SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE

[lorraine]

THAT IS REALLY GREAT NEWS.  OF COURSE WHEN CLAY HEARD WIND OF IT HE CARES ENOUGH ABOUT HIS FANS AND MADE IT RIGHT.


LORRAINE

[playingclay]

Way to go Clay!!
Any bets he was ticked off at somebody for the mess up?

[stellium]

Playing,  I totally agree that Clay was not happy when he heard about the mix-up.

   Can't you hear him getting on the phone to different people in charge of his schedule and saying "FIX THIS !"

[lovinclay]

CLAY ALWAYS SEEMS TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT, DOESN'T HE?

[ClayBuf]

That's our Clay! Fans first. :

I also find it amusing that the TV station helped pay the expenses for the fans' trip to Rockford. It was their promotion, after all.

We all knew this would come to an amiable conclusion. He just never lets us down. 8)

~Buffi

[heater]

We all knew that Clay would go out of his way to right the wrong and he didn't dissapoint!  Way to go Clay!   :D

[Invisible Touch]

I am also impressed that the remedy to this situation was printed in the paper.  Many times it is just the initial bad situation that is reported and then when things get worked out they don't report it.

[stellium]

Invisible Touch,  I agree that we are lucky to have reporter Nick Rogers sympathetic to this situation from the very first,  after he first of all gave us that delightful interview where Clay talked about Kimberley cooking breakfast,  and then he reviewed Clay's concert so glowingly.  

Since then, he has written the page two article about miscommunication being the cause of the mix-up of the meet and greet, and now this follow-up of it being take care of.    So this is his fourth article about Clay in this large state newspaper with a huge circulation in central Illinois.  

  I wrote him and this newspaper twice before all of this by him,  the first time an email to him describing Clay after he announced Clay would be coming to the fair, and the second was my Letter to the Editor that was published in early August urging people to buy tickets for Clay,  giving lots of good things that families would appreicate in his performance.   So I hope I contributed a little to Nick Rogers understanding Clay's loyal and loving fanbase as well as his excellent qualities as a sensitive performer.

[STEPHANIE1130]

clay is great! :D

[sarahdebarah1109]

I'm glad the problem was resolved.  Yay Clay!!

[Pamela]

NUTTER CENTER DAYTON OH REVIEW

To be honest, I went into the Clay Aiken concert Saturday at the Nutter Center not a huge fan. I hadn't caught the American Idol bug when it was going around, and I only knew the words to his single Invisible.

But after Saturday it is easier to understand the Aiken phenomenon: he was charming, had great interaction with his fans, and played music much better than expected.

Though his time on Idol is over, Aiken's career continues, and so does the support of his crazed fans, the "Claymates."

Claymates come in all shapes and sizes, and there were plenty of them. Nutter Center was nearly full. Fans from elementary-school-age children to retirees showed their frenzy for Aiken with signs on neon posters and handmade T-shirts. One group of three young women wore white T-shirts emblazoned with pictures of Aiken and the word "Yummylicious," and matching pink shorts with Aiken's pictures ironed on their backsides. Four women wore neon yellow shirts, with the letters C, L, A, and Y boldly on the front and back.

Aiken pointed out a man in the crowd whose shirt read, "My wife did not drag me here."

One woman held a sign that said she had bet $300 she could get a hug from the singer. In between songs, Aiken hopped off the stage with the help of some security guards, saying "they'll get me back up here somehow!" He walked into the crowd and hugged the elated woman.

His songs were good, too. His nearly two-hour set included his favorites as well as several covers of James Taylor songs.

But it was his interaction with the Claymates that made the evening special. Aiken brought a girl up on stage to be the "dance captain," and presented her with a lei when she left the stage. Next he brought up Megan, a girl about 12, who sang one of his songs, and he joined her in harmony. Before she left the stage, he posed with her for a picture for her mom, who was in the crowd on the floor.

The Claymates went wild from the time when the 24-year-old redhead walked out on stage. In jeans, a casually untucked red striped shirt and a red tie, Aiken flashed a huge smile at the roaring crowd. He was charming, and was definitely a crowd-pleaser.

Aiken sang the title track from his album, Measure of a Man, as well as Run to Me and I Survived You. A typical fan was 9-year-old Fallon Cooper of Centerville: she knew the names of all of the songs and sang along to each one from the stands. She was delighted when Aiken sang her favorite song, Perfect Day.

Aiken's band included two guitar players, a drummer, a keyboardist, and his three backup singers. Toward the end of his concert he sang The Night, "the song that started it all," and showed a video of the highlights of his growing career.

Lastly, he thanked his fans, and sang Invisible. Everyone was on their feet, singing along, and he encored with Solitaire. The Claymates roared as their beloved Aiken descended into the stage on a platform one final time.  
DAYTON DAILY NEWS

[Pamela]

MEMORIAL COLISEUM FT WAYNE IN PREVIEW

Carolina crooner in town tonight

By Steve Penhollow
The Journal Gazette

Clay Aiken is often described as “elfin.”

There was a time when this sort of adjective, when applied to anyone who was not the Elite Modeling Agency’s “Look of the Year” or anyone who was not cheating on Frank Sinatra with Robert Evans (or vice versa), was an automatic insult.

But we live in days when elves are played on screen by dreamboats like Orlando Bloom, so “elfin” is in.

So is Clay Aiken.

He’s a sex symbol, and the unlikeliest one since Dud-ley Moore joined John Gielgud in that big mansion in the sky.

There are people who can’t quite believe Aiken is a sex symbol, but the biggest skeptic by far is Aiken himself.

The thousands of women who scream nightly for the “American Idol” celeb have done little to convince him.

“That does not make me think I’m a sex symbol,” Aiken said, in a phone interview.

“It makes me think, ‘What is wrong with these ladies?’ ”

Aiken performs today at the Memorial Coliseum.

There is little about Aiken’s ascendance that isn’t slightly implausible, except his irrefutable talent.

With his Peter Pan face, his Pee Wee Herman frame, his Richie Cunningham charm and his Anthony Newley voice, Aiken seemed unlikely to survive into the final rounds of the insanely popular and absurdly picky talent showcase.

But Aiken came in second and then proceeded to surpass that season’s winner, Ruben Studdard, in album sales and consumer interest.

There are some fans who still believe a conspiracy was at the heart of Aiken’s silver medal status.

Aiken rubbishes those rumors, however.

“Anyone who was on that show will vouch for the fact that, from our seats, everything was very honest. There was nothing rigged about it

“It was a close call. I kind of say, ‘If it was in the cards for me to win, I would have won.’ In some regards, it was better for me that I didn’t win because the expectations were lower for me.

“I’m proud of him, and he is proud of me. I don’t care whether I won or not.”

Headlining his own tour (something Studdard is also doing, but not without a little gimmickry and added incentive for potential ticket buyers) can hardly be described as a consolation prize for Aiken.

He made the ultimate touring faux pas not too long ago, giving a shout out to South Dakota when he was in North Dakota.

“Hey I’m from North Carolina,” he says, “and if someone had yelled out South Carolina to me, I would have thrown something at him.”

