I have read the other wonderful reports on the Gala and everything has essentially been covered; but since I am compelled to express myself through writing, and many have said they like “the ramblings”, I’ll share my take.

WARNINGS: I am going to ramble about Archie and David Wright as well as Cookie. You might want to skip to Part II or III to get to the "good" stuff. And I did not meet Cookie. And this is looooooooonggggggg.

Oh and Annette. Annette, who posts here and d-c.org was amazing. I finally got to meet her in NYC and we were roomies! Thanks Annette for all your kindness and amazing organizational skills. It was great spending time with you, reading the boards together, Cookie hunting etc. Annette for Queen!

Part I: Alternate Archie Universe

My friends and I now joke that I am a Cook fan who keeps meeting Archie--mostly by accident. I am a die-hard Cook fan, but I like Archie and think a couple of his performances are amazing. I went to the barricades pre-show in Green Bay. Cookie didn’t come out. Archie did but was on vocal rest. He was as sweet as could be and helped me operate a camera when I epically failed.

Out of respect for my Archie friends, I want to describe my experience with Archie but it is difficult. Here goes. That kid exudes a presence of pure sweetness and light, giving me what I can only best describe as an innocent, uplifting, warm fuzzy. His sweetness is completely genuine but, imo, not born from naïvete as some people believe. It seems to me he is honestly choosing to be that way which makes it all the more impressive. After being around him for a short period of time; that feeling stayed with me and crept back many times over the next couple of days. Thank you Archie! Young people could do a lot worse than use Archie as a role model.

I flew to NYC from Milwaukee on the Tuesday before the Gala. Vain me walked around in boots with heels. By the time I got to the Virgin Records Megastore, I was in paaiiiin. I walked around the store, bought Archie’s CD for my Mom (who had given me the trip as an early Christmas present), and then decided to sit down outside the store to rest the sore puppies and people watch. Well as it turned out, where I sat down put me in the line to see Archie 3.5 hours later; so I decided to stick it out and get a signature for Mom—especially ‘cause I was sitting right beneath the David Cook billboard in Times Square—he was looking after me.

Thus began my odyssey of “life with Archie fans.” The two girls behind me were friendly and I admitted to being a Cook fan who respected and liked Archie and his music. The one closest to me gave me a sideways glance that looked like she thought I was from Mars. I’ll call it the “Are You From Mars? (AYFM?) look. Still friendly she explained to me that: “Archie is so much bigger than Cook: 1) he has a #1 single; 2) he’s all over the TV; 3) his album is selling like hotcakes. And, you don’t hear about Cook any where.” “Oh really,” I replied, “Did you see him on SNL?” Well of course she hadn’t. I explained to her how significant it was, then regaled her with stories about how much the two guys love each other - among them the time Cookie sang “Crush” in Archie's ear. I get another AYFM? look. Dang! I was going for a Kumbaya moment. I also ‘splained how they were in two different music universes, being marketed differently and so forth. More AYFM? looks. Geez, I should have just pointed to the ginormous Cook billboard above our heads.

Now some of my best friends are Archies so I behaved myself. I answered respectfully, “David Archuletta, American Idol,” to those passerbys who asked who we were waiting for. I did NOT say, “David Archuletta, American Idol runner up who lost by 12 million votes to the awesomeness that is David Cook.” It was easy not to say this because that is not how see the end of Season 7. The world needs more artists like these two and I want them both to be successful. When the news crews came by, I frantically waved Archie’s CD and wooted with the rest of them—Cookie would have wanted me to. And remember I love the Kid Angel.

Then came “Desperate Archie Wannabe Guy” (DAWG). This guy worked the line up and down outside the barricades, claiming to be on AI8, telling his Archie stories from following him around all day. When asked what the judges said to him he replied, “They told me I was the next David Archuletta.” That’s where he lost me. He had sung for us and wasn’t very good to my ear, yet, he successfully won the line people over; giving autographs, taking pics with people and “performing”. He got attention from everyone BUT me so I became his target—he stared straight at me, posed, sang, batted his eyelashes…more on DAWG later.

