Cookin' along, fueled by 'Idol'
Tour, debut album keep singer busy
By Sarah Rodman, Globe Staff | August 8, 2008

David Cook, victor of the seventh season of "American Idol," is in good spirits on the phone from the Albany, N.Y. tour stop of the "American Idols Live" tour. "The response has been great to everyone," says the 25-year-old from Blue Springs, Mo.

Cook is currently whirling through the now-familiar frantic schedule of his predessors - playing a nationwide tour with his fellow finalists while jetting off to various studios between gigs to record his debut album with respected producer Rob Cavallo (Green Day, My Chemical Romance) for 19 Recordings/RCA. Cook says the album is slated for release mid-November.

Aside from being sleep-deprived, he has no complaints about the opportunity to be a working musician. So far there's been little to complain about. On the Fox reality contest, Cook gathered fans from every demographic with quirky, alt-rock polishes of the various pop, country, and classic rock songs offered up by the show's various mentors and themes. Following his triumph on the show, he set a record for new entries on the Billboard Hot 100, when 11 of his "Idol"-related recordings entered the chart in one week including his finale single "The Time of My Life."

Q: How psyched were you when you found out they were changing the "Idol" tour format to de-emphasize big group singing and dancing numbers?

A: When I heard we only had two group numbers and not much choreography, just blocking, I about jumped through the roof. I don't think I was the only one. (Laughs) I think this season especially, everyone had a firm idea musically of who they were coming in and the tour reflects that.

Q: As a big Green Day fan, what did you think when you heard Rob Cavallo was interested?

A: Rob's top tier. He came to us, and I took that as a massive compliment. We talked about what we wanted to do, and everything just clicked.

Q: What kind of a record are you hoping to make?

A: I just told Rob that I want to put out a real record, I want it to be a rock record. I want there to be an interesting vibe to it, and the three artists that I talked about were Our Lady Peace, Big Wreck, and Muse. I don't want to completely start copying other records, but I want to have interesting textures and sounds.

Q: How was it collaborating with Raine Maida of Our Lady Peace, who you covered on the show?

A: Walking in I was crazy nervous. I always expected him to be a very closed-off, brooding individual, but he's the nicest, most unassuming guy I've ever met.

Q: A lot of times people think angst-ridden songwriters will be tortured in real life, but often those people say they end up being pretty even-keeled because they're able to exorcise their demons on record.

A: It really is therapeutic. That's what really got me into music in the first place, needing an outlet to express negative energy. I think that's what's allowed me to be a little bit of a steady person.

Q: Did you write much while you were working on the show and will you be including any of your pre-"Idol" stuff on the record?

A: I didn't have a whole lot of time to write on the show. The good news is when I got off the show I had five months worth of writing to get out. June was amazingly fruitful, I think in the first three weeks we wrote about 20 songs. And then with the material I had from before the show - because I had released one record and had another record finished - I think we're in the 50s.

Q: Did you find yourself writing about your "Idol" experience or drawing from outside the bubble?

A: I think more drawing from outside of the bubble. This is such an odd experience that only roughly 160 other people can really understand. I found myself writing about it but only in a vague context because I want people to be able to internalize these songs.

Q: Have you encountered any "Cougars for Cook" on tour?

A: I have encountered a few cougars, and they've been very sweet, very respectful, and I'm glad to have them in my family. From a generic guy standpoint it's always nice when a female gives you attention. It doesn't really matter who they are or where they're at in their life it's just cool. (Laughs).

Q: You studied theater for part of your college career, do you have any designs on an acting career?

A: Basically what I told 19 and RCA is that I just want to put myself out there, and if the right anything comes along I'm certainly open to giving it a look. I may have read a script here or there, but nothing's really come out of the woodwork yet. If some huge director came up to me and said I want you to star in my movie and that's it, then maybe I gotta do it. I'm certainly not opposed to being the comedic relief.

Q: As the self-confessed "word nerd" have you managed to graduate to the Sunday Times crossword yet?

A: I have not, I'm still on Wednesday.

Q: Have you been a clue in any of the puzzles?

A: I have not. My mom has told me she's [seen] it a couple of times. I think I might have to stop doing crosswords when that happens.

Review: 'American Idol Live' rocks A.C.
By COURTNEY McCANN Staff Writer, 609-272-7219
Published: Sunday, August 03, 2008

ATLANTIC CITY - Whether you were on "Team Cook" or "Team Archuleta" during the seventh season of "American Idol," Boardwalk Hall was the place to be Saturday night as the show's latest "Top 10" took the stage in front of a packed house for "American Idols Live."

Saturday night's show was set up differently from past "American Idol" concerts, which typically revolved around duets and group numbers. This year, rather than bring the whole gang out at once, show producers gave each performer a three-song set. "Idol" finalists David Archuleta and David Cook got longer sets with four and five songs, respectively. The three-hour show was broken up by a 20-minute intermission.

Maybe it was the show's new format or maybe it was the absence of the three "American Idol" judges leering from behind their Coca Cola cups, but it was nearly impossible to find fault with any of the singers as they performed in the 12,000-plus seat arena. The individual sets allowed each singer to stay in his or her musical comfort zone. While Syesha Mercado channeled the R&B stylings of Alicia Keys and Rihanna, the dread-locked Jason Castro stuck to folksy numbers such "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and the Lovin' Spoonful's "Daydream" while strumming a ukulele or an acoustic guitar.

Still, some performances were better than others. While the often-criticized Ramiele Malubay and Kristy Lee Cook hardly gave poor performances, they were no match for the powerful vocals of Carly Smithson and Michael Johns.

As expected, the audience saved most of its screaming and applause for the two Davids. David Archuleta looked like everybody's kid brother when he took the stage in a black suit and red sneakers. He chatted up the crowd in between covers of Robbie Williams' "Angels" and One Republic's "Apologize," with a "gee whiz" attitude that made you want to take him home and bake him cookies.

"American Idol" winner David Cook - resplendent in tight jeans, T-shirt and plentiful eyeliner - brought down the house with a four-song set that included his celebration song "Time of My Life" and a cover of the Foo Fighters' "My Hero," which he dedicated to his cancer-stricken brother, Adam. Cook returned for an encore and played his guitar-heavy re-engineered version of Michael Jackson's "Billy Jean," reminding his fans that not only had they chosen a talented signer, but also a guy who knew his way around song arrangement.

The cast did come together for two group numbers over the course of the show. The bottom six singers did a cover of U2's "Pride (In the Name of Love)" while a montage of footage from "Idol Gives Back" played in the background. And the entire top 10 gathered for a grand finale performance of "Please Don't Stop the Music." A few minutes of watching Jason Castro attempt choreography was enough to make one thankful they kept the group acts to a minimum.

Saturday night's show proved how wide of an age range "American Idol" is reaching these days. Tweens sporting homemade "David Cook: You Rock" T-shirts shared the same rows with grandmothers holding signs declaring themselves die hard "Archie Fans." The fans who all but leapt over the barrier to the stage when Michael Johns strode down the catwalk singing "We Are the Champions" looked old enough to have actually attended a Queen concert. And it's a good bet those fans will be waiting in line for tickets the next time "American Idol" comes to town.