could walk on the same hallowed grounds that some of the Idols had been on earlier that day, but because we were so hungry by then. It takes a lot of energy waiting for HRG in the hot sun! For coastal San Diegans, temperatures in the upper 80s is HOT!! As we arrived back with our food, we could hear Adam singing “Starlight” loud and clear with full band! I had to fight the urge to run up and plaster my ear against the window. I could hear him singing it beautifully from the bottom of the steps, but I didn’t want to listen. I didn’t want to spoil that night’s show. Was I crazy? I’ve seen every YouTube video from all of the other shows, and have been joking that he really needs to change his set! After hearing Mad World umpteen times from all the talk show performances, couldn’t he sing “Ring of Fire” instead?!?
After eating, we spent quality time visiting in line with people we “knew” from the Idol forums but finally got to put a face to the name, and others who we’d carpooled to the high school with on Homecoming in May. I took this time to give out over 100 Glambs’ cards, trying to introduce more people to our web site. People were eating them up like they were from Adam himself! We even made a relationship with a parking lot security guard who assured us that everyone will be out signing autographs after the show. We “just have to be patient and wait long enough for Adam.” We have hope now.
Six o’clock came and fans started entering the Sports Arena. We went in and started checking out all of the Idol merchandise for sale. In addition to the $5 pictures that were sold earlier that day, we saw programs for $25 and several shirts for Adam, Kris and the Idols selling for about $35. There were tote bags and lots of other stuff that I forget now! We were really glad that we had brought our own blue glow sticks from home, because the “official Idol sticks” were $5 each. We bought a bag of 12 for $10, and decided to give our extras to the teens who were dressed all glittery. I’m starting to feel a little funny about Adam’s main fan base as I walk amongst the crowds. Is it mostly us “over 40 mature girls??” I can hardly imagine what he feels about that! Sure we’ve got the money and we gladly spend it on him, but while he was waiting for Idol to start and he was still glamming it up at The Zodiac, who did he figure his fanbase would be? The mushrooms at Burning Man certainly couldn’t have told him it would be us!!!
The show started just past 7 PM and I won’t bore you with the same run down you can read anywhere about the first 6. Yes, they all were very good, much better than on the show even. Michael started out strong, and yes, Megan is beautiful and awkward, and yes, Scott, who was sporting a glitterized jacket, really plays a great piano and is charming trying out some humor, and yes, Anoop sounded good but he should ditch the glasses and cut out the wiggling. He just can’t pull it off. He even said he’d be back on his solo tour. Have I missed his signing deal? Lil still needs to find that certain something, but I really appreciated seeing the words to Single Lady on the screen behind her. I’ve only known “if you like it then you shoulda put a ring on it” and “whoa-uh-oh-oh-oh-oh” before. But I can’t remember any more of it now! Matt was very stylish in his moves and I can really see him having success in some Vegas lounges. For most of the numbers, the band was too loud though, overshadowing the singers.
Intermission for 20 minutes. They repeated the same texting contest to go backstage now too. We didn’t win - again. Time for the Glitterazzi Patrol to decorate the Arena. We got up and spilled some here, spilled some there, spilled some everywhere. Luckily we didn’t get arrested and thrown out before the golden moment, as we had imagined in the weeks leading up to this.
Okay, back with the Top 4. Allison really rocked and as everyone says, I can’t believe she sounds like that and she’s only 17. She looked hot, and there was no doubt who she’s consulting for fashion advice! She played electric guitar on “So What” by Pink, but it sounded very basic. More for a statement to show us she’s a musician. I’d love to see her get some more inflection in her voice. She needs to stretch her range. The band was still too loud. Then it was time for Danny. He did a great job singing PYT, kind of representing all the Idols in homage to the recently-lost King of Pop. You’ve all heard about the salsa dancing, the “preaching” and mentioning of how tough the whole time on Idol was for him, considering what he was going through. I really do believe it was agonizing for him, and he dealt with it amazingly well. Oh no, he’s finishing his final song. You know what’s going to happen now, right?
The lights go out. The screens start exploding. The red bomb bursts start shouting at our eyes. We see the countdown number we’ve seen been waiting for. The crowd is going CRAZY! Everyone’s standing and shouting out A-D-A-M! And then it happens. The smoke starts spilling to the front of the stage, the Whole Lotta Love lead guitar starts jamming the intro we’ve been waiting months to hear, the drums start pounding, the bass finds its way inside of us. And there, right before us is HRG himself!! Only he’s more than a Hot Rock God by this point. He’s the sum of every fantasy we’ve ever had, every Rock Star we’ve ever dreamed about going home with, every page of the FanFic we’ve never admitted to reading, OMFG – it’s finally Adam! Moving with all the sexual energy your mothers and fathers never wanted you to know about, staring the audience down like they were toys for the master. And he starts to wail, “you need coolin’.” Well, no duh Adam! You’ve put our lives into such a state of fever and chaos with every reach, grab and grind. It’s amazing you haven’t been arrested for not buying the microphone stand dinner first!