But Aiken has been getting generally good marks from critics for his stage presence, patter and pizazz.

There is nothing like touring the country to help a nascent star understand that his days as a small-town Southern boy are over.

There are few places Aiken can go anymore where he isn’t mobbed.

“It is a little difficult to go out and go shopping,” he said.

“I recently went to a mall in New Hampshire. It had been a long since I’d gone to a mall. It was all right for a while, and then my friend turned to me and said, ‘I think we’re about to wear out our welcome.’ Within minutes, people were chasing us around.

“It is a downside. I talk to my friends back at home, and I tell them, ‘When you’re done with work, you go home. The only time I’m off is when I’m in my house and no one is around.’ ”

Not that Aiken is complaining. In fact, the only time the notoriously nice guy got ever-so-slightly agitated during the interview was when the reporter suggested he might have a legitimate excuse for being not-so-nice to the more insistent type of fan.

“You are making it sound like it’s easier to be rude than be nice,” he said. “You make it sound like being nice takes more effort.”

Being nice takes more effort for most, but it’s clearly a cakewalk for Aiken.

The qualities that have caused all nations to call Aiken blessed were unobstructed by the phone lines: his sweet nature, his “aw shucks” humility, his occasional goof-iness.

And, of course, there’s that laugh: like a flock of shocked chickens bursting from the henhouse.

The laugh erupts when Aiken compares and contrasts the first three seasons of “Idol.”

“Kelly and I both argued about which season was best,” Aiken said, “her season or my season. I’m sure Fantasia (Barrino) would argue that her season was the best.

“But we all know that the only person who is right would be me,” Aiken said.
FT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE

Aiken makes his first solo headlining tour

By Ashley Smith
nsfeatures@news-sentinel.com

Ah, the life of a superstar — screaming fans, million-dollar contracts and sold-out concerts. When the tour bus is your home and the road is your back yard.

“It’s kind of something I’ve gotten used to,” former “American Idol” star Clay Aiken said during a phone interview from Knoxville, Tenn.

The 25-year-old from North Carolina began his rise to fame on the second season of Fox’s popular singing contest. He missed the “American Idol” title by 134,400 votes, but that didn’t stop him from becoming the next big American pop star.

Not only did he grab the interest of the American public, but he also captured the attention of magazines such as Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, Teen People and TV Guide.

His first and only album, “Measure of a Man,” topped The Billboard 200 chart for two consecutive weeks in 2003. His first single, “Bridge Over Troubled Water”/“This is the Night,” certified platinum in less than five weeks, and his newest single, “Solitaire”/“The Way,” did the same, a feat unmatched since Elton John’s “Candle in the Wind 1997.”

The rise to stardom may have come quickly, but not unexpectedly for Aiken and his fellow American Idols.

“(Stardom) was something we kind of expected (with the show),” Aiken said. “The jolt was when we were taken off the show. There were a lot of things to get used to.”

Things such as screaming fans, less anonymity and his first solo headlining tour that rolls into Fort Wayne at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Memorial Coliseum, 4000 Parnell Ave., for a family-friendly performance.

“We’ve got music from the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, ’90s and this decade. It’s got a lot of variety,” Aiken said. “We’ve also got a lot of stuff from the album. We try to make it for everyone in the family.”

His variety has also helped him keep a broader fan base.

“It’s not that we market ourselves to a broader audience,” Aiken said. “It’s a lot of the stuff that I have an opportunity to record . . . it appeases a broader range. It’s one of the things that baffles me all the time.”

With the huge success of his first album, Aiken hopes to begin work on a second album sometime after the completion of his headlining tour.

“We would love (the album) to be out the first half of next year,” Aiken said.

But before he begins work on a new album, Aiken plans to release a Christmas album and an autobiographical inspirational book titled, “Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life” in early November.

“(The book) is an opportunity for me to thank people who have helped make me who I am or who have played a major role (in my life),” Aiken said. “I talked about things that I have gone through with relationships and things that I have learned. You can take different lessons from each experience. It’s just a chance for me to talk about those lessons.”

And for those you of striving to be the next “American Idol,” Aiken has a little advice for you.

“I think you have to go in there and know what you want to do. You can’t go into it not knowing that it’s a competition. Know that you’re there for a purpose.”
FORT WAYNE NEWS SENTINEL

MEMORIAL COLISEUM FT WAYNE IN REVIEW

[Pamela]

COLORADO STATE FAIR PUEBLO CO PREVIEW

COLORADO STATE FAIR PUEBLO CO REVIEW

Aiken leaves faithful crowd wanting more -- originals

by J. Adrian Stanley
Colorado Springs Gazette

Clay Aiken seems like an unlikely star. He's small, shy and just a bit goofy.

But it is these qualities that have made him the darling of his fans.

Aiken has prevailed against the odds, and there is something endearing about his awkwardness in the limelight.

When Aiken took the stage at the Events Center at the Colorado State
Fair, a large crowd was waiting to welcome their hero. Armed with signs and plenty of energy, fans old enough to be grandparents and fans still looking forward to high school flooded the auditorium.

Aiken began with a cover of U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name," that was soulful, if not creative. The cover was followed by "Perfect Day," which Aiken performed with more passion than he does on his album, "Measure of a Man."

Although Aiken's stage presence lacks the style and command of more polished pop artists, his charm and earnest nature earned him plenty of points with the crowd.

What is striking about Aiken is the personal relationship he has with his fans. Aiken paused frequently during the show to tell the audience stories and even chat as if he were sitting with a group of friends.
In fact, Aiken spent almost as much time talking as he did singing.

After the first two songs, Aiken paused to initiate a dancing contest between one of his band members and the audience. The prize?
A lei given to him by fans from Hawaii.

After a couple more songs, including "When You Say You Love Me," Aiken brought a young audience member on stage to sing a duet with him. Like family members at a talent show, the audience cheered the girl on.

Much of the rest of the concert consisted of covers, performed by Aiken, a backup singer or as a duet with a backup singer. It's not surprising that Aiken, who has one album, would rely somewhat on covers, but the extent to which he used others' material is a bit unusual.

Apparently James Taylor's biggest fan, Aiken sang no less than four of the older artist's songs, and his backup singer sang "Your Smiling Face" with enough passion and soul to draw attention from the main attraction.

Aiken's voice is perfectly suited for Taylor's songs. His voice especially shined on "Suzanne," which featured vocal acrobatics at the finale.  [Note: Fire and Rain, sung by Jacob]

Although the audience was eager to hear more material from Aiken's album, the singer's voice was showcased far better by the other material. A cover of "Chain of Fools," done as a duet, was the highlight of his performance, allowing Aiken to extend his voice to its limits.
No link - not online. Transcribed at RHT.com

American Idol Aiken worth the wait for fans

By PETER ROPER
THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN

Sometimes you have to wait on an idol.

But that didn't seem to matter much to Clay Aiken's fans Thursday night as they waited through an unannounced opening act at the Colorado State Fair before their favorite crooner took the stage 45 minutes after the scheduled starting time.

The crowd of more than 4,400 waited patiently through an opening band called Ben Jelen - a four-member group which delivered a series of plodding songs - until the Events Center lights went off again, signaling Aiken's arrival.

And Aiken didn't disappoint - particularly the many young women who were on their feet cheering from the moment he came down the flashing steps of his stage set to sing U2’s “Where the Streets Have No Name.”

Aiken, who launched his singing career with a second-place finish on the television program "American Idol," is riding a wave of popularity based on his CD titled "The Measure of a Man."

The proof of that were the screams from the crowd that greeted Aiken's first image Thursday night. Before he sang a note in person, the crowd sat through a video of Aiken plugging a new Disney version of the Aladdin movie, the proceeds from which will benefit handicapped children. And then Clay came down the stairs and the concert was off .Ê.Ê. although it would be a short one. Aiken was scheduled to sing for just an hour.
PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN

Clay Conquers Colorado

by Betty Jo Tucker

An article about Clay Aiken on a movie-related site? Sure. After all, Aiken will be singing “Proud of Your Boy” in a new DVD version of Walt Disney’s Aladdin scheduled for release in October. Approximately 5000 fans cheered a commercial for this DVD as it played on giant TV screens before their American Idol finally appeared at his Colorado State Fair concert on September 2, 2004.

Emerging from a tunnel covered with flashing lights, Aiken charmed the screaming audience with his unique voice -- which someone once called a wonder of nature. Selections ranged from ballads like “Measure of a Man” to a spirited medley of songs by James Taylor. But he saved the best for last. As an encore, Aiken stood in the spotlight on an otherwise darkened stage and sang his heart out in a dramatic rendition of “Solitaire.”  That’s the Clay Aiken I love the most -- no flashing lights, no one else on stage, no choreography. Just a man and his song.

In between numbers, Aiken projected his trademark friendliness as he thanked all his fans or joked about the many “I love Clay” signs raised in his honor (“Yours is upside down”) or complimented his talented back-up singers, band members and production crew. When introducing two youngsters chosen to sing and dance with him, he appeared genuinely interested in their performances.    

It’s a treat to watch Aiken’s fans. They come from all age groups. Gazing around the audience at the Events Center, I saw middle-aged folks, twentysomethings, senior citizens, teenagers, and pre-teens wearing “Clay Aiken” T-shirts or sporting “Clay Aiken” buttons. Aiken is truly an artist who has broken through the age barrier with his inter-generational appeal.      

Because my husband and I are avid Aiken fans ourselves, we were thrilled to attend this concert. In fact, we ordered our tickets on the very first day they became available. I stayed on the phone for hours to get the best seats possible. The Events Center at the Colorado State Fair offers seating on the floor of the Center and in the bleachers surrounding the floor. I asked for seats fairly close to the stage in the floor section, and that was a big mistake. Aiken’s most enthusiastic fans seemed to be sitting in that section, but they really weren’t “sitting” (except through the Ben Jelen opening band act).  They stood up during Aiken’s entire program! So, in order to see what was going on, we had to do the same. Although I suffered a back ache the next morning, who cares? That's a small price to pay for such an entertaining evening.
REEL TALK REVIEWS

[Pamela]

NEW MEXICO STATE FAIR ALBUQUERQUE NM PREVIEW

'Idol' Star Clay Aiken is Still Baffled by Fame

By Leanne Potts
Journal Staff Writer

Nice guys don't always finish last. In Clay Aiken's case, the nice guy finished second— and still ended up on top.

Aiken, the elfin runner-up from season 2 of the reality show "American Idol," turned out to have as much star power as rotund winner Ruben Studdard. The former special education teacher from North Carolina has seen his debut album "Measure of a Man" go platinum, inspired a slew of worshipful Web sites dedicated to following his every move and has a legion of smitten female fans who call themselves "Claymates."

The 25-year-old also has been on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, and he is in the middle of his third national tour. He will play at the New Mexico State Fair tonight.

Aiken called last week from Buffalo, N.Y., to chat about all things Clay. Here is an edited version of his comments.

On his being named the sexiest male singer of the year by the readers of InStyle magazine:

I don't know what's going on with people! Two years ago, people didn't even know my name. People didn't even pay attention to me. I don't get it. I really don't. It's very confusing to me. I think it's a joke half the time. I saw that thing (about being named the sexiest singer) and I thought I was being punked.

On why so many women are so crazy about him:
It's my musk, I think. Make sure you quote me on that.

On the instant celebrity that resulted from "American Idol":
It's something that takes a lot of getting used to, and I'm not quite there yet. Not long ago I would have been able to go anywhere. Now just to go to the grocery store or the bank or the gas station is quite a procedure. If I want to do something I have to get a security guy to get prepared for this and that and the other, and to get the car ready.

I'm still definitely not used to going out to dinner and having five people come up and interrupt dinner. It puts you in a tough spot, because I have to realize if it wasn't for these people asking for my autograph, I would never be here.

On keeping in touch with his "Idol" competitors:
I talk to Ruben about once a month. He's doing a gospel album right now. Kim Locke is my roommate in L.A. I talk to the others whenever I get the opportunity, so we kind of stay in touch. We're kind of a family. We worked together. We lived together. We went through the same stuff. We'll stay close forever, I'm sure.

On the waning popularity of "Idol" in its most recent season:
I'd like to think it's because the talent wasn't as good. I'm kidding. I think a lot of it is based on who the contestants are— not whether they can sing or not, but who they are. Ruben and I, our finale— I'm not trying to toot my own horn here— but it was much more suspenseful than either of the other seasons. Season 1, it was very obvious that Kelly was going to win it. Season 3, it was obvious Fantasia was going to take it. Next season, season 4, if they can pull two people in it who are neck and neck at the finale, they'll do just as well.

On whether or not he would do "Idol" again:
Hmmmmm. I'm happy. I do love what I'm doing. I do miss being a teacher. I do miss North Carolina. I do miss having that freedom that comes with being unknown.

I kind of like to think that I'm here for a higher purpose than my own stuff. I talk to people every night who said that this song made a difference to them, or that song did something for them. If I think about it that way, it would be selfish to say I wouldn't do it again.

I have to remember who put me here, and why I'm here, and what I need to do in order to make God happy, and to make the public happy. I have to realize there's probably more good coming out of me signing 10 autographs at dinner than I know.
No link - Albequerque Journal - subscription required.

NEW MEXICO STATE FAIR ALBUQUERQUE NM REVIEW

[Pamela]

RELIANT PARK HOUSTON TX PREVIEWS

Clay Aiken's voice bigger than his self-esteem

By JOEY GUERRA

Its OK to be a loser sometimes. Just ask Clay Aiken.

The Raleigh, N.C., native narrowly missed clinching the American Idol 2 title from Ruben Studdard by 130,000 (out of more than 25 million) votes. Since then, Aiken's success has equaled -- or surpassed -- that of Idol alumni Studdard, Kelly Clarkson, Tamyra Gray and poor, poor Justin Guarini.

Aiken's first post-Idol release, This Is the Night/Bridge Over Troubled Water, was the only platinum-certified single of 2003. It spent 11 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles Sales chart.

