9/24, Wilkes-Barre: Thanks for the joy...

Edited to add--run, don't walk, to Rawkhands right now (link fixed!); Sunscreen has assembled an amazing array of photos and links from Wilkes-Barre for your pleasure. I'm operating under severe tech limitations today and can't post the way I planned, but there are some serious goodies waiting for you over there--and she just added a bit more. I'll be here. Go! And many thanks, Sunscreen! :)

First, let's get the bummer news out of the way--LMBO was groovalicious (they do what they do splendidly), but neither Bucky nor Elliott was there to enjoy the festivities. Kathy from Team Covington and her kind husband, the lovely Beesims, and I (among others) were there to represent for the Bucky fans, and he was definitely missed. The good news is that Taylor popped in to do a few numbers (he was tired, handsome and amazing--all my suspicions about what magic he'd be away from the Pop-Tarts atmosphere are now confirmed), and Ace and Chris did a truly interesting, oddly evocative version of Aerosmith's "Dream On"--probably available by now at multiple SendSpaces near you, or hit MJ's comments section for the latest links. Ace hugged Chris, gave his upcoming project a heartfelt recommendation ("I've heard his album--it is ridiculous. Rock is back!") and pretty much shared the Chrace-bonding with all and sundry.

There was something both bizarre and touching about Ace Young crooning "sing with me, sing for the years, sing for the laughter, sing for the tears" to that particular crowd. Leave it to Chris, though, to be the snarky Yang to Ace's sweet Yin. "We didn't practice this or anything," Ace began before the song, and Chris completed the sentence with "...so it has a great potential to really suck." (If you'd like to judge for yourself, here's a link. Thanks to BigTayFan for capturing it, and to Beesims for pointing it out...)

Now, about that Idols concert...off the hook? Wild? Silly? The end of the tour shows are said to be the most zany, and this one lived up to the hype. And Bucky? I am biased beyond belief, of course, but I feel his Sunday night set was his smoothest and most downright rockstarry one yet. Gone was the slight hint of fatigue; in its place was the joyful star quality of a singer who took a brutal schedule and turned it into an amazing learning experience. (Also the relieved quality of a guy who finally gets to go home and spend some quality time with his wife and family, I imagine. Edited--grrrr, slow computer, can't surf for news! A little smiley told me in in our Chatbox that Bucky left for Nashville that night--hmmm! News next post...) Bucky was good, y'all. He sang beautifully, he headbanged brilliantly, he delighted the crowd, he looked like he was having the time of his life--and I believe he just might have been.

As you probably know by now, "Drift Away" was a duet that night--Chris Daughtry, black hoodie and all, was watching Bucky's set, and Bucky beckoned him up to the stage to sing along. (Many of us still think these two need to record a song together some day--their voices blend in a lovely way, even during an impromptu song.) My only semi-decent photo was taken during that tune, but the very cool Cat from WI at MJ's caught a much better shot. (And as you've read elsewhere, this was also one of the most sentimental moments of the whole show...these guys have bonded solidly.)

And another sweet/funny moment happened right afterwards--Kellie Pickler was a little...erm, adorably fiesty that night, methinks. During "You're the One That I Want", she strutted, pouted, and gave Bucky's shirt a mighty yank, opening it perhaps a couple of snaps more than Bucky would have liked, I guess. (He's bashful...who knew?) Our flustered hero tried to sing and nonchalantly snap up his shirt at the same time, while Kellie grinned and grinned. (Oddly enough, there were no major complaints from the audience about this little wardrobe malfunction...go figure.) Our friend " :) " posted a link to a photo from about then in the Chatbox--now you know why Bucky looks like he barely suppressed a giggle...

Chris and Bucky made another joint appearance of sorts, after intermission--between "Whole Lotta Love" and "Renegade", Chris reached for a bottle of water, only to have Bucky come out on an electric scooter and do a smooth, graceful arc across the stage, barely stopping to hand Chris the bottle before smiling and waving and zooming offstage. (Big Tay Fan has that bit for you, too--thanks again!)

(Edited again to mention Kellie's first fun cameo appearance. Bucky spent a good portion of the start of "Patience" beckoning to a hooded figure up front--it turned out to be Kellie in sweats, who joined in on the chorus with the guys for the second half of the song. Awww...)

But my favorite moment in the show was pretty easy to choose. I now present to you, for the very first time, the "Incredibly Shy Person's Guide to Acquiring a Bucky Covington Guitar Pick":

• Notice that Bucky is standing right in front of you, smiling and reaching into his pocket.
• Shout "Bucky!" at an embarrassingly loud decibel level and smile back; faux-catching gestures optional. (You might have to suspend your Incredible Shyness for the few seconds it takes to do this.)
• Watch carefully as a grinning Bucky throws a grey guitar pick in your direction.
• Retrieve said guitar pick from underneath your seat. ("Whoo!"-ing like the twelve-year old you are at heart is optional, too, but highly recommended.)
  

Yep--that there Jim Dunlop guitar pick is mine! I'm going to be hopelessly sentimental now and say that while I am ridiculously happy to have the pick, I am even happier to have shared that millisecond of a smile. Goodness knows he's given me many reasons to smile since that cold night in February when I first heard him sing and knew I had to have his CD for the road. And if anything, I'm even more excited about hitting the highway with Bucky's debut album turned up all the way, and donning my newly-acquired straw cowgirl hat to see him singing and playing at a Big Name, hot-ticket country/rock festival or two some sunny day soon. I'm counting on that.

The first Idol show I went to was right here in Cleveland, and I recall being a little disappointed in the song choices the show's packagers made for Bucky. (Still wish he'd been able to do something a little less Idol, a little more Bucky, but hey--the doors are open now...) However, at the risk of being very, very cheesy, the lyrics of "Drift Away" really seem to fit the mood today:

Thanks for the joy that you've given me
I want you to know I believe in your song...

It's so hard to explain--and I've pretty much given up trying--but there is just something about Bucky Covington that makes me believe he's in this for the long haul. The voice, the original songs, the attitude, the determination, the ineffable "it"--it's there. I know all about past Idol history and the realities of the record business and all the rest of it, but something strong tells me that if he wants this--and I really do think he does--he can have a solid, strong Nashville career for the rest of his life. (And I'll be cheering and smiling and dancing along. Life is too short not to embellish it with some fine, fine music.)

I'll also be here blogging! The Idol season may be officially over, but the news is just beginning--some exciting times are ahead.

News post next! C'mon back...