But wait, it’s a little different tonight. There’s no pointing to his “inches” and he isn’t allowing his hands to travel south as much as in the videos we’ve memorized. And we got “baby” not “woman.” He has changed up the melody here and there, using different inflections and freestyling with some riffs. He’s relaxed and giving a slightly “mo fresh” version that either familiarity brings or maybe he wants to jazz it up for us? Either way, we’re in heaven. His ending pose and notes are superb. It’s confirmed. A megastar is making his debut. He segues into Muse’s “Starlight” with the same “and now from a band called Muse, ‘Starlight’.” This song has been on one-song repeat on my iPod ever since he first mentioned singing it on the Tour. I was surprised when I watched the Portland video because he sings it in a higher pitch. I then remember that I took myself away from listening to the rehearsal earlier, and now was my payoff. OMG he’s singing it so gorgeously. The hands, the arms, the facial expressions. Is this what you meant about theatrics Simon? If it is, bring it on! In my imagination, we’re alone and he’s singing it just to me! But wait – WTF? What did you just sing Adam? Whatever it was, it wasn’t the lyrics that I’ve memorized. I can’t believe on my favorite song, that you would blow the words! I guess it happens to everyone once in a while, but did it have to happen tonight Adam? If you want to see what I’m talking about, listen at 1:17 when he sings “I will never let you go” which should be followed by “if you promise not to fade away . . .” but instead I’m hearing some garbled words that I can only decipher later in a drinking game as “I will own you if you fade away . . .” And at 2:30, he gives a little change to the meaning with “just as long as you promise to fade away” instead of “if you promise not to fade away.” Oh Adam. I know you’re tired and excited. I forgive you.
Mad World is ethereal and fabulous, and the audience is singing along loudly. Slow Ride with Allison, his new “little sister” as he tells the audience, totally rocks and the hug at the end is still cute. (But did he really need to sacrifice one of his songs for the duet? Couldn’t she have sacrificed one of hers?) The Bowie medley is energetic, to say the least. He’s prancing around on that stage owning every eye that is transfixed on his Hotness. The gyrating starts immediately and I’m still wishing that I can be the one to “turn” Adam. During Fame, a blue feather boa makes its way on stage. Later, (see video at 2:30) he picks it up and swings it overhead like a lasso, then releases it to the side of the stage. We’ve heard recently that the stage “dudes” have told him not to throw the offerings back to the audience. Instead, he should keep them and they will staple gun them to the bottom side of the stage. I saw the blue boa disappear later in the song (at 4:00), but not to an audience member. Maybe it will be the inaugural stapling?! His bump and grind movements in “Let’s Dance” clearly suggest that he wants to rename it “Let’s (something else).” Insert your choice of verbs here. This performance convinces me the Idol-safe Adam is no more, we now deliciously have The Zodiac Adam. He ends with his fist in the air, and as he descends down the platform, calls out “I love you San Diego!”
WE LOVE YOU TOO, ADAM!!
But wait a minute, he’s just gotten warmed up. Where’s he going? It’s over too soon. I have to order myself to transfer the mental images I’ve had for the last 20 minutes from short-term memory to long-term memory (read “enjoyment” here).
I guess it’s a good thing that Kris follows him with “Heartless.” It gives us a chance to cool down. And thankfully I’m rocking out to The Killers instead of “No Boundaries.” I realize that Kris has really improved as a showman. He’s going to have a very successful career in front of a completely different audience than Adam. I still feel that no one on Idol before or after, will ever have anything like what Adam will have. But I’m preaching to the choir here, right?
Although I’ve never smoked, after seeing Adam I still felt the need to light up. I thought a blue glow stick was appropriate!
It was now time for Don’t Stop Believin’, the ending group number. It was a bittersweet moment. It was very upbeat, but I couldn’t help starting to get depressed because I knew the show was about to be over. We could see how much fun the Idols were having with each other as they vocally celebrated the end of another successful show. But both Lila and I realized something was missing here. There were a few parts where either someone’s microphone wasn’t turned on, or someone was really hoarse, because there were definitely some missing vocals. Adam (wearing a glittery but goofy baseball cap) and Kris arrived on stage courtesy the rising elevator towards the end of the song and the place went crazy again. Everyone knows why. It’s no secret, even among the Idols. Everyone has read scores of the same reviews saying how the others are a warm-up act for Adam. But they all still love him and show him off by pointing to him when he goes for his bankroll notes. Adam even gets the distinct honor of saluting the band.
**JUST ADDED VIDEO:***
Everyone knows who owns this Tour, who rocked Season 8 and who has changed Idol forever. We may be telling our grandchildren that we were there for the making of this legend, but the other 9 will be telling their grandchildren that they got to share the stage with him. Yes, I’ve gotten over the fact that Kris won. Adam is right, it really doesn’t matter. What does matter is we’re all winners after the show.