His debut album, Measure of a Man, sold 613,000 right out of the gate, the highest first-week total for a new artist in more than 10 years. (Snoop Dogg matched that figure in 1993). The album has moved more than 2 million copies since its October 2003 release.

On top of that, Aiken was named one of People magazine's sexiest men alive and one of Rolling Stone's People of the Year. He also co-headlined the wildly successful Independent tour with fellow Idol Clarkson earlier this year. Aiken's current solo tour touches down Tuesday at Reliant Arena.

Not bad for a self-professed nerd who doesn't understand what all the fuss is about.

"Lord! I would not get that worked up over me at all. It's all very baffling to me," says Aiken, 25. "I guess that's why it's so hard to wrap my mind around it when people are waiting outside the venue after a concert and cheering. I'm amazed that they're actually doing that because I would never do it. I especially wouldn't do it for some skinny little dork."  
 
Self-esteem issues notwithstanding, Aiken's appeal lies in his ability to offer a little something for everyone. His clean-cut looks make him an ideal pin-up for excitable teens, while his aw-shucks image and soaring voice endear him to mothers and grandmothers.

"Luck. That's all I can figure," Aiken says about his cross-generational appeal.

But much of it has to do with Aiken's effortless genre-switching on Idol, during which he credibly tackled big-band, country and pop classics. He was one of the few contestants who seemed at ease almost every week.

Measure seems designed to make the most of that audience. Hit singles Invisible, I Will Carry You and The Way are poppy enough to attract the TRL set and appropriately breezy for the older, at-work crowd.

Aiken promises more variety next time around. He plans to release a new album next year.

"This last album I like everything on it, really, but a lot of the songs are kind of sappy, heartbreak songs. I don't need to keep oozing heartbreak," Aiken says. "I think I'd like to find some stuff that's a little more upbeat and up-tempo and also a little more positive."

Also on tap is a Christmas album and Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life, a book of inspirational thoughts and musings Aiken says have helped him reach a peaceful place in his life. Publishers were initially interested in an autobiography or a behind-the-scenes Idol story, but Aiken balked. He eventually came up with the inspirational book idea.

Aiken sees the project as an extension of the Bubel/Aiken Foundation, which he founded to help children with developmental disabilities. Aiken has a degree in special education and was a camp counselor/substitute elementary school teacher prior to his musical success.

For now, Claymates (as Aiken's most rabid fans call themselves) will have to make do with seeing their idol up close and personal onstage. Aiken's tour runs through October, and he pads his shows with covers of songs by U2, soft-rock outfit Orleans and Christian-pop phenom Avalon.

You can expect the night to be an all-out squealfest. Has Aiken ever been as star-struck as his fans are about him?

"I guess I got a little star-struck when I met Oprah because she's the media giant. I don't think I could ever get star-struck about anybody else," Aiken says. "I think I was ... You know, I think I ... gosh. I guess that answer is no."

Spoken like a true dork.
HOUSTON CHRONICLE

Next time you're looking to burn a couple of work hours tooling around on the Web, do yourself a favor and double click a few Clay Aiken fan sites. Any one will do -- www.aikenforclay.com, www.forever-clay.tk -- even the tragically misnamed and misleading www.claymatesmansion.com. Each of them offers insight into a world of unabashed dork-worship so utterly devoted it makes a Trekkie convention look as hip as the crowd at a Franz Ferdinand show. On these sites you can browse through the "Dictionary of Claybonics," which -- much like Klingon -- is a made-up language. "Claymaniacs" insert the singer's name into everyday words to alter their meanings. (Example: Anticlaymatic -- When everything seems disappointing in contrast to seeing or hearing Clay.)

Once that gets boring, surf over to www.claytonaiken.com/readingroom and try the Claykespeare's Midsummer Night's Claydream link. There you can peruse Clay-related original poetry, prose, journal entries and artwork by these nuts. Stories run the gamut from the twisted Kidnapping Clay by Clayfan#1 to the well-intentioned but unfortunately titled Number Two by Beth. If you're worried about being caught by office Internet activity tracking, don't be. Females can expect to be pitied by their higher-ups, who will let it slide. Males? Your suspected insanity will render supervisors impotent. If worse comes to worst and someone does push the issue, just tell them you're seeking help for your addiction in Alclayholics Anonymous.

Tuesday, September 7, at Reliant Arena, 8400 Kirby, 713-629-3700.
HOUSTON PRESS

RELIANT PARK HOUSTON TX REVIEWS

[Pamela]

NOKIA LIVE GRAND PRAIRIE TX PREVIEWS

Mr. Heartthrob himself seems puzzled by the adulation

Tuesday, September 7, 2004
By DARLA ATLAS / The Dallas Morning News

Sinatra. Elvis.

Clay.

To the rabid fans of American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken, that progression is not a stretch. And his magnetism seems to be growing. The North Carolina redhead, who will be in North Texas for a show Sep. 8, was named sexiest male singer this month in an In Style magazine readers' poll, beating out more conventional hotties Usher and Justin Timberlake. That doesn't surprise Annette Knecht, a 48-year-old Arlington resident and executive director of Texas Clay Fans.

"It's like there's a glow about him that draws us," says Ms. Knecht, who spends about six hours a day working on her fan Web site and other projects on Mr. Aiken's behalf. Since early 2003, when she and the other Claymates first saw him on Idol, "we knew he was the next Frank Sinatra, the next Elvis Presley, that he could change everything."

Mention this to Mr. Heartthrob himself and he laughs. Uproariously.

"Lord, no!" Mr. Aiken says in recent phone interview to promote his concert tour, which comes to the Nokia Theatre at Grand Prairie tonight. "Let's be real: Elvis and Clay Aiken? No."

Pressed to come up with comparisons – what about his onstage charisma? – he says, "We're both Southerners. We have that in common." He thinks some more, then laughs and says, "I'm done."

But that humility is part of his appeal, of course. Mr. Aiken, 25, refuses to cop an egotistical attitude, preferring to stay the same guy he's always been.

As for his ever-shrieking fans, "I really don't get it," he says. "The more people scream for me, the more I think it's a joke."

It's no joke. Ms. Knecht, a married grandmother who works part time for AT&T Wireless, says she and her cohorts "are dedicated to 'Clayverting' people every day. As long as we're devoted and dedicated to what we're doing, he'll continue to make it big."

Why is this important to her? For one, she says Mr. Aiken's music brings her joy. She also appreciates that he's squeaky clean.

"Instead of listening to a song where every word is a curse word, there's a light at the end of the tunnel," she says. "Clay is our light."

While Mr. Aiken appreciates the support, the adoration can be a little overwhelming. Although one of his friends from back home is on the road with him, Mr. Aiken says they have trouble finding things to do in his free time.

"If we go to the mall, it's a big deal; if we go to the movies, it's this big production," he says. "Unless I'm in a fat suit and completely disguised, I'll get recognized."

If fans do spot him, he has but one request: Don't call him Clayton.

That's the name he went by before his fame, he says: "I kind of save it for my mom and the friends who were there before this whole thing happened."

Speaking of those friends, he says he has a rule for them, too: Don't get all weird.

"The only ones I hang out with are the ones who won't treat me any differently," he says. "Actually, my best friends don't even ask me about it anymore. They'll just call and say, 'Hey, I'm having a computer problem – can you help?'"

There's something even Elvis couldn't do.
DALLAS NEWS (registration required)

NOKIA LIVE GRAND PRAIRIE TX REVIEWS

Fans true to Aiken at Idol turned pop star's Nokia show

By DARLA ATLAS / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News

Clay Aiken fans, in a way, are a lot like Grateful Dead fans.

While they don't partake of mind-altering substances or practice free love, they do follow their leader across the country and back, some reportedly seeing their idol 70 times in the past year. That was evident at Mr. Aiken's concert Wednesday night at Nokia Theatre, where devotees - many of child-bearing-or-beyond years - filled the arena almost to capacity....

The ex-dweeb commanded the stage with confidence in his two-part set, which was a bit flashier than his appearance here last spring when he co-headlined with Kelly Clarkson. Opening with "Where the Streets Have No Name," he then peppered his act with lots of laid-back, personal chatter with the crowd....unscripted chattiness was a big part of the show. At one point, Mr. Aiken even showed home movies of himself and the crew screaming during a catapult ride at Six Flags Over Texas.

But there was also singing to be done. Mr. Aiken's booming, buttery voice was in fine form during his show, which included "Measure of a Man," "Kyrie," "Perfect Day" and "I Survived You," the latter of which he poured his heart into. Afterward, the crowd roared its support.

His onstage appeal went beyond the voice -- his talent alone is not what has these women racking up their frequent-flier miles. It's the voice, the sense of humor, the I'm-a-good-guy charitable soul and the cutie-pie face, topped with his secret weapon: the heavily lidded gaze. Mix it all together, and it can get the butterflies stirring.

And for his most devoted fans, the effect is as powerful the first time as it is the 70th.
DALLAS NEWS (registration required)

Feat of Clay: Aiken's Nokia performance has audience singing along

By Stefan Stevenson
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

Early in his performance at Nokia Live on Wednesday night, Clay Aiken showed why the crowd of 3,500 in attendance and millions around the world have taken to the American Idol alum so strongly.

He's at ease onstage, with banter that seems genuine and heartfelt. He offers no put-upon pop star poses. Oh, and he can sing.

The crowd was made up of mostly females of all ages. There were some men, too, including some devoted husbands and cool dads sprinkled throughout.

By the uplifting finale Solitaire, they were all singing along, or at least tapping their toes.

Aiken appeared from beneath the middle of the stage as a riser lifted and floodlights backlit his entrance for his show-opening version of U2's Where the Streets Have No Name. Wearing a blue button-down dress shirt (untucked, of course), a loosely tied orange tie and gray slacks, Aiken strolled the stage, reading poster-board signs that fans held up while he belted out songs from his album Measure of a Man, such as Shine, When You Say You Love Me and I Will Carry You.

Aiken set the tone early when he challenged the audience to be louder and better dancers than his previous audience in Houston.

Halfway through When You Say You Love Me a young woman appeared onstage dancing enthusiastically. She was celebrating her 18th birthday and trying to prove Dallas-Fort Worth had the better dancers. Meanwhile, Aiken and his three backup singers and five-man band could hardly finish the song they were laughing so hysterically. The crowd loved it. And the birthday girl got a big hug from Aiken, a big ovation and a Clay Aiken thong.

Aiken's performance was undeniably charming, even if '80s-style power ballads are not your thing. His stage presence and good-natured ribbing of his bandmates kept the show loose and fun.

Opening singer-songwriter Ben Jelen and his three-piece band provided a more somber, edgier contrast to Aiken's upbeat set with piano and acoustic-guitar-driven songs. His take on Tracy Chapman's Talkin' 'Bout a Revolution fit in well with his own material, such as Come On from his debut album Give It All Away.
DALLAS FT WORTH TELEGRAM

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[Pamela]

KANSAS STATE FAIR HUTCHISON KS PREVIEWS

Clay Aiken: Electric interview

A lightning-fast talker and a self-proclaimed big nerd, Clay Aiken is bringing his solo act to the Kansas State Fair

By Jan Biles
The Capital-Journal

Multiplatinum recording artist Clay Aiken talks at the speed of lightning.

In 10 minutes -- and speaking with a Southern drawl that surely helped him win InStyle magazine's "Sexiest Singer" title -- the 25-year-old pop star will give you the scoop on his 50-stop solo tour; his inspirational memoir, "Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life," out this fall; his untitled Christmas CD, also out this fall; and the Bubel Aiken Foundation, which he founded a year ago to provide opportunities to bring together typical children with children who have developmental disabilities.

A self-professed nerd from North Carolina, he'll tell you about one of the things he does that drives his tour mates crazy. And he'll dispel rumors: No, he hasn't done any screen tests for the movie version of "Rent."

Aiken, who has moved beyond his "American Idol" roots and seems unaffected by his celebrity, also has a reputation for having a wicked sense of humor. Aiken will appear Sept. 10 at Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson.

Here are excerpts of an interview done before his Aug. 19 concert in Buffalo, N.Y.

How would you size up (the tour) so far? What's been the biggest challenge for you?

I think there's a lot of pressure that goes with being on your own. I had a whole bunch of other people with me on the "(American) Idol" tour obviously. Then with Kelly (Clarkson), it was just she and I, so if something went wrong, I could always blame it on her. (Laughs.) Being on your own, all the pressure's on you, right? So if I mess up, it's all my fault.

You do the same material most every night. How do you keep the performances fresh for you, and the backup singers and the band?

Well, usually I make fun of them onstage. (Laughs.) ... We change the songs up a little bit, too. We've been on the road for a little over a month. ... We just added a new song this week ("Chain of Fools"). It, you know, keeps it fresh and new when it's something kind of different.
 
Let me ask you about the book that's coming out this fall, "Learning to Sing."

Well, I kind of had the opportunity to start to work on it about a year ago. ... I kind of put it off. I didn't want to do a book about a biography or a behind-the-scenes process of "Idol." And so I wanted to make sure we had a real thing to write about, something that was worthwhile. Allison (Glock, with Elle magazine,) came out a few times when we were on tour, and she kind of helped me piece it together.

What do you hope people learn from it?
 
You know, I think a lot of people have similar experiences in their life. ... There are people who are stepchildren. There are people who were picked on when they were in school. I was one of those. It's just an opportunity for me to kind of share those experiences and what I've learned. I had a mother and a lot of other friends and family who were big on making sure I took the positive lesson from everything.
 
The Christmas CD's coming out. Describe that, and does this mean we'll see you on a lot of holiday specials this season?
 
It's a very classic Christmas album. We didn't want to do anything that would be dated in a few years. I'm sure I'll be on some specials ... at least on "Good Morning America" and that type of stuff.
 
Let's talk about the foundation. A year now in existence. What would you like to see happen in the second year?
 
You know, it's really exciting to see (our) camp programs (for typical kids and kids with disabilities) that are being successful in Kansas City, and in Charlotte and in Raleigh (N.C.). ... We've had success with Youth Service America, giving out grants to individuals with disabilities who are giving their time and their effort to help to do community service projects in their communities. That's been exciting to watch. There's just been so much more success in one year than I ever thought there would be. Of course, I'd love to see that continue to grow.
 
You've said you're, you know, a big nerd. So what's the nerdiest thing you've done lately?
 
Oh, lord. The nerdiest thing I do traditionally is ... when we get to a city, I usually grab the magazine in the hotel room. You know, there's a visitor magazine that tells a bunch of stuff about the town? ... I always do the research on the town. I want to know when it was founded and how it got its name. I want to know all that sort of stuff (laughs), and then when we get on the bus, I tell everybody. (Laughs.)
TOPEKA CAPITAL JOURNAL

Edited to add the text of the full interview.

Aiken goes one-on-one

By Jan Biles
The Capital-Journal

Here is a transcript of the interview done with singer Clay Aiken before his concert Aug. 19 in Buffalo, N.Y.:

Aiken: Hello?
C-J: Hey, Clay, how ya doing?

Aiken: Is this Jan?
C-J: It is.

Aiken: How are ya?
C-J: I'm OK. How are you?
Aiken: Pretty good.

C-J: Where are you calling from today?
Aiken: Ohhhh, Buffalo, N.Y.

C-J: Buffalo, OK. Well, I want to ask you about the tour, and the book, and the new CD, and all of this sort of stuff.
Aiken: OK.

C-J: Now, the tour's about halfway through, right?
Aiken: Right, I think we're right at the halfway mark.

C-J: How would you size it up so far? What's been the biggest challenge for you?
Aiken: I think there's a lot of pressure that goes with being on your own, to some extent. ... On the two other tours -- I had a whole bunch of other people with me on the "Idol" tour obviously. Then with Kelly, it was just she and I, so if something went wrong, I could always blame it on her. (Laughs.) Being on your own, all the pressure's on you, right? So if I mess up, it's all my fault. There's a lot of pressure to make sure everything's (going right).

C-J: Now, the Topeka concert was canceled and, of course, we were all upset over that. But your ticket sales have been going pretty well, haven't they?
Aiken: To the most part, yeah. We've had a lot of success. We're doing the show in Hutchinson at the state fair.
C-J: Right.
Aiken: So I think that had a little to do with why sales in Topeka we're not so hot. We actually had initially scheduled two shows in North Dakota, two shows in Kansas, and some of the more rural, smaller states have trouble selling two shows.

C-J: So I was wondering, you do the same material most every night --
Aiken: That's right.

C-J: So how do you keep the performances fresh for you, and the backup singers and the band?
Aiken: Well, usually I make fun on them onstage. (Laughs.) Just last night, we were driving to Toronto to see a friend of mine from "Idol" -- she was Vanessa Olivarez, from the top 12 of my season of "Idol." She's the lead in "Hairspray" in Toronto. So I thought I'd drop by and see her up there.

And Quiana (Parlor), one of the singers from the show with me, we were driving up to the Canadian border, and she said: "Oh, I don't have my passport. They're not going to let me through. They're not going to let me through." And I said, "Well, you don't need a passport to get into Canada, you just have to have your ID." And so she was like, "Yeah, you do." And I said, "You'll see. You don't worry about it, you'll be fine." And she said, "What about when we go to New Mexico this summer, are we going we have to use a passport?" I said, "You've got to be kidding me. We don't need a passport there." (Laughs) So I make fun on them onstage.

We change the songs up a little bit, too. We've been on the road for a little over a month, about a month and half now. I kind of try to -- we just added a new song this week ("Chain of Fools") that Quiana and I sing on the show. ... So the show changes every night to the most part. We rarely do the same show every night simply because it, you know, keeps it fresh and new when it's something kind of different.

C-J: Well, let me ask you about the book that's coming out this fall, "Learning to Sing." You've been working with Allison Glock with that, is that right?
Aiken: Right.

C-J: Tell me about the process of writing this book. When in the heck did you find time to do it in the first place?
Aiken: Well, I kind of had the opportunity to start to work on it about a year ago. ... I kind of put it off. I didn't want to do a book about a biography or a behind-the-scenes process of "Idol." And so I wanted to make sure we had a real thing to write about, something that was worthwhile. So we started the whole process -- started working on it in April. And, yeah, there's not too much free time involved.

So I'd think about working on some stuff, and then Allison would come out. Allison came out a few times when we were on tour, and she kind of helped me piece it together. A lot of the stuff that I had was in the wrong places and didn't flow so well, kind of a bunch of crazy thoughts here and there, kind of mushed together and it didn't flow at all. So she would come out, she came out a few times, and, you know, (her) expertise in writing kind of helped me get it all in order.

C-J: OK, so she helped with organizing and ...
Aiken: Well, she helped with writing, as well.

C-J: What do you hope people take from the book, you know, after they've read it? What do you hope they learn from it?

Aiken: I kind of feel like it's an opportunity for me to share some experiences. You know, I think a lot of people have similar experiences in their life. ... There are people who are stepchildren. There are people who were picked on when they were in school. I was one of those. It's just an opportunity for me to kind of share those experiences and what I've learned.

I had a mother and a lot of other friends and family who were big on making sure I took the positive lesson from everything, whether it was good or bad.

It's just a chance for me to talk about that, and if people come away from it saying, "You know what? That's the same thing I went through, and I can learn the same thing and that's a good way to look at things," then great. If they can read it and think it's funny and entertaining and like to find out a little more information about me, that's fine with me.

C-J: OK. Is this something you think you'd like to do more of in the future -- writing books?
Aiken: Writing?

C-J: Yeah.
Aiken: It's not so easy (laughs), not at all, so I don't know whether it's something in the near future, you know. Maybe in 30 years, if I do have a biography, we'll put it together, but right now I don't think so.

C-J: The Christmas CD's coming out. Describe that a little bit, and does this mean we'll see you on a lot of holiday specials this season?
Aiken: The Christmas CD, we have to finish. We have to do a few more songs on it at the end of the month. We just have to finish wrapping it up and put a lid on it. It's a very classic Christmas album. We didn't want to do anything that would be dated in a few years, like with a lot of original stuff, lots of original production. It's very classic, with orchestral arrangements ... compare it to an Andy Williams' type album that can be sold year after year, you know, and people can put it on and it feels like Christmas and feels like the holiday.

And so, that's what we've done. ... I'm sure I'll be on some specials every once in awhile, at least on "Good Morning America" and that type of stuff. Other than that, I'm not really sure what's in the works. All that stuff kind of comes with when the album comes out and you see what's available.

C-J: OK. I also wanted to ask about your relationship with Disney. I know they're sponsoring the tour and you've got the "Aladdin" DVD coming out. Do you have other projects in the works with Disney?
Aiken: Right now, the biggest project we have with them is their sponsorship of, their work with the foundation. They're partnering with the foundation on some of our initiatives and helping us get the word out, helping us do quite a bit of marketing with the media, strategizing I guess, to make sure we get the information out about the Bubel Aiken Foundation and some of our stuff.

