Desert Local News: Great Concert Review

Another wonderful tour review came in today, this one courtesy the Desert Local News. Here's some of that they said about Clay's Indio, CA concert... also check out their concert photo gallery- there are some really nice shots in there.

Aiken wowed crowds with mostly covers, but of recognizable tunes, like Paul Young’s “Every Time You Go Away”, Michael Jackson’s “The Way You Make Me Feel”, Badfinger’s “Without You”, Foreigner’s “I Want To Know How Love Is”, and other well-known ballads. Between acts, Aiken told a few jokes that made the audience laugh. He and his backup singers even paid tribute to the Golden Age of Television with a medley of television theme songs.

Fans from all over California and all over the world came to see Aiken perform. Thirteen women from Japan flew out here just to see him, and then follow him all across the United States. “We love Clay,” said Mariko, one of the lucky 13. “He is very popular in Japan. We’re going to see him in North Carolina next.”

“He is hilarious, he is entertaining,” said Carrie Salensner from Los Angeles. “If people would come to one of his concerts, they will instantly love him.” Barbara White of San Diego agreed. “He is amazing, and a wonderful singer,” she says.

California Leg Comes To An End in Indio

Photos

• Clayboard photo thread - Indio, CA
  

Clack

• ClackUnlimited.com

CONTINUING COVERAGE - 2007 SUMMER TOUR ... @ THE TOUR BLOG ... CLICK HERE

Desert News Interview: Clay Keeping His Options Open

In a new pre-Indio concert interview with the Desert News, Clay says he's keeping his options open and that he will begin work on the next album in the coming months. The full interview is available at myDesert.com:

Whatever happened to Justin Guarini? When was the last time you heard what Ruben Studdard was up to?

But mention Clay Aiken and most people have at least some idea of who you're talking about.

The most popular of the "American Idol" runners-up is on his way to the Coachella Valley for a concert Sunday in the Special Events Center at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino.

TDS: How has your outlook on performing changed in the past five years?
AIKEN: I think I appreciate the opportunity to do it now. It's so much fun to put a new show together. Still, it's more exciting for me to sort of present that to fans. I imagine I have gotten far more comfortable over the years too.

TDS: If Paula, Randy or Simon dropped out as an "A.I." judge and you were asked to fill the vacancy, would you? What about being a coach for another "Idol" hopeful?
AIKEN: Oh, I'd love to be a judge. I think they should consider adding a former contestant - someone who knows what it is like to be on that very stage.

TDS: What's next for you? A new CD? Are you interested in doing stage or film work? More guest co-hosting on "Live With Regis and Kelly?"
AIKEN: I like to remain open to any opportunities. Pretty much everything positive that has come my way has happened when I "let go and let God." So I don't predict too much. I know we will begin to work on the next CD in the next several months. And anything else that presents itself I hope that I am able to approach it with an open and willing mind.

Tidbits 8/2

• Apparently, today's KOST-FM interview we told you about yesterday was really boring... still, if you'd like to hear it, a cap is available at SendSpace.
• The CB's claysweetea heard Clay's "Without You" while holding on the phone for a customer service representative at Hartford Insurance ... I guess it goes to prove how Clay shows up in the weirdest and most unexpected places!
  
• Encore by the Nashua Telegraph - MEADOWBROOK CONCERT ... Claymates very protective of Clay -

  I’m a Clay Aiken fan. But I know now, I’m by far not the biggest Clay Aiken fan.
  
  For a series of reasons that are way too pedestrian to list, I not only didn’t get to meet Clay, I didn’t even get to see the orchestra rehearse. What I did get was permission to take photographs at the foot of the stage for the first two songs of the concerts.
  
  I, along with real photographers with real cameras, positioned ourselves in front of the stage and readied ourselves for Clay’s and, of course, the Nashua Symphony Orchestra’s appearance.
  
  Meadowbrook’s videographer warned me that when the music started, the fans in the front row would do their best to get us to sit down. I was prepared for some snaky remarks. But I was not prepared for the army of gray-haired women who found it their duty to tell me and the others with cameras not once, not twice, but perhaps 20 times that “the flash hurts Clay’s eyes.”
  
  For a second, I thought of asking them how they know this. I’ve been on Claymate sites. I have been to four Clay Aiken concerts. I didn’t know his eyes hurt. But these women who looked like maniacal grandmothers (I swear one of them had a rolling pin in her hand) fancied themselves Clay’s personal protectors

• We have a slew of tour related mentions today:
• California dates:
• Press Enterprise -

  INDIO Clay Aiken is scheduled to perform at 6 p.m. Sunday at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84-245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio. The pop singer, who rose to fame as runner-up on the second season of "American Idol," will perform in concert with an orchestra led by Coachella Valley band leader Ted Herman. Tickets are available for $39, $49 or $59 by calling 760-342-5000.

• O.C. Register ... and O.C. Register event listing -

  Clay Aiken: The popular "American Idol" singer performs at 8 tonight. Greek Theatre, 2700 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles. Admission: $35-$65. Call 714-740-2000 or visit www.ticketmaster.com for tickets.
  

• Other dates:
• Asheville Citizen Times -

  The estate’s Summer Evening Concert Series also features Kenny Rogers on Friday, Chris Isaak on Aug. 10 and Clay Aiken with the Asheville Symphony on Aug. 11.

• Bradenton Herald - "AUG. 17: Clay Aiken, 8 p.m., Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Tampa; $55.50-$75.50"
• Augusta Chronicle
• Sarasota Herald Tribune
• Pollstar - Clay adds his voice to Griffith Park Reconstruction fund with LA charity auction (read more here) -

  Clay Aiken, Tony Bennett and Los Lonely Boys are adding their support to the effort to restore Los Angeles' Griffith Park, which was damaged by a wildfire earlier this year.
  
  Aiken, who will perform August 4 at the venue, has donated an array of autographed merchandise, including a limited edition poster, an autographed book, a T-shirt, CDs and more, which will be offered as a package during a silent auction to be held in the Greek Theatre plaza prior to his show. The winner of the auction will also receive hospitality passes to the Greek Theatre's VIP Deck after the show.

• Argus Leader - Chris Daughtry article... American Idols quick to become tabloid targets -

  The success has put Chris Daughtry on the same level as “Idol” favorites like Kelly Clarkson and Clay Aiken. But with the looming fallout over Clarkson’s recent public flap with record mogul Clive Davis and the scrutiny over Aiken’s romantic affairs, it’s hard to forget that “American Idol” darlings can quickly turn into tabloid targets.
  

• New York clubs fined for illegally playing Clay Aiken music (copyright issue):
• Gothamist - "The other New York club that got hit is Fusion 215 for playing Usher and Clay Aiken (actually, there should always be a fine for playing those two)."
• New York Post - "FUSION 215 - “When I See You Smile” - (unclear if Bad English or Clay Aiken version)"
• Jaunted - has some air travel tips... makes reference to Clay's "plane incident" from last month -

  Making it through an overnight flight with your sanity intact is a delicate art. Sure, there are lots of uncontrollable variables that can throw an already unpleasant travel choice into a tailspin -- Clay Aiken's feet, an overexcited geek podcasting next to you, or simply having a middle seat.

• All That Is Clay Aiken has a great collection of tidbits collected from the various Meet & Greets that has happened over the past month... my favorites are:

  • I could smell Clay. He smells of fresh linen. It's very comforting and sweet. He just smells clean. It's quite refreshing.
  • Clay said All is Well is his favorite of everything he's recorded - that he really loved doing that EP.
  • Clay said that it would be really difficult for him to tour between the albums because he is not on TV and is not as visible. He said last year’s xmas concert sold really well because he was on TV and had the controversy with Kelly Ripa. Clay joked that he was going to have to create another controversy like putting his foot on someone’s armrest or slapping his hand across someone’s mouth. He mentioned that this summer concert series while doing well, wasn’t doing as well as the Xmas tour, and he attributed that to his lack of visibility.
  • I then followed up with: Does RCA have anything to do with the fanclub and he said yes, they do with Clayaiken.com. He said with respect to clayonline.com the better question would be: “Do they even know it exist?”
  • Clay said that it is too early and since he doesn't have the songs picked he could not say whether the new album will be more like MOAM or more like ATDW or a combo. He also stated that the the sound is developed toward the end of the album process. He said hopefully it will be all originals and then he said, it will be all originals.
    

• Taking A Moment's Jemock takes a break from moving to update us on her status:

  I've been so busy moving all my Clay shrines to my new house. That's back-breaking work, let me tell ya. All those heremeticallly sealed (and by "hermetically sealed" I mean "empty") Clay clothing containers, striped sock archives, Clay ebay snotty tissue displays, authentic turkey baster replicas and whatnot are a pain in the butt to relocate. But just you wait until you see the new Jemock Clay Aiken Endowed Museum. Wait, that doesn't sound right. But you know what I mean.

• There Was A Man - Clay thrills Newark fans
  

Tidbits 7/5

• Tour mentions... don't forget, everything tour related including FRISCO RECAPS are up on the CDD An Evening with Clay Aiken tour blog!
• Ticket giveaway for the Houston concert on Houston's Sunny 99 FM this morning, reports the CB's kleewolf: "Prize for the winning the 'Battle of the Sexes' was 4 tickets to see Clay."
  
• Dallas Morning News - coverage of the Frisco concert - "In Frisco, a fireworks show provided an explosive finale to an outdoor concert by American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken."
• McKinney Courier Gazette - another Frisco mention: "Fortunately, Bennen said, Plano did not cancel its fireworks show. Frisco’s show — featuring “American Idol’s” Clay Aiken, also launched. A fireworks display also took place at Craig Ranch after the McKinney Marshals game."
  
• The Desert Sun -Indio, CA concert... "Both Fantasy Springs Resort Casino and Spotlight 29 Casino have pretty full slates of concerts from Stephen Stills and Joe Walsh, to Lisa Lampinelli and Clay Aiken."
• Detroit News - CLAYMATES... CHANCE TO WIN TICKETS - "Claymates, the center of your musical universe, Clay Aiken, is coming to the Freedom Hill Amphitheatre at 7:30 p.m. July 23. Win a pair of tickets. To enter, e-mail mytime @detnews.com with "Clay Aiken" in the subject line."
• Tampa Bay Tribune
  
• SyFy Portal - Clay Aiken fans mobilize to get "Jericho" back on to CBS schedule.

• Nothing here today
  

Fantasy Spring Resort Promotes Clay Concert

The Fantasy Spring Resort in Indio, CA is pulling out all the stops to promote Clay's August 5 concert there.

Here are some screencaps from a promotional video for the concert posted on their website. (direct link to video ... click here)

And we also noticed a Clay Aiken getaway package they are offering: