David Cook Concert
University of St. Francis – Joliet, IL
April 13, 2009

I attended my first David Cook concert on April 13, 2009, at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois. How did it happen? DID it happen? I’m still not sure…but I’ll try to describe everything from this amazing experience.

It all began Sunday evening, April 12th, when Veronique asked me in chat if I was interested in going to Joliet to go to the buses after the concert. Knowing we didn’t have tickets to the show and knowing we couldn’t get in, since it was student/alumni only, and remembering that I had to go to work on Tuesday, I declined. My thought process was that if David didn’t come out to the buses, we’d have driven about 120 miles for nothing except a fun adventure.

On Monday morning, I started my day off work by making a 4-shot cappuccino and dragging my laundry down the stairs to make the day productive. I checked into my Twitters and saw Veronique had posted something about her day that had just become epic.

My Twitter: What do you mean?
Hers: I got tickets!
Me: How?????
Her: A friend…but she may not be able to go and if she can’t, would you like to go?
Me: DUH!!!

Within 20 minutes, I got the Tweet I was dreaming about – “Kat, do you want to go see David Cook tonight?!” At that moment, the caffeine and adrenaline and excitement kicked in and I started shaking. I was actually going to see David Cook!

Let me backtrack.

I’ve been trying to figure out a way to see David onstage since he won Idol. I couldn’t go to the Idol tour here in Chicago because it was the same day as my sister’s surprise 50th birthday. Family comes first, ya know. No matter, I told myself – I’m really waiting for the solo tour.

Then the solo tour was announced. But the only place near my home where he was playing was a college that was student-only, which was disappointing. But I’d started making plans to fly down to Tulsa for the concert at the end of April – until I found out that, too, was student-only. Then came “news” of a June 5th date in L.A. After checking airline prices and deciding that $218 round-trip was enough to go to L.A. (even if I didn’t get into the show), I was psyched for my first trip to California. Then another cruel disappointment – someone’s bright idea of an April Fool’s joke and there was no concert after all. (But I’m going to L.A. anyway just because…)

I’ve had wonderful offers from various friends on the internet to take their extra ticket in Virginia Beach, in Miami, and elsewhere, but I finally concluded that I was probably meant to see David here close to home. After all, they haven’t announced who’s playing the Illinois State Fair yet, right? *hopeful*

The LAST place I ever thought I’d see him was in Joliet. That show had even been taken off the official tour calendar since the tickets weren’t available to anyone not connected with the school. As the tour progressed and more and more of my friends and chat buddies were getting their chance to see David play this tour, I was getting more and more disappointed. I was happy for them, of course – extremely happy – but damn it, I wanted to go to this show! For some reason, this particular tour was one that I just had to take part in! So when Monday went from being just another day off work to us going to the concert – well, I still can’t believe it.

Anyway, on to the show. Veronique arrived at my house at around 2:00 p.m. and, after I printed off a photo that I wanted David to sign, she and I headed for Joliet. Veronique’s friend had advertized on Craig’s List that they were looking for tickets on a lark, and someone actually saw the ad and said he had two tickets, that is wife couldn’t attend the concert. Veronique and I met him at his place of business – a pawn shop, no less – and paid for the tickets. Hurdle #1 jumped. The man who sold us the tickets was genuine and kind, even offering to us that if we couldn’t get into the show due to the lack of college IDs, to call him. Veronique and I grabbed a sandwich (and mini-boxes of Cheez-Its!) at the local CVS and headed to the school. We walked around and took a few photos of the sign bearing David’s name and the two buses parked outside, and found out from the security guard which door we were to go into. He advised us we wouldn’t be let in until 7:00, so we went back to the car and waited.

Weather-wise, it was bleak – constant rain and in the mid-30s. We agreed that we were there for the show, and I advised Veronique that I had to leave by 11:00 to make it home at a decent hour since I had work on Tuesday. She is a sweetheart and was fine with that.

7:00 rolled around and we went inside. The sign of doom was clearly posted: “Please have your ID ready.” I must confess we were worried. Would we get in? Could we plead our case? Should we lie? What should we do? When the doors opened, we approached the table and saw everyone with their IDs out. In fact, as IDs were checked and people were let in, the girls running the ticket table were checking off names on the list – this was clearly meant to be strictly school-only.

