Fresno Recap!

It's insanely long, just FYI! Myself and Sarah (aka sarahnator) went to the show as well as bumping into 10 cool people earlier in the day....read on!

So, my day began by my train running late. So, I got to Merced to meet Sarah like an hour late, I was absolutely panicked that we were gonna miss the Idols if they came out.

So, we got to the Savemart Center at Fresno State a little before 1. Maybe 10-15 minutes later and after Sarah and I prepped DC's gift (a Cosmo mag, Vanity Fair mag, a dvd documentary , and a card, that I had to figure out something poetic and meaningful to write him, and once I started writing, it just flowed out.), we also met another Sara(h?) from D-C.org, and pretty much realized that we were the only like straight up DC fans…the Archie fans were out that afternoon.

So, a bit after one, we look across the road and see the buses coming off of the freeway off-ramp. And the thing with the Savemart Center's bus parking, it's underground, where we can see, but it makes access to the Idols not as easy as other venues.

We got very strict orders from security to back away from the fences, which meant we couldn't really see the Idols get off the bus, but we could see them go to the door into the center, and the first one I saw was David, no one noticed it was him, because of the fedora, and to me, the fedora is what gave him away, and I was all, "HI DAVID!" He turned up to see where the crowd was, and waved at us. It was pretty funny to see the Idols get confused as to where the crowd was, because they couldn't see us until they were at the door.

So, the security guard…yeah just one, told us that they would not be coming out and then we see Brooke and Kristy Lee Cook come out pointing at the ramp, so we make our way over where the ramp was.

I was bummed that I didn't really get to talk to Brooke, cause she was resting her voice, but I watched her interact with fans, and she was still doing her best to interact and listen to everyone talking to her.

KLC…well, she seemed nice. I got an autograph from her, but she didn't stay out very long. The crowd got pretty distracted when Carly walked up to us passing out brownies. How cute is that, right?

Carly was a doll! Me and Sarah both got pictures with her, and then she totally hung out with us talking about the show and taking her husband to Ireland with her for the first time. She seriously spent like 15 minutes hanging out with us answering questions.

Sarah and I did pull her aside to ask if she knew if David was going to be coming out, because we had brought him a gift. She was like well, we did press yesterday, so it's the boy's turn today, I was thinking, "OH NO!" And then Carly says that she would take it to him, because she didn't think he was coming out, and she totally looked in the bag as we told her what we got him, and we got into his vocabulary a bit, it was nice. So, we were stoked that the gift was going to get to David for sure. Carly wrote "Cook" on the bag, and finished talking to the crowd, then as she was walking away, I told her thank you for taking that to him and she turned around and was like, "You're welcome!"

SWEETHEART!

Oh yeah, while Carly was talking to us she kept saying that she thought her feet were getting bit, and we were like, "Welcome to Fresno". For real. Bugs like whoa.

So, Brooke is still out, we go get pix with her, and I see Carly walking back towards me with the bag, and she hands it to me and tells me, "He's coming." And I was like, "THANK YOU!"

I look up and there's David Cook and Michael Johns! Cookies and Milk! HOLLA!

And I think it was right then that I was like…OMG, I'm going to meet David Cook, OMG. Yeah, I had to like take a moment to take it in, because as much as I really, REALLY wanted to meet DC, I was trying not to get my hopes too high in anticipation leading up to the show, and then he just walks up to the crowd, it was SURREAL. So, Sarah and I swapped cameras, so when we were taking pix with the Idols we had each others' cameras. We took lots of pix of him before we actually got a chance to say hi to him, I was struggling, cause my hand was shaking like WHOA. Did not think I would get that nervous, but I did!

I decided to have him sign the picture in Rolling Stone. Sarah had him sign his pic in the People's hottest bachelors issue, and he hesitates, and Sarah's like please? And I go, "Dude, it's a hot picture." And he told us that his friends had been giving him slack over it.

Also, I watched him sign a couple Axium cd covers, and he said something about the drummer taking advantage of the fans a bit. I was actually happy to have David's take on the situation.

So, Sara(h?) from D-C.org was awesome enough to take a picture of both Sarah and I with David. (YOU ROCK GIRLIE!) And she was in the process of switching cameras, cause she was taking one with mine and one with Sarah's and I was all, "Take your time!"

I mean, David Cook has his arm around me, when is this going to happen again? Take your time!

After those pictures were taken, I handed David his gift and told him that we had picked him up a couple things to have during the tour, and he was so sweet and was all, "Bless you guys!" He looks in the bag and goes, "I see Angelina Jolie!" It was awesome!

So, he takes his bag, we thank him for the pictures, and we walk over to Michael Johns, cause HELLO! Michael Johns! His accent is awesome! He was a doll too!

We got more shots of David then DC and MJ peaced out.

Sarah and I were officially "GLEEING" from ear-to-ear! We get to Sarah's car, to basically get the fan girl moments out of our system. We then see the crowd forming again, and we see that it's Archie and Ramiele! So, we go back over there, and let me tell you David Cook hit it on the nose when he said that Archie is HILARIOUS! He totally is. Like the crowd was just going nuts and you could see him just get overwhelmed and just looked up and smiled, it was so cute.

And his eyes…they sparkle. I'm not kidding. That kid has amazing eyes. Absolutely gorgeous. So, I gave him the Top 12 TV Guide that I was had the other 9 Idols sign, and he was like this is a weird photo, and he explains that the coloring made them all look weird, but he had those moments with the fans that were like awkward, but really funny. It was nice to see him looking relaxed. He's another doll.