The show ended around 10 PM, and we rush outside. WOW – a lot of people must have left before the final number ended because there’s a giant crowd outside, about 10 times larger than earlier today. Or did fans just show up for the signing? After an hour, Lila and I manage to nudge our way to about three rows away from the edge. Some of the Idols had already come out and were signing autographs. The atmosphere was much more chaotic than earlier today. No time for chat or pictures with the fans this time. Pictured below is what we could capture by holding our arms up and blindly shooting.
A quiet Kris Allen signing
Anoop Desai signing
Megan Joy signing
IMO, they all seemed pretty tired. Kris seemed really quiet and kind of distracted. Slowly, almost everyone came out. The teens in the crowd were so cute, yelling to each of the Idols how much they loved them, even though they were clearly there for one person, and one person only. Finally around 11:45 PM Adam came out with his big bodyguard. And he was wearing that same goofy baseball cap. Hey, none of the other Idols had bodyguards? This must be because of the mob scenes we’ve heard about. But dang it, he went to the opposite side, the side where where we weren’t. How typical of him to go “against the grain!” What do we do? Do we rush down there? But we’ll never get anywhere near the front edge, where we’d made our way to now. No, we’ll stay here. After not coming out during the day, he’ll for sure make it down here, won’t he? Then all too soon, around midnight he and his bodyguard turn and go walking to the bus. The crowd starts chanting for him. We grab our glitter posters and hold them up high, hoping he’ll see them and come back.
Lila and me holding our glitter signs for Adam!
He does look at us (or at least in our direction!) and wave, mouthing “sorry,” so maybe he saw us? We’re told they have to be in Arizona at 3 AM and it’s midnight now. It’s a 5 ½ hour drive. Why would they have to be in Arizona at 3 AM??? But one bus does pull out about 10 minutes later, leaving us dumbfounded. Our concert is definitely over.
Gathering ourselves together we’re more than a bit let down, almost feeling like jilted lovers. Like he’s broken up with us, given us back our rings, and now we’re yesterday’s news. Not even the burritos from Del Taco on the drive home are cheering us up. As I finish this, it’s been 7 days since the concert. They’ve played other shows, and are onstage in Arkansas tonight. Lila and I have gotten over the disappointment of not having time with Adam, and we’ve realized that we’re just fans. He didn’t ditch us. He just has so many more people requesting interviews with him than the others do. As a writer with lots of chutzpah, I contacted 19 Entertainment weeks prior to the concert, and requested some press time with Adam for an article for this web site. Each time I checked back, the “Adam staff” had told me they were trying to work out some interview time with Adam for us. I had such high hopes of writing an article for this web site, only to be told on Friday that they couldn’t work it out. Up until this point, Lila and I had been pinching ourselves thinking we may get to meet him. Maybe next time! We’re still, and will always be your fans, Adam!!
So was the concert what I was expecting? No way. It was MUCH more!
***UPDATED - CONCERT VIDEOS ADDED AND INTERVIEW VIDEO WITH NICE ADAM MOMENTS***
***UDPATE – IDOLS VISIT GRACELAND - PHOTOS ADDED***
On Sunday, July 26th, the tour bus rocks into the FedExForum in Memphis, TN. Unfortunately, there will be no autograph session after the concert, per tweets from Michael Sarver (their flight to Florida won’t allow the time.)
Our own Glamb Fan Club Leader Courtney will be attending this show. Many of us are on the *ahem* older side, but we do have younger fan club leaders as well, and Courtney is one of them. Through the refreshing eyes of the younger generation, she brings us the following pre-concert report on scrambling to prepare for the concert event of a lifetime…
I am a not-quite-legal-age fan of Adam’s. As such, having obtained my driver’s license just before he made his debut on the idol stage, I decided to name my first car after him.
This past Thursday, I got my wish. I am now the proud driver of a maroon 2007 Ford Fusion SE. However, something went wrong. Less than 24 hours after buying my new car, the transmission started acting strange. More than that, my “Check Engine” light came on as well. Now, here I am with my beautiful new car and all of a sudden, it doesn’t want to run right. Of course, even though I’m less than five miles from home, I really don’t want to risk anything happening. So I pull over, call my mother and wait for her to arrive while I check out my manual to see what the problem might be.
She arrives and we call Carmax to ask what we should do. They tell us to have it towed over to their facility, which sounds fine until we realize that they won’t be able to even look at the car until Monday: the Monday that just happens to be right after the American Idols concert (or should I say the Adam Lambert and nine other people concert). We had been planning on taking my car from Nashville to get there, but that would no longer be possible.
Through all of the disappointment and the despair, I happen to notice right as the tow truck was pulling away that I had forgotten my purse in the back seat! So we drive the fifteen miles over to Carmax to retrieve my purse and then head back home. The whole fiasco took about two and a half hours.
Naturally, my busy schedule over the last few weeks left me unable to make my posters until Friday, as well. So after that already terrible day, I had to design, edit, and create two posters from scratch. It took me six hours for the both of them, but I think they turned out quite well!
Now the only thing left to do is get ready and head out to Memphis for the night of my life, a hopeful close encounter of the star kind, and some seriously wonderful Adam-styled Rock and Roll.
Go Courtney! We all hope the concert goes smoothly for you, and we’ll all be waiting anxiously, like proud parents, for your post-concert report.
If you’re going to the Memphis show, we want to hear from you, too! Comment below with your reactions, and if you have photos, email them to tourphotos@glambs.org. You can either email us links to photos you have on a photo-sharing site, or just email us your jpeg files as attachments.
After Memphis is a day off, with the next shows in Florida on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 28-29!
~~Jeanette, Glamb #5
Firstly, to Adam – THANK YOU!!!!!!!! In a year of recession and continued war, when almost everything we hear on the news is negative, we thank you for breathing life into us. We thank you for your talent, your beauty, your attitude, and that indefinable mystical spark that awakens in us wonder, dreams, ambitions, and inexplicable joy.
Secondly, thank you to all of you! As I read the comments and concert reviews posted by Glambs and Glamb Club Leaders both, I am overwhelmed with emotion at how effected we all are by Adam. Everyone who has taken the time to put their thoughts into words has contributed to the happiness of the shared experience that is Adam Lambert.
And finally, thanks to Dreamsound for creating this wonderful website for us to hang out at!
Other people may laugh at us and tell us to get a life, but see no better pursuit than that of love and dreams.
I promise all of you some exciting posts and photos in the upcoming weeks, as more and more of us have the opportunity to experience Adam in concert.
~~Jeanette, Glamb #5
On Saturday, July 25th, the tour bus continues east and rolls into the Alltel Arena in North Little Rock, AR.
We’re in the midst of a busy four-day concert run, and the next few days will be very exciting! Not only will we be getting some fantastic post-concert reports and photos from Carol from San Diego, Dana and Kelly from Dallas, and Kelly from Tulsa, but we will be looking forward to a report from Glamb Fan Club Leader Courtney, who will be attending the Memphis show on Sunday.
I don’t want to spoil the surprises, but let me just say that you never know who you’re going to run into at a concert!
YOUR input is just as important to all of us, so if you’re going to a show, please share with us. The Idols and songs may be the same show after show, but the venues are different, and more importantly, every one of us brings a different perspective to the concert experience. And please share your photos - we absolutely cannot get enough photos of Adam!
For us to post your photos, please email then to tourphotos@glambs.org. You can either email us links to photos you have on a photo-sharing site, or just email us your jpeg files as attachments. If you’ve already emailed us photos within the past few days, please give us some time to get them posted.
For those of you who are either overseas or cannot make it to a concert, you can still participate in the Glambs Birthday project we have planned for Adam. Here’s a recap of this project:
If you want to be involved, we’re asking you to make a sign and send us a picture. Be as creative as you want, but all signs need to include the following message:
###################
Happy
GLAMBirthday
Adam!
Your Name, Your Glamb #, Your City & State or Country
##################
We really need your location. This is critical for the project. He’s already a world-wide star and this gift will recognize that.
Take a picture of yourself with the sign and send to tourphotos@glambs.org. It would be really neat if you were next to your town’s landmark.
~~Jeanette, Glamb #5
***UPDATE - MORE PHOTOS ADDED COURTESY OF TEXASGIRL1***AUTOGRAPH SESSION & CONCERT PHOTOS FROM KELLY ADDED***
On Friday, July 24th, the tour bus pulls into the BOK Center in Tulsa, OK.
Our own Glambs Fan Club Leader Kelly is going to her second concert in two days, illustrating just one of the unique concert trends we’ve seen emerging this year – that of the multiple concert experience. Sure, there have always been concert groupies who’ve followed their favorite artist on tour from city to city, but this is American Idol – none of these people have released an album yet. I think it is just more proof, as if we needed it, that Adam is so very special in the way he connects with his fans. I myself, in addition to numerous Glambs, will be doing the multi-concert experience. Originally I was only going to the Milwaukee show on August 28th. Last night I bought a ticket to the Madison, WI show on Sept. 4th.
Another trend that has emerged thus far is that this is no mere concert that fans are attending – it is an EVENT. It’s not just getting into the car and driving to a venue, it’s all the preparation – planning our outfits, makeup, signs, and itinerarys. It is attending with family and friends and meeting many new friends along with way who know EXACTLY how we feel. It’s a kind of camaraderie amongst concert goers that I’ve never seen before.