Honesty is the best policy, right? Veronique approached the ticket table and told them, “we didn’t know we’d need IDs (because we really didn’t – the guy told us they weren’t checking at the door), and we bought these tickets from an alumni who couldn’t make it.” They asked the alumni’s name, and after a hasty call to the guy who sold us the tickets, we had the name. The ticket person consulted with her boss who let us in since she knew the person we’d bought the tickets from. The last potential hurdle is that the ticket purchaser hadn’t paid yet for the tickets, but we had paid him! Another phone call between the ticket table and the man worked through that last hurdle and we were let in. Before going in, I returned my SLR camera to the car since there were other signs clearly stating “No Cameras”.

We got inside and breathed a huge sigh of relief. Then the excitement mounted. Veronique did a hasty check of her cellphone since she was the cellcaster for the evening, and just as others have found in the past, it’s the cheaper phones that work the best for cellcasts. Her phone had all bars on it – mine had zilch except for one every once in awhile (which is how my Twitters got out).

The venue was tiny – a small auditorium that seated only 230 people. We were in the last row (Row L – 12th row) which was literally in the back of the auditorium. The floor sloped down towards the stage so I was hopeful that I’d be able to see over people’s heads (I’m 5’2” and do not wear heels…).

Showtime.

Opening act – Ryan Star. I have never seen this guy perform. I didn’t watch the show he was on, and although I’d heard a song or two, I wasn’t particularly impressed.

Until I saw him perform. Wow. Can that man ever perform! Ryan was so absolutely energetic and passionate in his performance that he won a new fan. I loved his set! I am definitely buying his album when it comes out. And I hope to see him in concert again as well. Ryan was outstanding.

Then it was time for David. The lights dimmed and everyone got to their feet. And I re-discovered just how short I am. Let me say that I am very glad I am not going to any general admission shows. I simply cannot see over people who are taller than I, and I am not one to wait all day in line just to be able to see the stage. So despite the fact that everyone was very tall, I was able to see David and Neal through and between people. Part of me didn’t care – I was in the same room with the band, hearing and experiencing the concert. However, it would have been nice to have an unobstructed view – but again, there’s always time for that at the next show.

David looked amazing – blue jeans, new video boots, white untucked shirt with hemmed sleeves, gray tie and gray buttoned vest. His hair was pretty flat, but no hat. Most of all, his demeanor was wonderful – he seemed happy, energized in his performance, and totally in the zone.

Bear with me – I’m sure to be leaving out a lot of details since there was so much to absorb. David started the show with Heroes, and then followed that up with We’re Only Honest When We’re Sleeping. This was followed by a song David said was one of his favorites, Mr. Sensitive, and then Souvenir, a song written for the record but not included. (David said he liked the song a lot.)

Then the drums started for Kiss on the Neck. The crowd went nuts, but David stood there looking at us, and finally saying, “I don’t think you’re ready for this song.” We cheered madly, but he shook his head. He finally said, “Neal, come here.” Neal joined him center stage, and David said, “Neal, I need you to help me decide if they’re ready for this song.” As we cheered and screamed again, Neal put his head to the side, tapped his face with this fingers as if contemplating, and then shook his head “no”. We screamed some more until they started the song.

Towards the beginning of the song we got something new. Backbend into the mike. Let me try to explain. David was singing into the mike (which was on the mike stand), and he was playing guitar. He had his lips on the mike, then leaned his head to the right and kept his lips very near the mike, then ended up under the mike with lips still near the mike so that his head was upside down, the top of his head facing us and his face towards the ceiling – that’s how he ended up into the backbend. He didn’t backbend towards the mike, but rather started forward, twisted to the side, and ended up in the backbend. I can’t explain it any better than that, but may actually film myself doing a poor imitation of it to show you.

Middle of the song – the moan. Except….no moan! Instead, David asked all the guys to yell (since the girls were already yelling, he said). They did, and then David asked them to raise their hands. They did. David then said, “the most embarrassing part is over, so you might as well keep your hands up!” This all took place during the part that usually had the moan. However, we got another treat.

I’ve seen a lot of old videos of David pre-Idol. I’ve seen him playing off to the side while he was in Midwest Kings, I’ve seen him hunched over playing the guitar. I’ve never seen him headbang though. Until this show. He did a full-on, Neal-like headbang as he faced Kyle towards the end of the song. The band just all went absolutely nuts onstage at the end of that song. Such fun!

Then things slowed down a bit – the lights dimmed and it was David center stage, all alone. Softly and gently, we got The World I Know. And we got an extra treat with it – as David ended it in the same high note he used on the show during the Final Two. I’ve not heard that except for maybe once since Idol, so I was mesmerized hearing that beautiful note.