Oops, another one. “Who are you waiting for?” “David Archuletta,” I reply for the umpteenth time. “I would come if it was David Cook,” she says. She spots the ginormous billboard above me. “Nov 18th his album drops,” I reply informatively. To Archie girl behind me, who I could feel boring a hole thru the back of my head I say, “What? She brought up Cook not me!” AYFM? look.

A saving grace was meeting Rickey from Rickey.org. He covers American Idol among many other shows on his site. I know and love Rickey from the cellcasts he provided over the summer of the American Idol tour concerts. I bought a tour ticket because of those cellcats. I called him from the line, told him what I was doing. He stopped by to meet me on his way to delivering a book for Archie to another fan, Indo, way back in the line. He was so nice to me and encouraged everyone to woot and holler again when the news camera came by for another sweep. His fanbase is mostly Archies (he's a big Archie fan himself) with a good number of Cookie fans who he dubbed: "Archie's naughty big sisters who come into the chat and 'plode during Cookie's set." Dead on Rickey. And thanks for avoiding the large scary feline word.

Fast forward 3 hours. We are carefully herded to the lowest floor of the store. Somehow the two Archie girls behind me are now in front of me. DAWG - how did you get in line several feet behind me? They announce Archie is coming in a few minutes. The Archie girls sprawl out on the floor, spill the contents of their purses, and begin a full-on hair and makeup session. Now it’s my turn - AYFM? look directed at the oblivious Archie girls below me. Oh well, yay, people more vain than me. Not just my feet hurt now, the whole body hurts. I sit down on the floor to rest the weary bones and maybe I can learn something from the makeup session. Aaaarrrr, what is DAWG doing on the floor with his foot on my coat? An Archie girl snarls, "If I don't get a picture with Archie, I'm going to be MAD!" I draw from my barricade experience and try to give her a reality check. "There's alot of people here, posing for pics takes too much time. I wouldn't get your hopes up." I can't describe the look she gave me in return for that information--at least not without getting banned.

About a half hour later (seriously they need to learn what a “few minutes” means), Virgin Store staff start reving the crowd up – not that we needed much encouragement. We start singing "Crush." Yes, Archie girls, I know the words to the chorus and then some. Somehow DAWG is directly behind me now. I wave to Indo from a distance, but sadly never get to meet him. I wonder if he is still on his "election high."

David Archuletta, recording star, descends on the escalator with a huge grin - we scream. Fittingly they put the Angel up high sitting at a raised table. We are given our marching orders: pictures as you are moving through the line but none with him (told ya Archie girl); hand what you want signed to security dude; go say hi to Archie; move on up the escalator and get spit out at the top like the chocolate from the chocolate box you discover you don't like after biting into it. Blech, pink cream nougat.

I look up at the Angel when it’s my turn. “The last time I met you, you were on vocal rest. It’s nice to hear your voice." Oops, he hadn’t said anything yet. “Oh yeah, where was that?” he asks with a smile. “Green Bay.” “Oh yeah I think I remember that,” he says. I know he means the vocal rest and not me. As I leave, I turn back around and thank him for helping with the camera in Cheeseland. He smiles again. The uplifting warm fuzzy feeling returns for a moment, I get spit off the escalator with Mom’s CD insert poster signed.

I crunch against the railing to look down and get a pic of Dad Archuletta. He was given a Green Bay Packer hat by a Cookie (Cherie) in Green Bay. He loved it and was extremely appreciative. He put it on and Cherie received a pic from another fan from the next tour stop with him with the cap still on (early September). Now it’s November 11 and he is STILL wearing it. I need proof to send Cherie. I struggle to position my camera. WAIT, DAWG! What are you doing in my camera lens??? My first spoken words to him are, “Would you please get out of my way, I’m trying to take a picture.” His response? “You b****, I’m just giving someone my autograph.” Without making eye contact I say, “You have been in my face all day, your feet on my coat, enough already.” “I’m sorry b**** if I bumped into you, f*** you.” Interesting apology. He runs off into the sunset. Watch out kid Angel, DAWG has stalker written all over him. Shine your heavenly light on him and soothe his desperate soul. Thank goodness most Archies are good peeps. Except for DAWG, no bad fan incidences to report.

Walking back to my hotel, I pass by the David Letterman Theater. Cool! They are filming something with redheaded announcer dude. There is a big burly actor reaching into the car grabbing announcer guy by the neck shouting, “This is MY Mazda 6”. Cut! They do it several more times. A lovely blonde lady standing next to me strikes up a conversation, “Hmmm, they have to do it over because he didn’t say the whole line towards the camera. I should direct!” We chat. Her gorgeous young daughter says “David Cook” from what seems to be out of the blue. They are in from Boston for the Gala. What!!! I throw my arms around them both. I’m fake sobbing (well mostly fake). “Thank god I found you!” I wail, “I’ve been trapped in an alternate universe all day with Archie fans.” We vow to connect at the Gala. Daughter (Katie) says she dragged Mom to an Idol concert and Mom liked him. I sense Mom (Molly) may have been Cookified but keeps it under wraps. Good job Katie!

Part II: Killing Time

Next day, killing time to big event, I’m on the NBC studio tour looking at the beloved SNL stage where Cookie played so recently. The NBC tour page says the stage was built for rock bands and is acoustically perfect. Hmmm, not what I’ve heard. “So if you hear you favorite musical group on SNL and they don’t sound good, they SUCK,” she says. Thank goodness Cookie and band sounded great. Not so good for Cold Play.

I drop Cookie’s name casually to tour page fishing for juicy details. “I was surprised,” the 5’9” page says. She struggles to find a nice way to say Cookie is short. “He’s about my height with heels.” “Wait, you have the heels or he does?” I ask. “Well you know he wears those boots [yes, yes I do know]. They give him a little sump'm sump'm on the height, ya know?” I tell her fans discuss his height all the time. She may be our best source, but inside I am completely skeptical. His own brother says he’s 5’11”. I’m going with Andrew.

One of the other tourists pipes up. “Are you talking about David Cook who was just on?” Emphatically she continues, “HE was GOOOOOOOOD.” Her husband looks surprised. I love it, another hidden fledgling Cookie obsession. Actually, I could tell this was it. It was the holy grail: the new fan who had stumbled upon him watching SNL but didn’t know much about him. I can’t blow this! I smile knowingly, silently, looking straight at her. “Yes,” I say with my eyes only, “He is spectacular. You have no idea and you must go exploring grasshopper.” She repeats, “HE was GOOOOOOOOD. When was he on?” I tell her. I am certain she is going YouTube hunting when her husband is not home. My work here is done.

Part III: The Big Event

The time for the BIG event arrives. I try to get in as a VIP with Annette but to no avail. That’s OK. I am allowed to stand at the top of a staircase. Looking down, THERE HE IS. He is doing press charmingly, handsomely as he always does. Now Cookie gives me uplifting warm fuzzies too but they are laced with other sensations that I will leave to the more age appropriate fanfic writers. My point: I think as highly of Cookie as the kid Angel as a role model and person but get different thrills and chills from Cookie’s presence and artistry as I know all y’all understand.

I’m staring at him when the impossible happens. While talking he looks directly up at me. I’m sure of it. What should I do? What?? What?? Well in the end I do nothing of course. He looks back at the interviewer. Well no biggie. But a smile and a little wave might have been appropriate. He might have smiled back and that would have produced an uplifting warm fuzzy for sure. I continue to stare when another fan walks up and starts looking down. She says, “My husband will die if I don’t get a picture with David.” Huh?, I think to myself. “Yeah David is pretty awesome,” I say confused. Then, I follow her stare and realize she is looking at David Wright who I had been totally unaware of. I laugh and point to Cookie. We were both oblivious to the other one’s David. We have a laugh and exchange David information. Cookie and Wright bring people together. It still freaks me out they have the same exact birthday--including the year.

Annette goes with the other VIPs and Cookie disappears. We are allowed to go down the stairs and are directed by the fantastic staff to the essential areas. When they tell us something we don't want to hear, they are so nice and upbeat about it! "Doors don’t open until 7:10," they say jauntily, "Go enjoy the food." The food! Rack of lamb appetizers, asian fried goodies, pasta dishes galore, gourmet baseball park food (you had to be there), salad bar and an open bar.