And as an event, many show-goers are turning their concert into a mini-vacation. As we read with Dana’s Dallas post, she has a 12 hour round-trip drive. My second show to Madison, Wisconsin will be a mini-vacation for me as well. I will only have a 3 hour roundtrip drive, but I booked a hotel room for the night of the concert, and I plan to treat and indulge myself as I would on any vacation – sucking in every memorable moment and treasuring it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Yet another trend I’ve seen is that people who have never even been to a single AI tour concert before are not only going this year, but going to multiple concerts. Again, I have to say I fall into this category. I’ve been watching the show religiously since Season 2, yet I’ve never gone to a tour show – until now.
Again, all of this is only because of Adam. He has inspired behavior in us that, for me, is as surprising as it is wonderful. In January, would any of us have believed it if you had told us we’d be compelled to act in such a fantard way to a young guy in makeup? I know I wouldn’t have believed it. I am still amazed by the phenomena that is Adam Lambert, and I think I will continue to be amazed as time goes on and Adam’s brilliance as a star grows and grows.
What do you guys think? Keep commenting with your thoughts! And if any of you are planning on attending the Tulsa concert, please share your unique experience.
For us to post your photos, please email then to tourphotos@glambs.org. If you have the photos in PhotoBucket or on another photo-sharing site, just email us the links to your photos. Otherwise, just attach your jpg photo files to your email. Please remember to include in the email which concert the photos were taken at.
~~Jeanette, Glamb #5
Courtesy of Angie R.
***UPDATED WITH PHOTOS FROM CANDY!!! ***
On Thursday, July 23rd, the bus will be rocking into the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX. Our own Glambs Fan Club Leader Dana will be attending, and she has sent us this pre-concert report…
It is finally here! I haven’t had to wait for the Dallas concert nearly as long as others are waiting for the tour to arrive to their city, but it seems like I’ve been waiting forever. F.O.R.E.V.E.R. Then, it will be over too soon and I will have “after concert blues,” I’m sure. When will Adam be on tour again…on his own this time? It won’t come soon enough for me.
But in the meantime, I’m totally psyched to have the opportunity to watch Adam perform, even if his set is a too-small segment of the entire concert. My husband and I head out Tuesday evening (with some stops along the way) so the 6 hour, one-way road trip from south Texas doesn’t seem so long. There is really no advantage to having all this land in one state, especially when it comes to traveling. I still can’t figure out why there was only one concert here.
Anyway, as far as concert preparation goes, I’m really not a fashionista, or a poster-waving fan girl. I’m an early-forty-something fan who is usually happy with clothes that don’t make me overheated, comfortable shoes, minimal makeup, and easy hair. Do you know what the Texas Gulf coast heat and oppressive humidity can do to a middle-aged woman with too many clothes, heels, thick make-up, and hairspray? It’s not a pretty sight. So you have to understand that what I have done is truly “over the top” for me!
So here goes:
• Tour blue shirt with symbolic butterflies
• Rock goddess jeans, distressed with stretch (woo hoo!)
• Starlight glitter nail polish
• Jewelry: Silver rings, earrings, & chainmaille bracelet
• Fansite cards, camera, & binoculars
• …and more shades of blue eyeshadow than I’ve worn since the year Adam (and dreamsound) were born!
Please come introduce yourself if you happen to recognize me. I’ll be back with all the after-concert details, too.
Dana {CatEyes}
As always, if any of you are planning on attending the Dallas concert, please comment with your thoughts, either on your preparations for the concert, going to the venue early for the autograph session, the concert itself, or the aftermath.
For us to post your photos, please email then to tourphotos@glambs.org. If you have the photos in PhotoBucket or on another photo-sharing site, just email us the links to your photos. Otherwise, just attach your jpg photo files to your email. Please remember to include in the email which concert the photos were taken at.
~~Jeanette
After a day off to recover from the California madness, the tour bus will be rolling into Glendale, Arizona on Monday, July 20th at the jobing.com Arena.
After the Glendale concert, the Idols have a couple days off, and then it’s off to Dallas, TX on Thursday, July 23rd. We have two more Glambs Fan Club Leaders planning on attending the Dallas concert, so stay tuned for their thoughts regarding the concert event of a lifetime.
Thanks to everyone who has been sharing their experiences with us. We invite you to keep doing so! So if any of you are planning on attending the Glendale concert, please comment with your thoughts, either on your preparations for the concert, going to the venue early for the autograph session, the concert itself, or the aftermath.
For us to post your photos, please email then to tourphotos@glambs.org. If you have the photos in Photobucket or on another photo-sharing site, just email us the links to your photos. Otherwise, just attach your jpg photo files to your email. Please remember to include in the email which concert the photos were taken at.
~~Jeanette, Glamb #5
***UPDATE - PHOTO ADDED - DO YOU LIKE THE TRUCKER HAT OR NOT????***
The tour bus will be rocking into San Diego on Saturday, July 18th at the San Diego Sports Arena.
Carol said it all in her “How I Kissed The Striped Pants” post – I’m sure everyone going to this concert is feeling the same kind of excitement!
Carol, Lila and Dreamsound will be sharing their photos and reviews after the concert. If you are attending this concert as well, we invite you to share your concert experience with us. Comment with your details, and email us with your photos.
By the way, I just want to say a big THANK YOU to all you guys who have been posting concert reviews in your comments!!! We are all living vicariously through you, so please all you concert-goers, keep it up!
For us to post your photos, please email them to tourphotos@glambs.org. If you have the photos in PhotoBucket or on another photo-sharing site, just email us the links to your photos. Otherwise, just attach your jpg photo files to your email. Please remember to include in the email which concert the photos were taken at.
Also, please remember that we are still collecting photos for Adam’s birthday project. Here’s a recap of this project:
If you want to be involved, we’re asking you to make a sign and send us a picture. You don’t need to be attending the concerts to participate. Be as creative as you want, but all signs need to include the following message:
###################
Happy
GLAMBirthday
Adam!
Your Name, Your Glamb #, Your City & State or Country
##################
We really need your location. This is critical for the project. He’s already a world-wide star and this gift will recognize that.
Take a picture of yourself with the sign and send to tourphotos@glambs.org. It would be really neat if you were next to your town’s landmark. If you’re going to the Tour Concert in your city, you could even take your picture there! All pictures must be received by October 15, 2009.
~~Jeanette, Glamb #5
Join the forum discussion on this post - (2) PostsGetting ready for our concert this weekend started a long time ago. After meeting my new BFF Lila at the Homecoming events, we joined forces and put on the American Idol Finale Results Watching Party at Seau’s Restaurant for the San Diego fans. We had a great time working together and found we were of like-mind when it comes to Adam. Yes we are totally obsessed and captivated by him, but not in a fangeek way. We just both recognize the need to nurture the child still in both of us.
Let me tell you first that we both have the benefit of working out of our homes. So when the need to run out for something hits, our time is flexible. Having this luxury, we decided on the spur of the moment to drive up to Los Angeles (150 miles north) to pick up our official Adam shirts for the concert. You know, the one Adam wore for the Top 8 results show after singing Mad World? The black and white striped one with the multicolored lips? I got that exact shirt and Lila got a solid black version. (I bet you’re starting to wonder where the “I Kissed the Striped Pants” part is, right? Be patient.)
A few weeks later, after the birthday poster project was announced on this web site, we started getting serious. We struck out to Michael’s to find feathers, glitter and poster boards. We then made some of the most beautiful glitter-swirl posters. Lila really has a way with a glitter bottle. Since she’s wearing a chain necklace that has peacock feathers on it, I had to join in and embellish the chain belt I’m wearing with peacock feathers too. Next, we hit the party stores to gather up blue light sticks and glow necklaces. Gotta be ready for the appropriate Mad World response.
Then it was time to think about our outfits. We both wanted to glam and stud it up, but not go overboard. We thought about leather jackets, but this is July in San Diego. Are you serious?? We listened to Adam’s command to not spare the blue, black and silver, and have glitter everywhere. We cracked ourselves up until we were crying thinking about leaving a trail of glitter spilling behind us as we walk through the Sports Arena. Then when the security tries to bust us, we’ll say “no, we didn’t do that.” But the trail of glitter will lead right to our seats. Kind of like Hansel and Gretel. And we’ll probably be covered in glitter by this point from our posters too. You get the picture. (Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten about the Striped Pants.)
Throw in another trip to the stores to find the right peacock blue nail polish for our toes, and black for our fingers, the right glitter hair spray, glitter make up, blue-eye enhancing mascara, the right black eyeliner, and anything else we could think of, short of rhinestone eyewear. I told you we weren’t fangeeks!
This story ends with finding the perfect wardrobe. I’m wearing black capris (don’t want to go too out of character), the striped shirt, the perfect black studded vest, my peacock feather silver chain belt and black gun metal sandals. Lila is dressing up her black Bermuda shorts with either her black Lips shirt or the Café Press Glambs shirt she designed, an incredible black studded belt, feather jewelry and the most perfect black studded spike shoes, thanks to smart eBay shopping. Oh we can’t wait for Saturday!!
And now for the best part – how I Kissed the Striped Pants. Thanks for waiting. While we were up in Los Angeles to get our shirts at JoyRich Clothing on Melrose, we decided to do some shopping. After all, this is an incredible trendy shopping area, and we didn’t drive 2 ½ hours to turn around and go home. So as we’re checking out several shops, we’re attracted by the leather jackets we see inside one. We go inside, see that there’s a tattoo booth in the back, and check out the jackets. They were pretty expensive. We turn to check out some of the other clothing racks and what do we see? THE STRIPED PANTS! We looked at each other, our eyes popped open and our jaws dropped. OMG – these are Adam’s pants!! We both were speechless. I held them to me, closed my eyes and imagined. We toyed with the idea of trying them on, but nah. Didn’t want to cross that line. So I checked out the price tag – hmmm - $69. And the label read Lip Service. So I did the fangirly thing and before putting them back I kissed them. Where? In the store of course. Oh, where on the pants? You let your imaginations run and you’ll probably be right!
