Bucky Bash news and more...

This morning's Richmond County Daily Journal has more detailed information on Saturday's big Bucky Bash in Rockingham:

Richmond County’s "American Idol" sensation Bucky Covington will greet fans from near and afar next Saturday during Bucky Bash.

The free event, which runs from 1 to 9 p.m. on Harrington Square in downtown Rockingham, is Richmond County’s official "Welcome Home, Bucky!" party and is sponsored by the City of Rockingham, Rockingham Downtown Corp. and the Richmond County Daily Journal.

Bucky will meet fans and pose for photographs in the Richmond Community Theatre at the following times:

1:45 to 2:30 p.m.
3 to 3:45 p.m.
6:15 to 7 p.m.

At 5:30 p.m., there will be a brief program on the main stage, during which Bucky will address the fans — many of whom are coming from out-of-town and out-of-state. The Daily Journal has received e-mails from fans from such far away states as Georgia, Kentucky, Rhode Island, Maine and Indiana saying they’re coming to Bucky Bash.

(And if you'd like a first-hand report from the party, be sure to visit Team Covington--it looks like my fellow Bucky-blogger Kathy will be right there to enjoy the fun!)

Meanwhile, there's a little more news on the tour front--a Louisville, Kentucky date has been added, and our tour schedule post has been updated again with additional information. We're still keeping an eye out for presale info...

A couple of remodeled destinations online: Bucky's page at Wikipedia has been expanded and edited quite thoroughly. (We're guessing the most recent editor shares our enthusiasm.) And as Team Covington noted earlier today, Bucky's official site has been revamped as well, with lots of new images (including a great photo of Bucky and his wife Crystal) on the front page, news briefs, and lovely fan-made banners and graphics incorporated into the pages. (If you're a little late to the party and you haven't checked out Bucky's beautiful original songs, click here now and enjoy.)

More later!

Quick update/first presale rumor

Just passing through to link to this thread at the official boards; according to the poster, the presale for the Washington DC show will be May 17th. The Idols tour page at Ticketmaster has been updated, as well. So far, no password yet--we'll stay on it. More later tonight!

Something to talk about...

A little bit of news came through the grapevine while I was away trying to earn some extra-ticket cash:

The tracklisting for the Idol Season Five CD has been posted at Idolforums; as was confirmed before, Bucky's track will be "Superstition". (Even though that performance was as fun as it could be, some of the fans would have preferred something a little more in line with Bucky's country-rock roots...but the prospect of a real-life, full length studio track from Bucky is enough to make us smile, nonetheless.)

And while we're waiting for the Idols CD--and for Bucky's solo debut--a few of us are busy finding fun screensavers and such, but be careful out there. Bucky-themed screensavers at some of the non-official sites are often bugged with spyware, according to this article at E!Online. (Taylor Hicks-themed screensavers are the most dangerous, they report; Melissa McGhee fans can download with confidence.) If this article came a little too late and you're looking for a way to clean spyware off your system, Spybot Search and Destroy is the best cleaner ever--and it's both safe and free.

If you didn't catch Bucky's school visit on the front page of the Richmond County Daily Journal earlier today, here ya go. Enjoy!

As far as tour news goes, there are a lot of get-together threads popping up amongst Bucky's fans--here's one at the official boards, one at Idolforums, and...what's this...a bit of "wait and see" sentiment expressed on Bucky's thread at TWoP? Those of us who were around for the second season might find the "meh" mumblings about the tour vaguely familiar; fans of that season's runner-up/co-winner had mixed feelings about enriching the Idol folks' coffers after the show done their man wrong, and some understandably wanted to hold out for a solo tour. That lasted right up until a bootleg piece of video hit the internet late one night after the first concert and caused a mad scramble for Ticketmaster, nationwide. Here's hoping Bucky gives us a "what is that move?"-style moment this year--and someone's got a way to record it.