I am on my own seeking out people to connect with; trying to match up fan board names to faces I don’t know. I turn it into a game. Then, a tap on the shoulder. YAY! Molly and Katie from outside David Letterman. We eat together, and Katie and I vow to get in line early outside the doors to get a good spot in front of the stage. Mom Molly tries to convince us we can take our time. We don’t believe her but to prove her point, after they let us in, some how there she is in front of us already on the first level inside the stage area. She waves to tell us, “I told ya so,” with a laugh.

Katie and I position down front. We are listening and respectfully bopping to the piped in music while we wait. “Can’t get enough” comes on. The music takes control of me and I start dancing. Is this song from my era? I think so, especially because Katie is still respectfully bopping while I lose control. I look across the room to Molly (just a couple years younger than me I find out later) who is doing the most animated and skilled rockin’ out chair dancing I've ever seen with her eyes directed to her daughter and myself. She is the coolest Mom ever. I dance with her from across the room. Katie laughs. This goes on for awhile.

David Wright and the female emcee from radio come out. They do an intro. Wright is HOT with an all American boy look, and a cute, shy kind of expression and personality. They introduce Cookie and we go crazy. This is where the famous “I’m not doing this for free, I will be waiting for my season tickets” and the “bachelor” bits come in. David Wright is awesome but Cookie is in command. The emcee says, “I feel like I’m auctioning off bachelors.” Cookie spontaneously starts doing runway poses. Our favorite – the “backside” pose. He is dressed smartly in a jacket with a grey vest over a white shirt and red tie.

They do the live auction. Much money is made. David Wright and emcee go off stage. The show is getting closer. The crowd is getting even more excited. I look for Rickey who is supposed to be here with his new, nice digital camera--I never see him but enjoy the heck out of his videos later. I meet beautiful and smart Amy, a TWoPer. She’s awesome. I tell her I love snark but am afraid of the TWoP thread. She understands.

A big dude has been coming down and arguing with his daughter or wife, can’t tell which. Really intensely arguing in front of everyone. She won’t budge. Finally, on his 11th or 12th trip down to the floor he starts pushing and shoving violently to get to the chick who has been hiding out in the crowd. I say, “There’s no place to go”. The woman next to him getting pushed says, “I know, right?” That sets him off. “I’ll show you how there’s no where to go b****es, you better f***** get out of my way NOW.” He begins brutally elbowing people in the face pushing his way into the crowd. Several of us are scared. I run for the bouncer and miss David and the band’s entrance. The jerk is gone when we get back. He turns up later at the after party. He’s a VIP. Isn’t that always the way? If find out weeks later he told an unsuspecting fan who hadn't even noticed him, "I'm not afraid to hit a woman."

Cookie and the guys are playing! It’s HEROES. IT’S NEW FROM THE ALBUM. WE GO CRAZY. It’s almost too much to take in. If the new album is Analog Heart on steroids, this performance is SNL on steroids. They are already going full blast on the first song. Neal is doing his rock star lead-guitarist moves to perfection. Kyle is in full hair thrashing mode. Joey, who I found subdued on SNL, has found his groove and is doing his own hair thrashing—his hair is not straight though so it is a different, neat effect in it’s own right. Andy is the most quiet but gives off an ultra coolness that's somehow very hot. He is tied to the mic for backup vocals and playing guitar/keyboard. Cookie is singing his face off.

As for me, I’ve let loose. I’m dancing, singing (without knowing the words beyond the 30 second previews), screaming, rockin’ finger pointing, wooting, ruining video recordings…I couldn’t NOT do these things if my life depended on it. I decide we need something like the wind chill factor. If an audience is XX loud, it would be XXXXX loud if the fans recording were cheering and screaming instead of standing still lest they ruin their videos. Call it the “Fan Video Dampening Factor.” The crowd is defeaning, so I can’t imagine what the FDVP figured in might be. I find it my duty to make up for the camera people in the noise and cheering department. Oh yeah, and everything David asked me to do – I did. Get louder - sure. Clap hands over head – sure. Wave arms in the air - sure. Especially since videographers couldn’t. When he motions to the band to play more quietly, I think he's talking to me too so I tone down my yelling just a bit.