~Carol - Fan Club Leader ~
***UPDATE - INCREDIBLE FAN PHOTOS ADDED!!! Many thanks to Diana for sending these!***
Here are links to some awesome videos from the Ontario concert:
Mad World - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MKQifDYMnM
Starlight - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9Frvnj2eTQ
Whole Lotta Love - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XatsBuPRhNc
The tour bus will be pulling into Ontario on Friday, July 17th at the Citizens Business Bank Arena and San Diego on July 18th..
Watch for a very special post on the San Diego concert from Carol! Two of our Glambs Fan Leaders, Carol and event planner Lila, will be attending the San Diego concert, and they will be giving us a detailed inside look at what goes into preparing for the concert event of a lifetime. Afterwards, they’ll be posting their review of the San Diego concert.
If you plan on attending one of the upcoming concerts, what are YOU doing to prepare? Are you making signs? What are you wearing? Are you going to wear special makeup and jewelry to honor Adam?
And of course, if you’re going to be attending the Ontario concert, please share the details of your experience, both your preparation for the concert, and your post-concert review.
As always, we would really love for you to share your concert photos with us! Please email your photos to tourphotos@glambs.org.
~~Jeanette, Glamb #5
Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) PostsHere’s a great new video from Salt Lake’s FOX 13, prior to the July 14th concert. In it, Adam gets specific on what toy he’s saving to buy and what extras he wants for it. Also how he’s spending his off-time while visiting the concert towns and where he goes after performances. From what he mentions, you’d have to be pretty special to find him and spend some time with him there. But we’d love to hear about it if you do!
***UPDATED WITH PHOTOS AND A LINK TO ALL VIDEOS*** The tour bus is headed back to California! Next stop…Los Angeles on Thursday, July 16th at the renowned Staples Center. This is obviously a big venue, and I would expect a huge crowd there.
Here is a link to all the Los Angeles videos, courtesy of our own Glamb Fan Leader Serene: http://singaporeglamberts.forumotion.com/all-videos-of-adam-the-ai-tours-f13/adam-lambert-los-angeles-staples-center-16th-july-t158.htm#1298
I have been so excited to read the reviews and see the pics and videos from the concerts that have already taken place! It seems by many accounts that Adam is indeed stealing the show. In his concert review of July 12th, reporter Jim Harrington of the Oakland Tribune wrote that in spite of the fact that he finds Adam’s vocal style “more than a tad nauseating,” he admits that Adam is the star of the show, even going so far as to say that the bottom six Idols were pretty weak and that even Kris was anticlimactic and came across as “a blander version of John Mayer, if indeed, that’s even possible.” I thought that was a little harsh as fan reviews in general have been pretty complimentary to all the Idols, and to be fair to Kris, some fan reviewers have stated a preference to the more down-to-earth style of Kris, stating that they like his set because it seems more real and emotional than the costumed “performances” of Adam and the others.
So what did you guys think of the LA show? Do you agree with Mr. Harrington? Did the show as a whole disappoint, saved only by Adam’s performance? And what about Adam’s set? Mr. Harrington called the Slow Ride duet with Allison “hokey.” Do you agree or disagree? I loved, loved, loved the Adam-Allison duet from the season show and find it hard to believe anyone would think it was hokey!
For those of you lucky enough to attend the LA concert, give us all the details.
We would really love for you to share your concert photos with us! Please email your photos to tourphotos@glambs.org.
~~Jeanette, Glamb #5
Adam comments on many things in this new video, shot after a tour rehearsal, and taken from his MySpace page. You get to hear Adam talking like he’s your neighbor who just stopped in for a chat! He talks about what it felt like standing next to Kris when the winner was announced and being onstage with Kiss and the over-the-top theatrics. Also included is what it was like for him on the post-Idol New York Press Tour, including Regis and Kelly, and what keeps him from being overwhelmed from all that’s happening.
From the sounds of things, Adam is doing just fine with everything that’s changed in his world. And it’s going to keep getting better!
~cmhagey~
On behalf of Fernando and the Glambs Fan Club Leaders, I’ll be your Glambs tour bus driver for the duration of the 2009 concert tour. I’ll be doing one post per concert from now on, so there will be lots more room for photos and videos for each concert. Please be patient with the pics/vids…it may take a while to get them all on the page. Mostly, though, I’ll be asking for input from those of you attending the concerts. These TOUR VIBE posts are for YOUR input!