They partnered with the tour -- with the foundation first actually, sorry, and then with the tour second after I sang the song on the "Aladdin" CD, or DVD, sorry. So right now, that's all that we have in the works. You know, if there's something I'd love to do at one point and if they're ever interested in wanting to see me voice some character from a movie, maybe I'd do it.

C-J: Well, speaking of movies, you know, there's some rumors out there that you've done some screentests for "Rent" and ...
Aiken: There's a lot of rumors.

C-J: Yeah.
Aiken: You are the biggest person I've spoken to in months on rumors. (Laughs.) ... I mean, I've heard the rumor, but there's no truth to it.

C-J: There's no truth to the fact that you are involved in any movies?
Aiken: Not right now.

C-J: OK, all right.
Aiken: Now, maybe in the future, I'd love to do it. Right now, I've been on tour. I've been on the road.

C-J: OK, well, let's talk about the foundation. A year now in existence, and it's done wonderfully. What would you like to see happen in the second year?
Aiken: You know ... it's really exciting to see (our) camp programs that are being successful in Kansas City, and in Charlotte and in Raleigh. And next year, we're signed up (to be in) other cities. Miami is one of them, one of the places where we could work with the foundation's summer camp program. We've had success with Youth Service America, giving out grants to individuals with disabilities who are giving their time and their effort to help to do community service projects in their communities. That's been exciting to watch.

There's just been so much more success in one year than I ever thought there would be. Of course, I'd love to see that continue to grow. I'd love to see that continue and then flourish and be successful, for obvious reasons.

I think it would be wonderful -- you know, I don't know how long I'll be doing this singing thing. I'm enjoying it and would love to do it as long as people let me, but I'm not so sure that I'll be doing it for 30 years. The foundation, what I'd love to see happening, is for it to kind of spread its own wings and take on a life of its own. And, therefore, in 30 years if I'm not, (or) in two years if I'm not doing this, that it will be able to be successful.

Aiken's personal assistant interrupts, saying there's time for one more question.

C-J: OK. Well, this is a silly question, all right?
Aiken: OK.

C-J: You've said that you're ...
Aiken: You're wasting your last question on a silly question?

C-J: This is a silly question, yes.
Aiken: (Laughs.)

C-J: I won't ask about InStyle, OK?
Aiken: (Laughs.)

C-J: Here's the silly question. You've said you're, you know, a big nerd, so what's the nerdiest thing you've done lately?
Aiken: Oh, lord. The nerdiest thing done lately, what is the nerdiest thing I've done. The nerdiest thing I do traditionally is -- everyone always makes fun of me about stuff -- when we get to a city, I usually grab the magazine in the hotel room. You know, there's a visitor magazine that tells a bunch of stuff about the town?

C-J: Right.
Aiken: I always do the research on the town. I want to know when it was founded and how it got its name. I want to know all that sort of stuff (laughs), and then when we get on the bus I tell everybody. And they get tired of that. (Laughs) So we know Buffalo ...

C-J: Thank you so much, Clay.
Aiken: You're quite welcome, and thank you.
TOPEKA CAPITAL JOURNAL

Clay Aken headlines grandstand acts at the Kansas State Fair
By Joyce Hall

Clay Aiken is having a spectacular year. His debut album, "Measure of a Man," has reached double platinum status.

Aiken, who is in his first ever headlining tour this summer, is humbled by all the attention.
"It's been pretty hectic," he said. "It's hard to believe it's only been a year."
Aiken, 25, will be the first performer at the 2004 Kansas State Fair at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 10.

(snip)

It's been an amazing journey for the man born Nov. 30, 1978, in Raleigh, N.C. Aiken's musical talent was evident when he was just 3 years old. His mother, Faye, worked at the local Sears. Aiken was paid a dollar to stand up on the carpet samples and sing a song.
He grew up with an older brother, a younger brother and a younger sister, listening to the oldies and country radio stations that his mother liked. At age 7, he pasted a penny to a coupon and sent it away for 12 albums from a record club. His mother let him keep the Crystal Gayle LP, which he played on the Fisher-Price record player in his room, along with the first single he bought, "Meet Me in Montana" by Marie Osmond and Dan Seals.
His love for music and singing led him to join the Raleigh Boys Choir. By seventh grade he had joined his school choir. When that wasn't enough, he won roles in high school musicals, along with a dinner theater stint one summer.

(snip)

His meteoric rise to stardom continues at a hot pace. He is recording a holiday-themed CD, to be released for Christmas 2004.
With an easygoing charm, this honey-sweetened tenor has been obviously popular. He's still adjusting to a pretty hectic lifestyle and life on the road in a tour bus. Home for Aiken is Los Angeles, where he lives with his dog, Raleigh, a border terrier.

"I have tried to stay the same person," he said. "But now I'm more aware of my surroundings. It's different having to worry about being out in the public."

For now, Aiken will continue performing his songs that he said appeal to all ages - as long as his fans are happy.

"This is where God put me," he said.
No link. Transcribed at The Clackhouse.

KANSAS STATE FAIR HUTCHISON KS REVIEWS

The "American Idol" runner-up ranks first with the thousands who make a pilgrimage to the State Fair to exalt him.

BY DENISE NEIL
The Wichita Eagle

HUTCHINSON - Don't tell Chris Self that Clay Aiken didn't win "American Idol."

Paying for $50 worth of T-shirts and programs at Aiken's Kansas State Fair concert on Friday, Self, a 34-year-old teacher from Lawrence, was still steaming.

The voting on the televised talent show is flawed, she said. Fans can't get through on the phone lines to vote for their favorite singers. She's even started an online petition in hopes of getting the system changed.

But on Friday night, Self was on a different crusade.

"My life's goal is to get my picture taken with Clay," said Self, admitting her chances didn't look too good.

Self was one of 4,595 Clay Aiken fanatics who crowded into the State Fair's grandstand for the singer's opening-night concert. The show could be heard across the fairgrounds, from the swine barn to the midway.

Aiken rose to pop stardom after finishing second on the second season of the popular Fox show "American Idol." A little bit geeky but a little bit cool, Aiken's every-guy appeal has since earned him more fans and more financial success than the show's winner, Ruben Studdard.

Studdard performed at the Wichita River Festival in May.

On Friday, Aiken's fans -- the majority of them families and women ages 30 to 60 -- screamed with delight at the site of the spiky-topped redhead.

He emerged ontothe stage from behind a set of stairs that rose up like a garage door. Aiken immediately set the tone for his cover-heavy show by opening with the U2 hit, "Where the Streets Have No Name."

The rest of Aiken's performance was as engaging as his voice was strong and clear. In between songs, the personable star chatted up the audience.

At one point, he invited an audience member -- Annie from Salina -- onstage to see whether she could out-dance the crowd members he'd just seen at Iowa's state fair.

"Your dancer beat Iowa's dancer," he said afterward. "You're on your way to Midwest domination."

Aiken also invited a pre-auditioned audience member on stage to sing a duet with him. The winner was a 62-year-old woman from Midwest City, Okla., who sang in perfect pitch with Aiken, much to the crowd's delight.

He also regaled the audience with tales of his Thursday night outing to P.F. Chang's restaurant in Wichita and showed footage of himself shot last week when he visited Six Flags Over Texas.

In between goofing around, he found time to perform a few songs from his album, "Measure of A Man," including "I Will Carry You," "When You Say You Love Me" and "Perfect Day."

Wichitan Jackie Palmer, an Aiken enthusiast who says she has taped every appearance he has made on television, said she was second in line the day tickets went on sale.

Aiken is so popular, she said, because he appeals to so many different ages.

"I like that he's clean cut," she said. "He's a nice guy, a role model."

KANSAS.COM

[Pamela]

CLAY COUNTY FAIR SPENCER IA


CLAY COUNTY FAIR SPENCER IA

[Pamela]

ALLEGAN COUNTY FAIR ALLEGAN MI PREVIEWS

ALLEGAN COUNTY FAIR ALLEGAN MI REVIEWS

Aiken fans cheer on their guy
Tuesday, September 14, 2004
By Lorilee Craker
The Grand Rapids Press

What can account for the massive appeal of the unassuming, moderately handsome Clay Aiken?

I'm told fan-club Claymates call it the "it" factor: When it comes to why you should be an adoring fan or not -- either you get "it" or you don't.

After an hour and a half of deafening shrieks and mostly feminine jubilation, it was clear the Monday night crowd -- some 3,200 strong -- at the Allegan County Fair got "it" in a big way.

When a stage platform area split open and Aiken walked out, well, God help anyone who got between the ladies and their beloved crooner. (And by the way, the ratio of men to women was about one guy to every six gals. Those are Michael Bolton-concert numbers, people!)

At 25, Aiken didn't come of age in the '80s, but that era is the source of many songs in his set list. The soaring chorus on "Kyrie," by Mr. Mister, spotlighted his lofty voice well, while tunes such as Toto's "Rosanna" and Orleans' "Still the One" were delivered with sass and relish.

Certainly, the Claymates -- and probably everyone else -- were on hand to hear Clay sing songs from his album "Measure of a Man," which, of course, he did to the delight of his enraptured fanatics.

"I Will Carry You," Aiken's new single, featured the kind of swelling chorus and emotional climax that works so well with his pipes and persona.

The CD's title song, meanwhile, was one of those overblown anthems "American Idol" stars are so fond of puffing up to deliver. Aiken was most engaging during shiny pop songs with glossy, hook-laden melodies, such as "I Survived You" -- probably a future radio hit -- and the show's closing smash, "Invisible."

Toward the end of the concert, Aiken and his outstanding backup singers -- including the incredible Angela Fisher -- changed into all-white outfits and shifted into a major praise mode.

His gospel-tinged "You Were There" was accented by big screens on each side of the stage showing a cross, pages of Scripture and other Christian symbols. This segment of the concert clearly meant much to Aiken, and probably to many of his fans, too.

The backup singers weren't just fantastic in the background, they were dynamite up front, too. They carried much of the marvelous James Taylor montage, singing to the stars on "Sweet Baby James," "You've Got a Friend" and "How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You."

Aiken's banter and teasing with his band were genuine and added even more warmth to the evening. At one point, one of his singers scared Aiken with a rubber snake, smack dab in the middle of a song. One might assume a concert by an "Idol" veteran would be scripted to a T, but Aiken actually is very good at off-the-cuff jokes and responding to the crowd. His duet with an adorable girl named Hayley, from Okemos, was thoroughly charming.

Though it seemed impossible for the ladies to swoon more than they already had, Aiken had one more chance to make 'em melt: His encore, "Solitaire."

Yes, the screams could be heard in Kent County on that one.

All good things, of course, must come to an end, even for Claymates such as Cheryl Van Andel, a 40-something fan from Grand Rapids.

Van Andel said she had never joined a fan club before the Claymates, but there was something about Aiken that prompted her to sign up. What was it, exactly, about the spiky-haired songster that caused her -- and thousands more across the country -- to throw away the sensibilities of middle age and type away for hours with strangers in chat rooms about this man?

"Where do I start?" Van Andel asked, grinning. "Where do I start?"
MLIVE

[Pamela]

ROBERTS STADIUM EVANSVILLE IN PREVIEWS

'Claymates' rejoice! His tour stops here

By BILL MEDLEY Courier & Press staff writer 464-7519 or medleyb@courierpress.com
September 9, 2004

He's "Invisible" no more. Millions watched Clay Aiken's life change in an instant when he made the finals of "American Idol" last year.

And while the 25-year-old from Raleigh, N.C., lost the top spot to crooner Ruben Studdard, his connection with fans ensured he wouldn't be sentenced to obscurity.

Aiken is bringing his tour, including the hit "Invisible," to Evansville's Roberts Stadium Tuesday night. He'll likely get a warm reception here from the same legion of "Claymates" who have greeted him at concerts across the country.

It'll be Aiken's third trip to Indiana in what has shaped up to be a busy summer schedule. He's already made stops in Indianapolis and Fort Wayne between shows at state and county fairs throughout the Midwest. B16

"Beyond the singing, Aiken bonded well with an audience that already loved him," the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel's Tim Cuprisin wrote after a performance last month.

After "American Idol" wrapped up its second season, Aiken's album, "Measure of a Man," debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. He was also featured on the cover of Rolling Stone and was named one of the sexiest people alive by People magazine.

Not bad for someone who came in second. The outcome hasn't been as good for Justin Guarini.

Remember him? He was the runner-up to Kelly Clarkson during "American Idol's" first season. Aiken's album sales and name recognition surpassed Guarini's, even though both used the show to jump straight into America's family rooms.

The difference has been the fans. Aiken has been able to connect with people by promoting his "regular guy" image.

Aiken, who willingly admits in interviews that he considers himself a geek, probably embodies the essence of "American Idol" better than most of the performers.

The idea behind the show is for "normal" people to hone their talents before the three judges, who sometimes offer scathing critiques of the artists.

Idol contestants don't come much more normal than Aiken. While he was working toward a degree in special education in North Carolina, a family friend heard him singing and suggested he try out for the show's second season.

Aiken made the first cut but was voted out during the show's fourth week. Later in the season, though, he returned and qualified for the finals during a special "wild card" show.

After facing down the judges' constant scrutiny and comments about his style (or lack of it), Aiken seemed to hit his stride midway through the season, and struck a note with viewers, who kept him on the show week after week as they voted off other competitors.

With second place in hand and a blockbuster album about to take off, Aiken seemed to realize that his sudden fame could fade away just as soon as it came.

Shortly after the end of "American Idol," Aiken established the Bubel/Aiken Foundation, which provides grants to developmentally disabled people.

"My ultimate goal is for this foundation to really make an impact," Aiken says. Aiken also says he hasn't ruled out a return to the work that consumed his pre-"Idol" life.

"I fell in love with working with individuals with autism, and I planned my life out. I was going to teach for six years, and then I wanted to go to William & Mary to get my master's in administration. I still would love to. I could still see myself as a school principal at the age of 50."

But it's probably a safe bet that his fans don't want him to head back to school anytime soon.
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