The next song is MR. SENSTIVE. OMG ANOTHER NEW ONE OFF THE NEW ALBUM. HOW COULD THIS BE TRUE? More cheering, jumping, screaming and dancing with Molly across the room. Now, DECLARATION. YAY, WE KNOW THE WORDS TO THIS ONE. At different points throughout the whole set, Joey and Neal meet in the middle and rock out together; David goes back to Kyle and rocks out; Andy every now and then coolly turns around, puts his foot up on a step and connects with his eyes to the rest of the band members--intensity! David lets the glory notes fly.

Between songs, they guzzle beverages and suck air. They are giving everything they’ve got and we know it. Somehwere during the set he tells us Dad and other family and friends are there. Awww. He introduces the band—bowing to Neal when he introduces him, telling us they call Kyle Peek-a-boo (since his last name is Peek). Then he casually says, “this is Joey,” kinda like throwing away Joey’s intro. Oh no, does he think we haven’t thrown Joey quite as much love as Kyle? Then he introduces Andy—something about a handsome devil. At some point, a guy comes out to give him a new guitar. Cookie asks us if we know who he is. “Timmy,” I try to scream but my voice is just a raspy squeek already. David has kept him on from the AI tour.

Again, if you have seen the vids, somewhere Cookie says he went to dinner the night before with David Wright and other baseball players “to be named later.” I get the cute baseball reference--tee hee. He claims Wright expressed a desire to be a rock star so he could meet the women Cookie meets. It dawns on me that most of Wright’s fans are probably men and kids wanting to be him. No wonder he wants to be a rock star. Cookie calls Wright and Cookie’s makeup artist up on stage. My favorite remark is when he tells Wright something like, “quit lookin’ at me, your chiseled good looks are freakin’ me out.” He has Ramiele put guyliner on Wright, telling him that this is rock star lesson #1: Guyliner. Wright plays along but looks sincerely embarrassed. He puts his head down so we can’t see it. Cookie asks us, “What do you think?” Woohooo, yes, Wright can rock the guyliner.

Could there be more music? OMG yes. The three L’s follow: Lie (exquisite), Life on the Moon (great) and Light On (fans have a special surprise in store).

Rock star Lesson #2. Right before Light On, Cookie tells us we are in control if this is the last song or not; then chides himself for prompting us for an encore (as if he had to). Lesson #2? Don’t beg for an encore—not cool. David stops Light On in the beginning when he notices fans with glow sticks. He asks for ALL the venue lights to be turned off and for us to wave glow sticks, cell phones, IPods with his new app (lol) etc. Of course we will David. I take out my cell phone and sway-wave. I'm still obeying his every command. So unlike me! He stops to let us sing to him and we do. “Nice,” he says with his half smile. Right back at ‘ya Cookie.

At the end of Light On as the band leaves the stage during massive applause, the fans shower the stage with their glow sticks. (Later he refers to this act as being "pelted', not "showered." Hopefully he was kidding.) I resist throwing my cell phone. Cookie turns around surprised and confuddled but smiles. The fans "got him." How cute is that? The stomping, cheering, woohooing and yelling for an encore begins. The “Fan Video Dampening Factor” is not a factor since there is nothing on stage to record right now so the decibel level rises incredibly. Molly is down next to me now enjoying the fun. “Do you think they’ll do an encore?” YUP.

Kyle comes out and sits down and starts flailing and wailing on his drums. Could this get any better? Sure – after a kick ass solo out comes Cookie who picks up drumsticks and starts playing one of the snares while Kyle is still playing. The rest of the band starts coming out. Cookie seems to be trying to get them to play the drums too but they seem confused. They take their positions. BAR – BA – SOL!!!!! We have achieved nirvana. They rock even harder than ever. David and Neal play guitar forehead to forehead. Neal is David’s brother from another mother and father it appears. I quick try to think up a cute bromance name for them but epically fail. My brain is on overload. After promising us this wasn’t an American Idol type song, David and the band deliver in spades.