First, a bit of general concert news from last Friday in case you spent the weekend under a rock…Kris will no longer be singing ‘No Boundaries.’ He’ll be singing ‘All These Things That I’ve Done’ by The Killers. Apparently (and not surprisingly) the reviews for ‘No Boundaries’ have not been good. Personally, I thought Adam did a good job with it during the finale. Adam’s got the vocals to make just about anything sound good, but Kris just doesn’t have the voice to power thru the word-dense sludge of No Bo. I’m sure Kris is happy with the change, and I think most fans, whether or not they’re Kris fans, will be happy as well.
The next stop on our journey is West Valley City, UT on Tuesday, July 14th at The E Center. For those of you attending this concert, please share your experience. Did Adam change up his look (Elvis hair in San Jose) or his songs? (Woman or baby?) What about those “non-idol” moves we’ve heard about? How did the crowd react? How did Adam move, and just how drop-dead gourgeois (Mia Michaels coined this word for SYTYCD, but now it describes Adam) was he? What words can you come up with to describe Adam?
We would really love for you to share your concert photos with us! Please email your photos to tourphotos@glambs.org.
~~Jeanette & The Glambs Fan Club Leaders
Rock on!
Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts
Sacramento
***UPDATE - SAN JOSE PHOTOS ADDED! NOTE THE NEW “ELVIS” LOOK!!!***
California – your first dates are here! Give us a shout out if you are planning to attend the American Idol Summer Concert in either:
Sacramento, California - July 10th @ ARCO Arena
Oakland, California – July 11th @ Oracle Arena
San Jose, California – July 12th @ HP Pavilion
(Remember, for safety, please do not leave any personal information in this post, including the location of your concert seats.)
After the concert, give us your review! Tell us everything! Feel free to leave links to your concert photos after uploading them to a photo-sharing service (like Photobucket or Flickr, etc.). We may be choosing additional, random concert photos to use in our birthday project.
Tell us which concert you attended and give us the details of your experience. Here are a few ideas for your concert post: What did you love? What didn’t you love? How did the crowd respond? What did you think about the song choices and how the idols performed? Did anything in the show surprise you? Were Adam’s spiked jacket as awesome and his performance as siiiick as we’re imagining them to be? Did you get a chance to meet Adam before or after the show or get an autograph? Did you see any other Glambs at the concert? Did the show as a whole meet or exceed your expectations?
Everyone’s experience will be unique, and it will be interesting to hear individual opinions on the concert. We expect Adam to steal the show in every way – from his vocals, to his performance, to his outfits. Not that Adam would intentionally try to outshine everyone else, but we think it’s likely!
Please remember that this posting is only for the concerts in Sacramento, Oakland, and San Jose. There will be separate postings for future concert dates. Watch for yours!
…and don’t forget, your “Happy GLAMBirthday” photos should be emailed no later than October 15, 2009. Email pics to tourphotos@glambs.org
Rock On!
Glambs Fan Club Leaders
(Thanks to Pineapple Luv for the Sacramento pics. See more Sacramento concert pics at http://mjsbigblog.com/photos-from-the-sacramento-idols-show.htm#more-7871 )
This is a reposted article for the first 3 American Idol Concerts. Please leave your reviews and or photo links here. Previous comments were lost, if you would like to repost them feel free to do so.
Give us a shout out if you are planning to attend the American Idol Summer Concert in either:
· Portland, Oregon - July 5th @ Rose Garden
· Tacoma, Washington – July 7th @ Tacoma Dome
· Vancouver, BC – July 8th @ General Motors Place
(For safety, please do not leave any personal information in this post, including the location of your concert seats.)
When you return from the concert, please write a review for us in this thread. Feel free to leave links to your concert photos after uploading them to a photo-sharing service (like Photobucket or Flickr, etc.). We may be choosing additional, random concert photos to use in our birthday project…
Tell us the name of your city and give us as much detail as you want. Here are just some ideas for your concert post: What did you love most? What didn’t you love? How did the crowd respond? What did you think about the song choices and how the idols performed? Did anything in the show surprise you? Were Adam’s outfits as awesome as we’re imagining them to be? Did you get a chance to meet Adam after the show? Did you see any other Glambs at the concert? Did the show as a whole meet or exceed your expectations?
Everyone’s experience will be unique, and it will be interesting to hear individual opinions on the concert. We expect Adam to steal the show in every way – from his vocals to his performance, to his outfits. Not that Adam will intentionally try to hog the spotlight, but just as during the season shows, it’s just probably going to happen that way!
Please remember that this posting is for the concerts in Portland, Tacoma, & Vancouver. There will be separate postings for future concert dates. Watch for yours!
And don’t forget, “Happy GLAMBirthday” photos of you and your poster should be emailed no later than October 15, 2009. See this post for details.
Rock On!
Glambs Fan Club Leaders