Back soon with yet more ticket strategies--gotta get some Bucky supporters in the good seats! Stay tuned...

Your daily dose of "awww"...

Some of Bucky's youngest local fans got another treat yesterday--a surprise classroom visit from the man himself. A kind poster at the official board was there, and she added some great new photos to her profile. (She started a thread to share her story; click the first poster's name to visit her photo album.) Looks like it was a fun day for all involved!

Other than that...crickets, y'all. It is quiet in the Buckysphere. The Fox 8 interview from Thursday morning hasn't popped up yet (we're hoping it will, eventually), and with five weeks to go in the season, even the general Idol boards are in a temporary lull. So we'll keep plugging away at finding more tour info for you, and with any luck some sort of positive excitement is on the horizon...

(Just added venue links to the tour schedule post below--most of them will take you to the various "insider" e-mail notification pages. And as the presale passwords filter through the grapevine, we'll post them here, too.)

Quick update...

Bucky appeared on Greensboro/High Point's Fox 8 Morning News earlier today; no live video from the station, but we'll keep looking, just in case anything turns up later. There is a recap thread at the official boards; a local poster says Bucky encouraged his supporters to "keep their heads up", because he's keeping his up; that he's "gotten what he wanted" out of Idol, and that a CD is definitely in the works. Sounds good, yes? We'll get a full post going for you later today...see you then!

Midnight confessions...

Edited to add a repeat link: here's the Ticketmaster Idol tour alert sign-up page again. They'll let you know when tickets go on sale...

As you might have noticed, the blog's been updated a little less quickly these days. In part, that's because of an extremely slow Bucky-news cycle; and it's also because I foolishly took on a little extra work in real life, which cuts down on my blogging time a bit. And why the extra work? So that I can...well, justify going to more than one of the Idol shows this summer. (Yes, I know how pathetic that is...sigh. But really...you only go around once, life's too short not to have a little fun, [insert Hallmark-y "entertainment expense justification" cliche here.] I just happen to think that Bucky Covington is going to totally rock live. That's reason enough.)

If you're a bit tour obsessed, too, stay tuned--I'm going to try to link the venues listed in the tour schedule post below over the course of the next few days, and I strongly urge you to join not only your local venue's "insider club", but also those of the venues you're thinking about traveling to. Presale information is key; but if you somehow miss out on that, there's always the treacherous waters of eBay and the expensive waters of the brokers--more on those two options later this week.

Meanwhile, here are some places--besides the big boards on our sidebar--where presale passwords tend to pop up. Bookmark and lurk for fun and profit!

This Samzidat article is a wonderful primer for those of us that do the "must have great seats now!" thing pretty rarely. (Some of the links may be outdated, but the general info is solid.)

Fatwallet.com's "Deal Discussion" board has an ongoing (and very long) "Official Ticketmaster (and other) password thread" with lots of presale information; the link goes to the most recent posts as of today.

Popdirt.com is also pretty good about getting the concert-ticket word out; be sure to check the comments underneath the posts. (There's also an Idol poll on the front page, in case you'd like to give Bucky a vote or two...)

ConcertFAN.com leans toward the more "serious" artists' fans, but it's so comprehensive, and the Idol tour is such a family affair for so many, that the presale info is bound to turn up here or on their boards.

And there's always good old Craigslist.org, where you'll find fine people selling (yep, selling) presale passwords and/or tickets.

Venue links and more news coming later...

Rock n' roll grade school

Remember Ms. Morgan's third grade class at Rohanen Primary in Rockingham and their very creative projects tracking Bucky's travels? Many members of Bucky's family have visited local schools in recent weeks; and on Tuesday, Bucky stopped in to spend some time with the students and share a few smiles. (We especially loved the photo caption about the lack of room on the "Bucky Board"...)

You can find all the photos at the class project site--go to the "Visitors" link on the side bar and choose "Bucky Visits Our Class". (The school has generously provided a zip file on that page, if you'd like to see the photos full size. Be prepared to say awwww. ) Thanks to Becky for the tip!

