Waukegan Show A Rousing Success!

Every Clay fan has been waiting with excitement for the first concert of Clay's Symphony Christmas Tour, and after reading The Clayboard Cellcert, I must say that it was definitely worth the wait!

The cellcert reporters all gave us our money's worth tonight...reporting the songs Clay sang, the audience's reaction, and the the interaction with the audience from the much chatty and snarky Clay!! Yes, not only do we get to hear 14 beautiful Christmas songs sung with both feeling and emotion by the most gorgeous voice I have ever heard, but we get to take part in a never ending flow of humor coming from a Clay who was most definitely comfortable and happy to be with his fans! It is forever obvious that not only do Clay's fans adore him, but Clay also adores his fans to the nth degree!

If you don't want to know the song program from the concert, stop reading right here. Otherwise here is the list in order of the Christmas songs Clay will be singing at all 18 of his shows:

2006 Christmas Tour Set List:

Christmas Waltz
The First Noel
Merry Christmas With Love
Winter Wonderland
The Christmas Song
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Sleigh Ride
Mary Did You Know
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Oh Come All Ye Faithful
My Grown-Up Christmas List
O Come O Come Emmanuel
Don't Save It All for Christmas Day
All is Well (encore)

Of course, each song was sung beautifully and received with loud applause. For songs such as Mary Did You Know, the audience became quiet and listened as Clay softly and reverently sang these songs from a heart of gratefulness.

Clay wore a gray pin striped suit, gray sweater, blue shirt, gray tie, and black boots. His hair was long and combed over to the side. In 3 words...he was gorgeous!

And did Clay ever give us lots of banter. I won't list it all, so be sure to check out The Clayboard Cellcert to enjoy all of the hysterical banter of Clay! At one point Clay apparently showed off his socks because "it was important to the boards"...the socks were striped--possibly green and black!

The cellcert reporters said that Clay was very animated during Winter Wonderland. Can't you just see him waltzing back and forth across the stage, having so much fun with that song!

Clay also took time to talk with a couple, Carol and Jim, who had driven 7 hours from Ohio to see the show. He asked them how long they had been married and they said "41 years", so he said he would do a special song for them. Clay also got onto someone for being on the phone during the show (probably a cellcert reporter)!

I got a kick out of 1inNebraska4clay who said, "My daughter (8) is mad, mad, mad!!! She just told her brother, 'Mom's mean!! She won't let me hear Clay sing too!'" Of course, what Claymate would give up her cell phone to anyone if she was listening to a cellcert!! :)

Clay took the time to thank the maestro and the orchestra, saying that they were so talented and professional.

Before singing My Grown Up Christmas List, Clay talked about Quiana singing it in the past, but then he said that he decided to steal it this year and sing it himself! I'm sure Quiana would have something to say to that!!

Clay also made certain to mention The Bubel Aiken Foundation and UNICEF and his work with them. He said that working with children is so important in this world and that it is good to think about giving not just this time of year, but to remember the children and give to our favorite charities all year long.

For Clay's final song, he came back out and put his jacket back on, and the audience went wild! Then all went quiet, and he sang All Is Well.

As someone said on the Clayboard, Clay was in good voice and a good mood tonight, and he was back in his element. It was a perfect concert with 17 more to go. Yes, all is definitely well.

CLACK LOCATIONS:

Pictures of Concert - The Clayboard-Pics From Tonight's Concert

MP3 of Concert - Clack Unlimited MP3

Video of Concert - Clack Unlimited Video

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible