Quick update, 7/10

(Just a quick pause to link to this article concerning Kellie Pickler's grandfather, and to wish her family all the best...)

After their first sellout shows in New England, Bucky and the Idols get a well-earned day off. But there's plenty of recapping, photo-swapping and general buzz going on to keep the Idolsphere busy until Tuesday's Albany show...

At the Fox site, a kind fan posted a bit of a live phone-blog of Bucky's performance from an Elliott Yamin fan board. Looks like the fans of all the guys on tour this year are generously sharing positive reviews, good vibes and lots of media, photos and goodies. An E-Train rider gave Bucky's fans this link to a photo thread with some nice shots of the guys doing "Patience", as well as Elliott's and Taylor's solo turns. (Love the Bucky and E photo in the middle, and that great "purple portrait" of Taylor Hicks--kudos to the talented photographer!)

And a Soul Patroller* popped in to share her awesome concert album, too. Also, this thread at the official boards took a funny turn, courtesy of another SP-er--hey, there's plenty of fan affection to go around...

At Idolforums, the tour media threads are busy as ever--a fan there created a cute You Tube page (including a mini-clip of Bucky's second Worcester performance of "Superstition") , and a gallery from the Hartford show can be found here--love the Bucky and Kellie shot.

Finally, if you'd like a bit more snark with your (large, scary, talking) Pop-Tarts, there are new recaps posted at MJ's today (and there'll probably be more by the time you read this.) As always, the comments are half the fun--one commenter posted a link to Keeping the Boogie Alive, a Taylor Hicks fan board that's the place to be for blow-by-blow details on most shows. (The link goes to last night's thread, in case you'd like to relive those thrilling moments in Hartford...)

(And a parting editorial comment--anyone else feeling like taking in an extra show or two after seeing all these fun clips? Bucky's definitely won some new fans on the road, and he's only four shows into this thing--he's going to be a real live force to be reckoned with by the time he gets out our way here in the Midwest. Back during the semifinals, after "Wave on Wave", I sort of "found myself" reaching for the phone to vote before I could even think about it; yesterday, I "found myself" looking for some extra tickets to shows within overnight road-trip distance. Hmmm...)

See you later--have a wonderful Monday!

*Okay, it's been five months since I first hopped into Season Five's whirlwind, and these fan-group names are still cracking me up--but I love it. Life's too short not to enjoy a little summer madness...