In more local news, the Richmond County Daily Journal has the details on the big May Bucky Bash--and a great photo of Bucky on the front cover, too.

We're working on yet another compilation of tour-related links and info for tonight. In the meantime, be sure to hit the big message boards in our sidebar--chances are good that concert news will be turning up all day.

See you soon--enjoy the day!

Tour schedule! (Oh, and a little news, too...)

As announced by Ryan Seacrest during tonight's...er, interesting Idol show, the tour schedule has just been released. You can check it out here or scroll on down:

(Links go to venue membership/mailing list pages, if available; otherwise, link is venue's home page.)

6-Jul	Manchester, NH	Verizon Wireless Arena
8-Jul	Worcester, MA	DCU Center
9-Jul	Hartford, CT	Hartford Civic Center
11-Jul	Albany, NY	Pepsi Arena
12-Jul	Hershey, PA	GIANT Center
13-Jul	East Rutherford, NJ	Continental Airlines Arena
15-Jul	Long Island, NY	Nassau Coliseum
18-Jul	Wilkes Barre, PA	Wachovia Arena
19-Jul	Cleveland, OH	Wolstein Center
21-Jul	Rochester, NY	BlueCross Arena
22-Jul	Philadelphia, PA	Wachovia Center
23-Jul	Atlantic City, NJ	Boardwalk Hall
25-Jul	Bridgeport, CT	Arena at Harbor Yard
27-Jul	Pittsburgh, PA	Mellon Arena
28-Jul	Washington DC	Verizon Center
29-Jul	Richmond, VA	Richmond Coliseum
30-Jul	Greensboro, NC	Greensboro Coliseum
1-Aug	Charlotte, NC	Charlotte Bobcats Arena
2-Aug	Columbia, SC	Colonial Center
3-Aug	Duluth, GA	Arena at Gwinnett Center
5-Aug	Sunrise, FL	BankAtlantic Center
6-Aug	Tampa, FL	St. Pete Times Forum
8-Aug	Birmingham, AL	BJCC Arena
10-Aug	Nashville, TN	Gaylord Entertainment Center
11-Aug	Columbus, OH	Value City Arena
12-Aug	Milwaukee, WI	Bradley Center
13-Aug	St. Louis, MO	Savvis Center
15-Aug	Grand Rapids, MI	Van Andel Arena
16-Aug	Detroit, MI	Joe Louis Arena
18-Aug	Louisville, KY	Freedom Hall
19-Aug	Chicago, IL	Allstate Arena
20-Aug	Peoria, IL	Peoria Civic Center
22-Aug	St. Paul, MN	Xcel Energy Center
26-Aug	Los Angeles, CA	Staples Center
27-Aug	Anaheim, CA	Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim
29-Aug	Sacramento, CA	ARCO Arena
30-Aug	San Jose, CA	HP Pavilion at San Jose
1-Sep	Portland, OR	Rose Garden
2-Sep	Tacoma, WA	Tacoma Dome

"Sale information to follow", they say. We'll be on top of things as best we can. Get those credit cards ready! (And if you'd like tour news sent to your inbox, check out our "presale tips" post from a few days ago for some handy addresses.)

Edited 4/29: All tickets for the general public go on sale May 20th at 10 a.m., except:
Worcester, MA and Pittsburgh, PA--May 19 at 10 a.m.
Los Angeles , CA and Anaheim, CA--May 21st at noon

Bookmark the official tour page at AmericanIdol.com for the latest information.

Other bits and bobs culled from the boards:

Via the ongoing "Any news from Nashville?" thread at the official boards, here's a bit of gossip from The Tennessean about where Bucky was spotted last Friday, along with a cameo by Constantine Maroulis.

Bucky will be appearing on Greensboro/High Point's Fox 8 Morning News bright and early this Thurdsay; "you will be able to call in with your American Idol questions for Bucky", the site promises. Should be fun! (We bet there'll be a great discussion at Rawkhands.org after the fact...)

Finally, a truly dazzling new Bucky fan/tribute site is up and running; tons of photos and goodies, and its own message board, too. Enjoy! (Very graphics intense; dial-up users may need a little patience.)

More tour news as soon as we can find it--can't wait to see what the summer holds!

Almost party time

First things first--via TWoP (yes, we know there are other sites on this intraweb thingie, but we like TWoP very much!), two great links to peruse. A tip of the hat to the talented folks at Rawkhands.org for this KIIS-FM Ryan Seacrest/Bucky Covington interview; and be sure to check out this recap of a semi-revealing phone conference with Idol's executive producer Ken Warwick at Access Atlanta's American Idol Buzz blog (scroll down to 4/24 post.) He revealed that "no finalist can release an album until three months after the winner’s album comes out." (Other things, "within reason" are permissible, with an okay from the Fox folks.) At any rate, that gives us some idea of how long we'll have to wait for that debut CD...

One of the "other things" that's on the agenda is the biggest Bucky Bash ever; R. Shawn Lewis of the Richmond County Daily Journal says it's scheduled for May 6th at Rockingham's Cole Plaza, with live music (likely 1 pm to 9 pm, he states) , food, vendors, and meet-and-greets/photo ops with Bucky. (As you can tell from that thread, there's going to be a sizable group of out-of-towners in attendance...wish we could go. It's well worth the road trip if you're within driving or flying distance.)

And if you can't get there next month, Bucky and company will be on their way to you this summer. (Or if you want to jump the gun a little, the maze that is the official American Idol site has yet another "win a ticket to the finale" contest posted, this one tied to a new teen-oriented movie. There's a "lucky moments from the Greensboro auditions" video that we can't see on our ancient PC; does that contain the same long lost clip of Bucky's audition that's been floating around this past week?)

More news later!

Rockin' little update...

(Our web host, Blogger.com, is having some technical difficulties. Hang in there!)

Another serene day so far, but there's a little news out there:

This MTV News article just came in over the wire; Bo Bice gets some real props for "clearing the way for out-of-the-box contestants like Taylor Hicks and Bucky Covington." It's a fun-to-read nod to the increased rock (as opposed to pop) presence on Idol, and Bo, Constantine Maroulis, Chris Daughtry and Jon Peter Lewis are all quoted. Here's Bucky's word on Bo:

"Bo opened up a lot of doors for a lot of people," added Bucky Covington, an eliminated rocker finalist. "I think he did the show a lot of good by coming on. He did a heck of a job, and so far with his career he's doing a fine job ... and I thank him very much for it."

While MTV is congratulating Idol on its forays into rock, the rumor on the boards (via TWoP; scroll down) is that the coronation song this year will be "Make It Real", a ballad written by Nick Lachey, Tamyra Gray, and two veteran songwriters, one of whom co-wrote Color Me Badd's "I Wanna Sex You Up". (Um, rock on?) This giggle-inducing Idolforums thread from a few days ago looks a bit closer to reality these days. Gotta love those lyrics...

(Anyone else relieved that the beautiful "Best I Ever Had" is the ballad Bucky's time on Idol will be remembered by? Me, too.)

While you're at IDF, check out a dazzling new wallpaper (that's a whole lot of Bucky, there!), and a couple of cute old wire-service photos of Bucky and Kellie Pickler out grabbing a cup of coffee.

More news later--have a great Monday!

Snoozy Saturday

It's shaping up to be a very quiet and peaceful Saturday so far; the only real news is an encouraging Bucky-in-Nashville sighting posted on the official boards (anything involving lunch and "suits" is interesting, yes?), and a backstage-at-Idol "gossip" article at the Charlotte Observer with facts hardcore fans of Bucky's (or of the show) probably already know.