We are stupefied and riding high on the performance we can’t believe we just saw. David calls his band members over to surround him for a bow. Again, they seem confused. The group pics from that moment are some of the best of the night. Hats off to whoever coined "EEB." Kyle stays behind after the others and gives the two pieces of one of his broken drumstics to two fans with a bow. A sweet parting gesture. Seven songs, four of them played live for the first time. We just can’t believe it. Katie turns around and we exchange OMG looks. How fantastic to have experienced it with her.

Part IV: After Party

Annette can go to the after party – they let me in because Annette is my ride. Molly and Katie get left behind! Boo hoo! No David or band at the AP. No one seems to know where they are. No worries. They assailed us with THEIR hearts and souls tonight in the best possible way making it mandatory to receive them with OUR hearts and souls. Time to leave them be so they can do it all again soon. Except it would have been really nice if FoolsApril got her playlist signed!

David Wright comes in and proves again what a class act he is. He is literally pinned against a wall by fans for at least 1.5 hours; taking pics with people, signing autographs and shaking hands with a genuine smile on his face. He seems to be a little older version of kid Angel to me. At one point a woman with a backless dress pulls forward the side of it and asks Wright to sign her body right under her left boob. I wonder how kid Angel would respond. I remember how he flung the panties Cookie tossed to him during the last concert of the tour as if they had plague on them. Somehow Wright manages to pull off the request respectfully--no leering, no suggestive comments, no wandering hands or eyes--just pen to skin, signs, done. He’s 25 years old with his own charitable foundation he started when he was even younger. Go David Wright. You'd make a great rock star.

As for the Cookie fans we entertain ourselves. We connect real names to fan board names. I meet lovely Rachel – one of the Jersey girls. I go up to Stacey, who's rocking a cool fedora, and ask if she remembers me. Her great response, "Green Bay, f*** YEAH!" and gives me a big hug. Conversations with the band members from the VIPs come out from before the show. They are all nicely documented on the boards. Some of the highlights: David, Andy and Neal have a house together. Joey wanted this gig for 6 months once he saw Cookie. He had to learn Light On in two days for a second audition. Kyle knows about his nickname, “Animal,” and corrected a fan that the character comes from “The Muppets” and not “Sesame Street”. He seems not to know what to write for an autograph. Andy explains that they are still not sure about the tour—they want to do colleges, maybe they’ll open for another act. As for David, he was taking care of responsibilities with contributors and sponsors. They are all wonderfully friendly and obliging giving autographs and taking pics.

The professional photographers hired to take shots for the Foundation were there working on their pictures on a laptop. They were the nicest guys. We explain that we are familiar with every Cookie pic ever taken and we know what we like. They let us oggle the pics and give input. “Please keep that one zoomed in on his eyes,” “Can you keep the whole guitar in?” and “Yes, the arms, we love the arms.” They were spectacular pics (they had between 3-4 hundred) and will be coming out on services like Wireimage over the next few days.

One of the photographers tells me he spent time with DC during the summer. He is the one who took the batting cage pictures at the Mets game. He says, "David Cook is the nicest guy I ever met. He is so grounded. I had a great conversation with him about baseball. He is a huge baseball fan. He is such a regular guy. He did awesome in batting practice. He didn't hit one out but he hit several deep into the outfield." He tells us no other artist performing at the Gala in the past has done more than 4 songs. Most have only done 2-3. He's totally impressed with our David - he is Cookified.

We close the place down and Rachel, Annette, and I dance the rest of the night away at a club.

Part V: Epilogue

The next day a sad parting with Annette. I fly home on what feels like my own power. I have 3 seats all to myself so I spread out…since no Internet to play Cookie's album, which is only available through streaming at the time, my laptop is on the left playing kid Angel’s and food and beverages on the right. Archie's vibe is just the ticket to keep air travel angst at bay. Thanks yet again Kid Angel. As for thanking Cookie and the band, there are no words that can express the extent *sniff*. I get home. Katie and Molly forgive me for disappearing into the After Party. Now I am collapsed in a heep on the couch writing this because “Latina” at Yes.com told me I have to. Apparently I do everything she says too!

Suzanne Richter