What an un-freaking-believable night. This was, without a doubt, the best performance I've even seen David put on. The band was on fire, David was energized, the crowd loved him....he won every person in that room over last night.

I almost had a catastrophe when I arrived because I didn't know the name of the lady I purchased the ticket from- it was under her name at the box office, not mine! I was freaking out until the guy finally found it and I verified who I was. My name was on the ticket, but it wasn't filed under my name for some reason. I was so flustered, I just decided to go on inside and get to my seat. Row AA, dead center. Only the two rows of reserved house seats were in front of me, and the seats directly in front of me remained empty throughout Ryan's set, so I moved up a row. Ryan's tribute to David- singing Time of My Life- was such a great moment. The look on David's face and his body language throughout the song had us all cracking up- which made singing along really difficult!

When David opened with "The World I Know", I knew it was going to be a great night. I love it when he sings that with just the single spotlight behind him! I attempted to video, but the security lady walked by and shook her head at all of us and made us put them up. However....just as he finished "The World I Know" and went into "Heroes", everyone in the first two rows went to the front of the stage. Security never bothered us again for the rest of the night. I ended up right on the stage, just slightly to the left of David's mic stand, next to the speaker. I had a spectacular view all night, which made for near-perfect pictures and videos. I couldn't have asked for a better set-list: from The World I Know to I Just Died In Your Arms, and Hot for Teacher to A Daily AntheM, it was perfect. Those of us up front starting a semi-mosh pit during Straight Ahead, completely oblivious of the rest of the crowd. Then I turned around and realized almost everyone else around us were jumping as well! That speaker next to me was a favorite spot of David's throughout the night- he stood right over me multiple times, with his boot at my eye level. All you want to do is look up and stare and take in the spectacularness (is that a word??!) of the moment. The almost completely acapella "Lie" was beautiful perfection- why RCA hasn't released this as a single is the mystery of the century to me. That is GORGEOUS, with just that single light, the man, and his guitar. I just loved singing along to Declaration and Heroes, and Barbasol is such an ass-moving moment! LoL! God, you just can't stand still when they play that song. Artie's little strip-tease dring Hot for Teacher was PRICELESS, as was the laugh it elicited from David. Artie also used that speaker in front of me, and that was a little disturbing! LoL! Kiss on the Neck remains a favorite of mine- he just gets so angry and fierce and works the hell out of the stage. Same with that new little 80s diddy he's adopted. I am SO loving Died In Your Arms! The lights, the anger, the guitars, the bass....daaaaaamn! By the time the encore came around, all of us were drenched in sweat and were basically sticking to one another (gross, right?). Light On has grown on me, probably because I love the crowd participation- to hear the crowd singing along is such a great feeling for ME, imagine what it must feel like to David! Which brings me to A Daily AntheM. Just watch the video- it's probably the best video I've ever shot at a concert. My lord....I just love these shows. They just make me so freakin' happy, which is why I've gone to nine by now. His banter was cute, as always. My favorite part was when he said this was their 3rd Oklahoma show in two weeks, which elicited a cheer from the crowd. He chuckled and asked "So how many of you came from Texas?"....and the place ROARED. And kept it up for a solid 15 seconds. He had to step back from the microphone and shake his head to take it all in. Yes, David, Texas loves you to pieces, even though you refuse to come here more than twice! *haha*

After the show ended, I managed to snag a left-over guitar pick of David's, and talk to and get a picture with Ryan before finally leaving the event center with the group of gals. We walked the casino, got some drinks, danced to the house band's music (Billie Jean and The Way You Make Me Feel are the two sticking out in my head right now!). I was in the process of hunting a specific slot machine that I like to play, when lo and behold, who do you think comes strolling by the blackjack tables I'm standing by? You guessed it. One of the gals I was with (Kristin from Seattle) ended up joining the game while Barb and I stood by and watched. We never once disturbed David, and were respectful. There was another woman at the table that was a fan, and her husband was standing behind her. I was talking to him, and he said that he only came to the show b/c his wife wanted to go for her birthday, and he walked out being a HUGE fan! He was SO impressed and amazed with David that he said he was going to tell anyone that would listen that they needed to go see him in concert if they had the opportunity! He and I agreed that Dave completely won over that entire crowd. Anyway, David got up to leave and was walking away when I simply walked over to him, stuck my hand out and said, "David, I just want to thank you for everything that you do. You are amazing at what you do, and I wish you all the best. You deserve every ounce of success you receive and more." He smiled and thanked me several times, and appeared to be very grateful. I told him to have a great night, and he smiled and walked away. I'd been wanting to tell him that since April 20, and FINALLY had the presence and function of mind to eak it out while standing in front of him. I finally left the casino around 2am, and as I'm hitting the entrance ramp to I-35 South, what do you think was in front of me? Yep. The guys' bus, on the way to Baton Rouge. I ran behind it for a few miles before I reached my exit....which I actually missed b/c I was so pre-occupied with the fact that David Cook's bus is right beside me! LOL! So I had to take the next exit and turn around- hahaha!

After nine Declaration Tour shows, I honestly don't think anything can top this one. Nothing. I could not have dreamed up a better night. My last show is tomorrow night in Galveston, and I'm going to cry like a freakin' baby. I don't think I know how to go longer than a few weeks without a DWEEB concert, and especially not when I don't have any to look forward to! The Declaration Tour 2009 has been so epic, spectacular, and phenomenally fantastic for me- I was 7 for 9 meeting/interacting with David, got to hang with the EEB at the bar in Amarillo....every tour stop I attended holds a special place in my heart, all for different reasons. What an incredible year this has been. I've met so many incredible people, traveled to fantastic new places, and made enough memories to last three lifetimes. I can't wait for the next tour!

Photos available at : http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m194/jld_aggie_06/David%20Cook%20in%2...

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