Meanwhile, we've got a requested topic coming up. (We love requests, by the way!) A kind Bucky supporter in Singapore--where he seems to be very popular--wanted to know more about country/western style in general and what Hazel Smith might have meant when she said "he is country". We'll work on that request--and catch up on any fresh news--in our next post.

Until then, enjoy this serene Saturday, wherever you are!

(Edited to add a link from a generous commenter--there's a brief but funny appearance by Bucky on VH1's current "Best Week Ever" episode. If you're curious about his take on that "Bad Day" song, click here for airtimes; it'll be running all weekend. )

Extremely quick update (really!)

It's official--Bucky's Nashville journey has begun. According to this beautifully written article in the Richmond County Daily Journal (a must-read, and a heartfelt tribute, too):

His stay this time in Rockingham was short — shorter than he’d like and shorter than his fans wanted.

Bucky headed to Nashville early Thursday, trying to work out a deal “so I can start a new career.” After that, he’s contractually bound to “American Idol” through the end of the Season Five national tour. The dates and locations for those shows will be released in early May (last year’s “Idol” tour North Carolina stop was in Greensboro).

Wednesday night’s appearance at Hugo’s wasn’t the official welcome home for Bucky. He just wanted to say a quick hello to his fans and enjoy his old band, Caddy Wampus.

The date for Bucky Bash, which will be held at Raider Stadium to accommodate the thousands who want to see the sensation, depends on Bucky’s success in Nashville this week.

Be sure to check out Bucky's sunny smile on the front cover (.pdf file), too.

And now that he's on his way, how do Bucky's supporters keep up with what's happening? A good bookmark for Nashville doings in general is Hazel Smith's Nashville Insider podcast. Mrs. Smith had very kind things to say about Bucky a few broadcasts ago; something tells us his name may pop up in her commentary again soon. And naturally, you'll want to hit CMT News and GAC News, as well as the Hollywood Reporter and Billboard. (Yes, we know that Billboard's Idol blogger was not a Bucky fan, to say the least. But no matter--if Bucky makes news it'll be written up in Billboard. We'll take a cue from Bucky and thank the writer for helping to make someone else's dreams come true.)

It's an exciting time to be a Bucky Covington supporter. We'll keep an eye out for any Nashville bulletins...stay tuned!

(Edited to add links to two great radio interviews, courtesy of Sunscreen [thanks!]--here's Bucky on 106.1 BLI, Long Island [also streamed at the station site here],and on WRAL's Bill & Sheri morning show. Enjoy!)

Taking five...

Ahh, downtime. For Bucky and family, who are no doubt enjoying a well-deserved rest before the music business madness begins all over again, it has to be a blessing.

Downtime also means that everything's been fairly quiet today--the posters at the official boards are enjoying the fantastic photos from last night's homecoming party for Mr. and Mrs. Covington, and extending sympathy to Ace Young's fans. (Heaven knows we can relate to how they're feeling today.)

There's a fun pair of links via a resourceful poster at TWoP that are making the rounds right now--two radio interviews given by Bucky this week, one from the Kid Kraddock morning show in which he's said to be quite diplomatic about a remaining contestant, and another from a San Diego station with some funny quips about those cheesy Ford commercials. (Have y'all noticed that the word cheesy comes up often in the Idol-related posts around here? I'll have to break out a thesarus, someday.)

Bucky's a blast to listen to on the interview circuit--witty and wise. We hope there are more of these on the horizon.

And speaking of Idol and cheese and the like, the Idol VIP Lounge (a.k.a. the show's official fan club, $30 membership fee) has released the formerly members-only Bucky eCard as a "farewell gift" to his fans. While it's fun to hear Bucky's voice again (no singing, just talking), it's a bit of a bummer that the card is basically...well, a commercial for the VIP Lounge...which won't have any more "inside secrets" on Bucky's performances, because Bucky's, um, moved on. (Sigh.) Anyway, enjoy.

Looking to the dairy-free future, we're hoping to hear some news about Bucky's Nashville trip as soon as possible. (Not that we're impatient about that CD or anything...ahem.) On that same page at TWoP, there's a quote from TVGuide's April 24-30 issue about Bucky "entertaining [an] offer to record a country disc". Will details be forthcoming in the weeks ahead? Stay tuned!

Wish we were there...

Just a very quick update on Bucky's homecoming party/meet-and-greet at Hugo's in Rockingham; a couple of kind posters at the official boards were there to welcome Bucky and his wife Crystal, and to enjoy a performance by Caddy Wampus, featuring Rocky Covington. (Bucky couldn't perform due to the Idol contract's standard restrictions--but by all accounts, everyone had a marvelous time, with plenty of hugs and smiles and excellent music to go around.)

One poster mentioned that the next Bucky Bash will likely be on May 6th at Raiders Stadium; no doubt the Richmond County Daily Journal will have more details as the date draws closer.

(Edited to add: Be sure to head over to Team Covington for a link to an incredible photo gallery from yesterday's party--lots of sweet shots to enjoy.)

More news later--have a great day!

Pop Tarts + good seats = crazy delicious

(Updated May, 2007--this page seems to be popular again with the sixth-season American Idols Live tour, so I wanted to post this year's links for y'all: the 2007 Ticketmaster page for the tour is here; and the 2007 Pop Tarts tour info page is here. The 2007 presale password is CRAZYGOOD; it was posted at the PopTarts site on May 15th at 10 a.m.. But by all means, read the tips below! By using them, I went on to enjoy the show from seventh, eighth and fourth row seats in 2006, and I caught Bucky's guitar pick during the last concert--good times. Best of luck to the class of 2007!--Winnie)

It's been seven days and counting since we last saw Bucky grace the Idol stage, but even though we've lost that pleasure, we've still got something to look forward to--the cheesy, sweet summer sensation known as the "Pop Tarts Presents American Idols Live!" tour. (Their words and punctuation, not mine.)

Nope, it's probably not something most readers of this blog would have ordinarily thought of as part of their summer concert plans. Medleys? Group sings? Sitting through [insert name of contestant(s) you really can't abide, if applicable] just to hear Bucky sing two, maybe three songs, play some guitar (we hope!) and do some silly "tribute to" someone or other? Yeah, I know, I know. It's too crazy to even think about, let alone spend big bucks on, right?

Oh, stop kidding yourself. I'll see you there.

It's still too early to say whether this summer's American Idols tour will be a hot or a merely extra-warm ticket. Much depends on whether the this year's TV version of Idol can create that sense of Ruben vs. Clay-style suspense by finale time. (Uh-huh. I'll raise my eyebrow here, and say no more.) The Idols generally hit the road about a month or two after the finale airs; information about the tour will probably start turning up in a few weeks.

In the meantime, there's plenty you can do to increase your chances of getting a great seat without completely breaking the bank...

Set up a free email account specifically for concert info, and invest some time in signing up for spam. Yes, in this context, spam is your friend; presale passwords are usually sent via email to subscribers first. You'll want to get on the mailing lists for the following:

• The new, official Bucky Covington Online newsletter
  
• The "preferred customer" or "insider" newsletters of the major venues near you (usually free to join)
• The "listener's clubs" of your local top 40, AC, country and R&B stations
• Kelloggs.com and PopTarts.com (there should be tour info on either or both sites within a few weeks)
• Pollstar.com or another good concert news site; you can sign up to be notified when an artist or venue has a change of schedule.
  
• Ticketmaster.com (We all love the Ticketmonster--this isn't a newsletter per se, but you'll want to have an account there when the scramble begins. Sign up here to be notified before tickets for the Idols tour go on sale )
• The official American Idol newsletter from Fox. If you're feeling really extravagant, you can shell out $30 to join the "VIP Lounge"--the Idol fan club, basically--but there's no word yet as to whether the Lounge offers any ticket-buying advantages to members.

