Tidbits 7/4

• Carolina On My Mind - Clay ready to rock out with Clay as 2007 An Evening with Clay Aiken summer tour kicks off!

  If you're not tearing down a Texas highway to Clay Aiken's opening night concert at Frisco Freedom Fest or throwing clothes into a suitcase for the Houston-Tulsa leg of the Summer Symphony Tour, then perhaps you are twiddling your thumbs and watching the clock slowly tick its way towards cellcert time.
  
  The house is white-glove clean, eggs are bedeviled, and the barbeque grill stands ready to serve your Independence Day guests. For sure, the evening will be a juggling act, but you've carefully scheduled patriotic events around the much anticipated first tour concert. The only problem is the hands on your wall clock appear to be standing still or -- worse! -- inching backwards.

• ... also, you'll want to read Carolina On My Mind's post from last week, which I forgot to post to CDD - Aiken Fans Greet July Festivities, Tour
• Graphic by A Beautiful Mind

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Rest of today's news:

• Clay down 1 to #11 at the Lycos50.
  
• The tour kicks off today in Frisco, Texas! Accordingly, we have a bunch of tour mentions, mostly pertaining to this week's Texas concerts (Frisco, Houston):
• Dallas Fort-Worth Star Telegram -

  FC Dallas hosts CD Chivas USA at 5:30 today as part of Frisco's Freedom Fest, which includes a free Party on the Plaza at Frisco Square, a concert by Clay Aiken after the match and fireworks.

• All American Patriots - "This week, pop singer Clay Aiken will launch a six-week tour in Dallas, Texas. He'll perform with local symphony orchestras in each city as he supports his latest album, "A Thousand Different Ways." The 20-city tour wraps up on August 19 in Orlando, Florida."
• WFAA, Dallas Morning News -

  After the game, Clay Aiken and the Philharmonic Orchestra will perform at the park from 8 to 9:45 p.m. A fireworks display will follow. Events will be held unless the weather is severe, organizers say.

• T.C. Palm
  
• Oneida Daily Dispatch - mention of Clay & "Idol: The Musical" -

  And with the fan base of "Idol" alum, pop singer Clay Aiken, who was voted TV Guide's Favorite Reality Star of 2003 among his many accolades, that may happen.

• Exclaim! Canada's Music Authority - Kelly Clarkson CD review mentions Clay - "While Clay Aiken will likely remain a singer fed other people’s music, Kelly Clarkson is hungry to become not only a top pop singer but also songwriter."