Tidbits 12/8

• Poughkeepsie Journal - Clay in town tonight for Christmas concert -

  Clay Aiken set to play Civic Center tonight
  
  Bringing his "Christmas in the Heartland" tour to the Mid-Hudson Civic Center, musical superstar Clay Aiken will take the stage at the City of Poughkeepsie arena tonight at 8 p.m. Tonight's show is the 10th on his 22-city tour, which kicked off Nov. 26 in Wichita, Kansas.
  
  "It has gone really well," Aiken told the Poughkeepsie Journal last week. "It's been a lot of fun."
  
  Journal reporter Sean T. McMann interviewed Aiken and has written extensively about the singer, his tour and tonight's show on his "Sean's Space" blog, just a click away at www.seantm.blogspot.com.

• Orlando Sentinel - Blake Lewis' debut album is a "nightmare" -

  I'll never make fun of Clay Aiken again.
  
  OK, I can't keep that promise, but Aiken sounds like Pavarotti compared with the derivative tedium that fills Audio Day Dream, the debut album from Blake Lewis.

• AOL Music Popeater - second place sometimes best place to be on AI -

  When it comes to 'American Idol,' sometimes second is the place to be. Clay Aiken, Bo Bice and Katharine McPhee have all gone on to have widely successful releases, and Blake Lewis is no exception. The 26-year-old beatboxing rocker became a fan favorite during the sixth season of the widely popular talent show, and has been on the rise to stardom ever since.
  

• More Christmas tour mentions:
• New York Times -

  MORRISTOWN The Community Theater at Mayo Center for the Performing Arts “A Christmas Carol,” musical based on the Dickens novel. Dec. 9 at 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. $12. Clay Aiken, holiday concert. Thursday at 8 p.m. $55 to $95. The Community Theater at Mayo Center for the Performing Arts, 100 South Street. (973) 539-8008; www.mayoarts.org.

• Get into the Clay Christmas spirit with some absolutely STUNNING Clay graphics from Clay - The Man.
• Carolina On My Mind - Clay's Christmas tour heads up the east coast