You'll also want to join a good "deals and freebies" forum like DealofDay, as well as popping in on the bigger Bucky Covington and American Idol fan boards, where the major news will spread like wildfire. (Newsletters are great, but nothing beats good old fan networking.)

All this communication has a purpose, of course--you'll want to be notified of the earliest possible presale passwords, in order to secure a good seat before the tickets go on general sale. Here's a bit from a helpful USA Today article about concert-ticket strategies; the reporter tried several ways of buying Toby Keith tickets:

After paying $15 to join Keith's fan club, we got a password that let us in on a pre-sale May 18 — three days before tickets were to go on sale at Ticketmaster.

At noon, we entered the fan-only site, indicated that we wanted a pair of tickets for the July 9 show and learned that our club membership gave us access to seats in section 303, more than 50 rows back from the stage. Cost for the pair: $160.70, plus the $15 to join the fan club.

Why so far back? One reason: The fan club "pre-sale" was the second pre-sale for the show. Five months earlier, the venue had sold a "Mega Ticket" for five country shows, including Keith's.

"We announced the Mega Ticket in January," says Mark Lapidus, marketing director for eight Clear Channel radio stations in Washington, D.C., including country station WMZQ. "If you were in our Loyal Listener Club, you would have gotten an e-mail." Great.

I rest my case. Spam is a tasty treat this summer.

If you don't get a good seat the first time you try, never fear--many excellent seats (usually held back as freebies/promotions/contest prizes/family-member tickets) are released just before the show date, and there's a lot of recirculation among message board fans--someone might be thrilled to have your 37th row seats if you manage to snag Row 3 close to the concert date. Again, from USA Today:

"Promoters will often release what they call 'production kills,' " Lapidus says. "Those are seats the band reserves for production or sound setup, and the band decides they don't need them. All of a sudden, amazing seats will show up" at Ticketmaster or the venue.

And after you've snagged your amazing seats, what should you expect? If this Idols show is anything like the previous year's, the concert will be divided into two acts; the first will feature individual performances by the singers in reverse order of their exit from the show (so Bucky would sing after Lisa and Mandisa), then an intermission and group songs, a few more solos and duets, and a big ensemble finish. (Bucky, as a guitarist, might even pop up during someone else's number, strumming away.)

It looks as though the "wear colors to support your favorite" meme is back for a brand new season; if you're looking for Bucky's online supporters, look for a lot of Carolina/sky/baby blue. (And Broad Street Tees is working on an official, authorized Bucky Covington tour T-shirt; check back with them for details.)

The first reports from Bucky's homecoming party at Hugo's in Rockingham are coming in--next post is just moments away!

And we're back...

(We've got the ol' PC fixed up with band-aids and duct tape...fingers crossed.)

First and foremost, via TWoP, here's a link to WBLI in Long Island, where Bucky's listed as a "special guest" on tomorrow's morning show. The station offers streaming audio, so be sure to be there early Thursday and enjoy another witty interview. (There's also a link to a past Bo Bice interview on that same page, for Bucky and Bo's mutual fans.)

And at FoRT, a poster mentions a radio interview from yesterday with her radio station (no call letters in the post, but if you have a link, please tell us) in which Bucky spoke a little--only a little--more about his conversation with Sawyer Brown's Mark Miller. There's a tiny mystery over at Idolforums, too--did anyone else catch this brief Fox News mention of Bucky's Nashville journey?

Meanwhile, we seem to have missed a lot during our computer's downtime! Over at Rickey.org, a commenter recaps the results of yesterday's "virtual vote for contestant eight" (that would be Bucky, of course) over at the official boards. Turns out over 22,000 (!) votes were posted before the server crashed and the moderators pulled the plugs. (Thanks, Bucky Country, for catching us up. Talk about a wild ride...)