After Life on the Moon, David then pulled out the “audience choice” portion of the show. We were to vote for the cover they’d sing. David said, “So you’ve got two choices, I’ll tell you the choices. I’m gonna say them and I don’t want a reaction until we vote. Otherwise, it’s tainted! We need to keep the sanctity of the voting system intact. Alright?” People cheered a bit, and he said, “Three people said ‘Yeah for democracy!’ and three people were like, ‘Screw it, man, just play the song!’. Alright, the two songs – SHHHH! Two songs, Hot for Teacher by Van Halen – no no no shhh – or Little Lies by Fleetwood Mac. So…all in favor of Little Lies by Fleetwood Mac, make some noise. (screams) All in favor of Hot for Teacher by Van Halen, make some noise." (huge screams)

When Hot for Teacher started, I was paying attention to Neal’s mad skills and totally missed the “spit”. But I sure didn’t miss David’s face as he screamed out CLASSS DISMISSSSSSSEEEDDD!!!! Totally fun. The song ended up with Kyle tossing drum sticks to David and David went behind the drum kit next to Kyle. The song ended with a ton of drum beats and cymbals crashing – courtesy mainly of David. Epic!!

David proceeded to play Come Back To Me, and prefaced it by talking about the video for the song. He said, “I did a little acting, I did a little kissing, and Joey was totally into it!” LOL!

Then it was time for the last two songs. Bar-ba-sol was just as much fun live as ever. During the dueling guitar portion, David and Neal were facing each other, guitars harmonizing, and David reached out and fluffed Neal’s hair in front. Then Neal ran the back of his left hand knuckles against the top frets of David’s guitar, because he was using his ring to play on the strings. Very cool to see since I am amazed at interesting use of stringed instruments – always have been.

Then the final song – Light On. I was a little sad that the show was over already, but it was so wonderful that I was satisfied. I didn’t get some of my favorite songs, but the last note on The World I Know was such a wonderful treat!

Veronique and I went to the buses to wait. The security guy said that the band was doing a meet-n-greet and that it would be awhile, but we waited anyway. I retrieved my SLR camera from the car and we were standing there with about 30 people. I called into the cellcast and we gave our recap while waiting for David.

Then suddenly there was squeeing and we knew David was on his way out. He decided to start at the end of the line which is near where we were standing. David explained that he was going to do autographs first, then come back through if he had time for pictures. When he got to me, I said, “Hi David, I’m Kathleen,” and gave him the picture I’d brought for him to sign. I told him, “I want to tell you that the current number of the Washington DC race right now for your team is at $39,825”. He said, “Wow, that’s great!” I said, “Thank you for that,” and he replied, “We’ve gotta get it up to 50!” I said, “we will, it’ll hit 40 tonight!”. He moved on to Veronique and the rest of the crowd. He then came back for the photos.

David was a few people down from me when someone asked him, “Why didn’t you do Declaration tonight?” David said, “I don’t know, why didn’t we do that?” I told him, “That’s okay, we got that high note at the end of The World I know!” David looked over, nodded and winked with a thumbs up. I said, “It was beautiful, David.”

Several people asked David for a hug. I never thought I’d do that, but suddenly I wanted one too! So when he got to me, I gave my camera to Veronique and then asked, “David, can I have a hug?” He said, “sure!” and I expected a quick hug and then a pose for the camera. But that’s not what he did. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me in for a hug picture! Veronique, bless her heart, took a few moments to take the photo – I could feel David laughing at one point because I was literally crushed up against his chest, with his head on mine. I rubbed his shoulders and he did the same to me. I’m not trying to be a fangirly at this moment – I’m really not. The hug was simply a very warm hug that was very nice. David then moved on to Veronique and I took their photo. I took a few more as David moved down the rest of the line, and then we decided to leave.

Almost forgot to say – we met Celticfish at the buses and had a wonderful conversation with her! She is so sweet and we all exchanged information to keep in touch. I took her photo with David as well and promised to send it.

Veronique and I went back to my car, got in and SCREAMED! LOL! It was so funny. She left a message for her friend, Christina, and then we got on the road and called the cellcast. We spent the next hour and ten minutes driving the long way home and talking to the folks in Mandy’s cellcast chat, relating all our experiences. We got back to my home at 1:00 a.m. and Veronique went home. I got only 3 ½ hours of sleep, but it was so worth it!!

Now the part that makes me cry with happiness. It wasn’t until tonight as I wrote this out that I found out that Veronique’s friend, Christina, purposely said she couldn’t go to the concert so that I could have a chance to go. I cried (several times) when I heard how a complete stranger did such a wonderful thing to me. I pray God’s blessings on them both for giving me this wonderful gift.

Pictures of my experience are here:
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v296/kathleenr4764/Cook%20-%20Joliet/