ClayManiacs

Sometimes change begins with something as simple as a concert ticket.

Clay Aiken brings a special magic to the stage, but the generosity of his fans takes that magic and reflects it out into the world.

Inspired by the Bubel/Aiken Foundation’s vision of inclusion, hundreds of you have joined with us to make a difference. Thanks to your support, we have been able to work with many wonderful organizations to bring a concert experience to individuals who otherwise would never have this opportunity.

Because of your generous donations, 2,602 tickets have been distributed so that individuals with and without disabilities could share the amazing experience of watching Clay perform live in concert!

When we raise our voices together...

               we can make a difference, one concert ticket at a time.

Hot Music Tickets

CLAY AIKEN, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15,Delta Center, SLC. $45-$65.Ticketmaster.

Entertainment Calendar

Midland Theatre, Kansas City, Mo.: MOODY BLUES, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3, $47.50-$57.50. Coming soon: JETHRO TULL, 8 p.m. Nov. 18, $38-$73; CLAY AIKEN, 8 p.m. Nov. 19, $57-$77; INXS, 8 p.m. Feb. 2, $35.50-$67.50. (816) 931-3330. www.ticketmaster.com

Ticket booth
Still available

Singer Clay Aiken brings the "Joyful Noise" tour to the Mid-America Center at 8 p.m. Nov. 18. Tickets are $42.50 to $59.50.

Called "The Second Annual International Cool Survey," the poll covers all the basics — coolest couple, coolest guy celeb, coolest band, and coolest person to be stuck in an elevator with (that person being Clay Aiken), among other categories.

Halloween for the lazy and broke
(snip)

Something I proved to be effective last year is a clever T-shirt. Using kinder wording than I did on the shirt, simply write something and a slang term for a part of the female anatomy. Preferably, choose something obscure that everybody can agree on. Favorites include Clay Aiken, Fall Out Boy and Swedish Prime Minister Göran Persson are all great ideas.

Playing keyboards and guitar that'll give the audience the full Led Zeppelin feel is Paul Hammond. Not only is Hammond a professional musician, but he's also a producer/engineer, songwriter and owner of Fat City Studios in Blue Bell, Pa. He worked with former Hooters member Eric Bazilian on the Clay Aiken 2004 hit "Invisible."

Reverend Horton Heat unwraps a psychobilly Christmas
October 26, 2005 11:42 AM
by Jim Harrington

Clay Aiken, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Brian Setzer should watch their backs. There's a newcomer looking to be crowned king of the holiday concert season, and his name is the Reverend Horton Heat

Music Previews
Idol’s Aiken more than proud to be a mama’s boy
By deena cox

Clay Aiken talks like Dr. Phil, acts like Mister Rogers, and looks like Alfred E. Neuman. He’s the freckle-faced kid from Raleigh, North Carolina, who parlayed a loss on American Idol into a career belting out androgynous love songs, Broadway-style. He is the Barry Manilow of a new generation, adored by a growing army of Claymates and reviled by music critics everywhere. According to a Mike Usinger review of Aiken’s 2004 Xmas album, Merry Christmas With Love, he also bears a passing resemblance to Scut Farkus, the “über-hideous” bully from the cult-classic movie A Christmas Story. In that review, Usinger suggests one way to make the horrendous collection of holiday songs more palatable would be the “mental image of Ralphie Parker taking out Aiken’s eye with a geniune Red Ryder 200-shot Carbine Action Air Rifle”. When told about the write-up, Aiken lowers his annoyingly upbeat facade for just a moment to go Donald Trump on Usinger’s ass, questioning his reputation and suggesting he be fired for taking pot shots at an album that clearly should command the respect of all mankind.

In a conversation punctuated with outbursts of maniacal laughter, rhetorical questions, and more sloppy gushes than a Slurpee machine, Aiken, 27, is clearly most comfortable chatting about his being named the world’s most-beloved reality television star by TV Guide. Or how he’s cast his Grade 9 choir teacher in one of the lead roles in the theatrical component of his upcoming Joyful Noise tour. He’s not terribly interested in talking about music, however. With no new original songs since his post-Idol debut effort, Measure of a Man (2003), Aiken seems unconcerned about milking Merry Christmas With Love for another holiday-season tour.

“Well, we did the Christmas album last year, so why would we do another one?” he quips, on the phone from tour rehearsals in Los Angeles. “We can’t do a new Christmas album every year now, can we? It’s Christmas. Christmas doesn’t change every year, does it? It’s always on the same day—at least it is here in the U.S.”

Claymaniacs will most certainly ensure this tour, which kicks off at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on Wednesday (November 2), will sell out city after city. After all, they seem more taken by Aiken’s twitchy left eye and over-the-top stage presence than his musical chops. Seas of fans swinging, swaying, and screaming as he belts out saccharine versions of “Joy to the World” and “Winter Wonderland” are a residual perk of Aiken entering the industry via a show that is as focused on the personalities of its contestants as it is on their talent, or lack thereof. His continuing success can be attributed to the millions of American Idol votes cast by lonely housewives who saw Aiken as the scrawny little good guy who deserved a break. He could rap about dead puppies and earthworm-flavoured ice-cream while playing a banjo with his dong and these same people would still buy his records and go to his gigs. Aiken is grateful for their unwavering encouragement.

“I could probably sit here and talk to you for an hour and a half about how fortunate I feel, but [my fans], without a doubt, are my favourite thing,” confesses Aiken, who recently started his own foundation to assist kids with developmental disabilities, and currently serves as a UNICEF celebrity ambassador. “They are extremely supportive and sometimes they think they’re my mamas. I get letters saying ‘I’m worried you’re not eating enough, are you getting enough sleep?’ But that’s sort of flattering, too, because it shows how much they care. I can’t complain.”

Here's a link to watch the interview from KTLA:

KTLA (http://ktla.trb.com/)

Sites keep track of which stories get more hits. They see it as an indication of viewer interest in those subjects, and stories that get a lot of hits are more likely to be featured again than stories that get few hits.

So even if you already downloaded the interview, please go to the KTLA site and watch it there. Clay's interview is the first one in the the box labeled "entertainment."

There's one television show that holds a special place in a many reality fans' hearts. Schedules are adjusted, phones get unplugged, and meals are skipped, solely to watch the one show that dominates in reality television: "American Idol."

The concept seems too good to be true. Audition, sing, and if you're good enough, win a million dollar contract and the love of thousands of fans.

Former "Idol" contestants such as Kelly Clarkson, Fantasia Barrino, Clay Aiken, and Carrie Underwood did just that.
<snip>

Here is an e-mail that I just received from my House of Blues contact:

SURE MISSING OUR JAYNE.  HOPEFULLY SHE WILL BE BACK BEFORE WE KNOW IT. 

while playing a banjo with his dong

From the OFC re the Seattle show:

 
Hey Seattle fans: the Seattle Times is having a vote to choose the cover subject for the Nov. 4 entertainment section. Choices: Rob Thomas, Bright Eyes, Clay Aiken, and "Chicken Little". As of 7:00 this AM, "Chicken Little" is winning with 37% and Clay is last with 14%.
Vote at:  (copy and paste into your browser)
 
seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/artsentertainment/

Scroll down the page to get to the poll.
 

10/28/05 / CLAY CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS AVAILABLE ON JN05 TOUR!
Everybody sing-a-long to the tune of 'O Christmas Tree'...here were go:

"O' Christmas Tree, O' Christmas Tree, Clay Aiken's on your branches
O' Christmas Tree, O' Christmas Tree, there are one hundred chances…."

That's right! For serious collectors only! A limited edition of 100 Clay Aiken Christmas ornaments are being produced and customized with date and city for EACH concert date on the Joyful Noise 2005 tour. Each city will have one design available with the tour logo and city/date on the back. If you're going to one of the shows, don't miss your chance to get these collectibles (and trade with friends going to other shows! Hint: Across the entire tour, there will be 8 different ornament designs made available). Make Clay a part of your Christmas holidays for years to come. Find the Clay Aiken ornaments at the merchandise table at each stop on the tour.

P.S. WE HEARD YOU! Many of you have also requested more 'upscale' Clay Aiken merchandise. You'll definitely want to check out the wonderful new pashminas. A 70% cashmere, 30% silk blend, these large black scarves include a beautiful black on black pattern and Clay's autograph in silver thread in one corner. When people ask if you bought it at the upscale department store downtown, won't they be surprised when you say "no, I got it at a Clay Aiken concert". Posted by Team Clay

CLAYONLINE (http://clayonline.sparkart.com/)

Clay will be on The Insider Monday!!!!   

Just saw the preview.....

"Find out why Clay won't be home for Christmas"...I'm sure they will say he'll be on tour, even though he will be home on the 25th.

Woo hooo!!!!!!!!  :purpbana

He could rap about dead puppies and earthworm-flavoured ice-cream while playing a banjo with his dong and these same people would still buy his records and go to his gigs. Aiken is grateful for their unwavering encouragement.

“I could probably sit here and talk to you for an hour and a half about how fortunate I feel, but [my fans], without a doubt, are my favourite thing,” confesses Aiken, who recently started his own foundation to assist kids with developmental disabilities, and currently serves as a UNICEF celebrity ambassador.

“They are extremely supportive and sometimes they think they’re my mamas. I get letters saying ‘I’m worried you’re not eating enough, are you getting enough sleep?’ But that’s sort of flattering, too, because it shows how much they care. I can’t complain.”

But maybe he WON'T be home for Christmas. Maybe there is something in the works we don't know about.......

if he needs a second home, my house is completely free for an extra special holiday visitor   - esp since he's not coming to MI anyway this holiday season...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   

SONGBIRD, aren't you planning to go to the Youngstown, OH concert?  That's probably as close to Detroit as downtown Chicago is to McHenry, IL (my home town!!)---65 miles!!!  You really should reconsider going to Youngstown!  Lots of Michigan Maniacs and even some of the Canadian (Chrisie D and Mrs. C) will be there!  Check it out, girl!!!