We did go over and say hi to Ramiele, she was also very sweet to us.

Oh, at some point Syesha appeared out of nowhere. She was also resting her voice, but was interacting with fans, she was very nice.

So, after we met Ramiele, the security guard who also told us the Idols weren't coming out at all, says that he's been told that no one else is coming out.

So, again Sarah and I go back to her car to get something to drink, cause it's hot out. LIKE WHOA.

We literally have taken one drink, and we see Jason Castro and Chikezie! So, I leave my drink on the roof of Sarah's car, and we go back over to meet the guys.

BTW…Carly pronounced Chikezie's name for us, it sounded super awesome with her accent.

So, Jason is so friendly and relaxed, and I handed him my mag, and he was all, "Let me see what I can do for you."

I asked him about his Vlog and if we're going to more, because I like them, and thought they were funny, and he said that there would be more, but they are still awkward for him.

Okay, so Chikezie…FLIRT ALERT.

He was like, "Hey". His voice is very soft…just sayin'. He totally put his arm around both me and Sarah when we got pix with him, it was pretty hilarious. All up in the koolaid. LMAO. He was super sweet.

Basically, anytime after we had met Cookie, we could have been hit by a car and totally not have minded AT ALL.
Sarah and I then took off to get lunch and we should have just gotten like diet sodas and split a sandwich, cause we could barely eat due to the events of the afternoon. Luckily, a couple Midori Sours during Happy Hour calmed us down a wee bit, kind of, sort of, not really. LOL.

BTW. We totally had a hot waiter. Besides the point, just sayin'.

One of my friends from college joined us (I'm Fresno State Alumni…so this would make something during the concert extra special for me…)

We went on campus to visit with one of my BFFs for like an hours before heading back over to the venue to get in.

Once we were in, got programs…then heard the music playing…"Break Anotha" by the one and only BLAKE LEWIS! Idol was representing!

Also, before the show they did a video segment on Blake, totally reppin' "ADD". That's some rockin' promo!

Okay, so the show starts…

Chikezie - Great energy, was in good voice, fun to watch do his thing!

Ramiele - More impressed with her than I thought I would be. She rocked out on the M5 song she sang. It was really good!

Michael Johns - Nothing, but awesomeness! I loved that we got a little taste of "Light My Fire", however "It's All Wrong, But It's Alright"…very nice performance.

KLC - You know, I have nothing, but nice things to say about her performances, I was actually pretty moved by her performance of "God Bless The USA". She sounded really spot on.

Carly - AMAZING! Simply, amazing. I really wish she and MJ had longer sets, because I didn't want their sets to be over!

Brooke - I was pretty overwhelmed by her performance of "Let It Be". I mean, when she sang it on the show, I damn cried, so I was happy that I kept it together. I love that she sang Feist, and for someone who cannot stand Coldplay, I loved Brooke's version of "Yellow".

Intermission…I enjoy me some DC Guitar Hero commercials. HOLLA.

Castro - Sounded great, I love his southern drawl. I loved "Daydream Believer".

Syesha - HOMEGIRL CAN SANG. She was AMAZING! "Listen" blew me away. She totally should have sung that on the show instead of "I Believe". IMO.

Archie - I knew that the screams would be insane, and they were. I mean ear-piercing screams. He came out from the bottom of the stage, with the dry ice aflowin'…I love the special effects. His performances of "Apologize" and "Stand By Me"…LOVED THEM. He got overwhelmed by the crowd, which was pretty dang charming.

DAVID!!!! - Okay, so if Archie's screams were insane, then David's screams from the crowd were CRAZY INSANE! It was so loud!! And as soon as I saw that Fresno State Bulldogs baseball jersey on him, both Sarah and I were like THAT'S AWESOME! Way to represent!

His whole set, IMO, absolutely perfect…I wish he could have had a 6th song, "Always Be My Baby" anyone? But, it was awesome. His interaction with the crowd was great. He took time to film us cheering him on.

Every song, every note, the rockin' out during "My Hero", the multiple glory notes in "Billie Jean" just made the absolute perfect, surreal day, just that much more amazing!

The closing group number…if I had to pick a song for them to sing, Rihanna's "Please Don't Stop the Music" was the one I would want! I loved it when they did it on IGB, so I was stoked!

Okay…so one word to describe after the show…MAYHEM.

It was chaotic, I wouldn't be surprised if they stopped coming out after shows. I got a couple more things signed by both Davids, MJ, Brooke and Sy. Sarah and I stayed until DC peaced out.

What I witnessed…Jason getting accosted by fans…MJ giving out hugs…and kisses! (On the cheek!) I was like…WOW. They're like rockstars. WHOA.

It was insane.

So yeah…best day EVER!!!


My pix are at myspace.com/hookedoncook

San Jose people!

Who all is arriving early that day to try and meet the buses?

Anyone have this pic un-tagged?

I want to make a voting graphic with this one...but that tag is very much in the way!

REQ: David at Blue Springs South

Okay, so is there no video of the feed when David first was introduced at Blue Springs South, had a moment with his family and got the key?

If you have seen this video, have this video or can just point me in the right direction...I'll uh...give you a cookie! LOL.

California knows how to party!

July 2 - San Diego
July 3 - Fresno
July 7 - LA
July 8 - San Jose
July 9 - Sacramento




I am going too Fresno, SJ and Sac...any of ya'll going?