If you missed out on much of yesterday's media blitz, never fear--KathyG722's awesome new Team Covington blog will get you right up to date with fresh links, fun commentary, and lots of her magnifcent screencaps and graphics. Get over there now! (And don't miss her most recent post as of this hour--a link to Bucky's homecoming video, as covered by News 14 Carolina.)

We're working on a big post full of info and strategies for the upcoming Cheesefest '06...er, "American Idols Live" tour this summer. (We voted him onto the tour, thank Heaven; now it's time to grab those baby blue shirts and get ready for some fun...)

See you later today!

Please stand by

(Technical difficulties once again--we'll have a full post for you later today. In the meantime, be sure to check out the Richmond County Daily Journal this morning for an excellent preview of Bucky's homecoming scene--and if you're local, enjoy Caddy Wampus at Hugo's tonight, and say hi for us...

More after the PC's back to full speed, including a first look at the ticket buying scramble for the Idol tour, and why frozen Pop Tarts are a wonderful treat in the summertime...back soon!)

Playing catch-up...

While our computer was down, we missed two of Bucky's appearances today--he was on the Today Show and Fox and Friends this morning--not singing, but being his gracious self. If you missed it too, be sure to bookmark these links to the official boards and to IDF, where info, links and goodies are likely to turn up over the course of the day. (You can also feel free to leave any helpful information in our comments section, if you're so inclined...)

Bucky will also be interviewed on the TV Guide Channel's Idol Tonight show at 7 p.m. EST, so be sure to catch him there.

The beautiful photo above comes to us courtesy of "cbeez42", who had the pleasure of meeting Bucky near the Regis and Kelly studios yesterday. Thanks so much for sharing the fun with us!

More later today...

Sweet road music...

(Screencap by KathyG85--click to visit her gallery.)

Sigh. This is the first week I haven't geared up to make a "vote!" post on a Tuesday morning, and it feels a little strange, to say the least. But this bit from today's Richmond County Daily Journal cheered me right up:

Bucky’s family is meeting the “Idol” star tonight at the Charlotte airport. Father Gene Covington said the singer will spend Tuesday night and Wednesday back home in Rockingham before “driving to Nashville Thursday” to discuss his future with interested record companies.

Bucky’s immediate plans — including the final Bucky Bash at Raider Stadium to welcome him home — depend on how things play out in Nashville.

“I really don’t know what he’s got lined up,” Gene said. “This Nashville thing, we don’t know how long it’s going to take.”

Twin brother Rocky added, “He can’t tell you what’s going on from day to day. It’s always changing. He’s in demand.

“But he’s ready to get back home. He’s got a lot of decisions he has to make. That’s what most important.”

(And of course, if you'd still like the thrill of voting for Bucky anyway, here's a fun way to do it...)

Covington fans on the “American Idol” message boards will be staging a cyber sit-in of sorts tonight. Interested fans can log onto the message boards at www.americanidol.com and register their votes for Bucky.

To vote, click on the “Vote for Contestant 8” thread in the Bucky Covington message boards. The first post will be “Thank you for voting for Contestant 8.” With his elimination last week, Bucky finished eighth on “Idol,” hence he is “Contestant 8.”

Fans should copy “Thank you for voting for Contestant 8,” paste it in the reply area and submit their post. They can copy and paste (vote) as many times in the two hours after the show airs as they can.

The goal is to receive at least 1,000 cybervotes for Bucky in the two-hour period.

Now that Bucky's graduated from the show, the next big milestone is the opportunity to vote with our wallets at our local record stores. (This might be comparing apples to oranges, but it's worth noting that Josh Gracin's debut CD was released about a year and two weeks after American Idol 2's season finale.) When you factor in an eighth (as opposed to fourth) place finish and the accompanying probable difference in contract restrictions, as well as that Rockingham-to-Nashville trip happening only a week after Bucky left the show, you're left with a bit of mystery...and drama.

Often, the legal drama surrounding Idol is far more intense than those few nerve-wracking moments in front of the show's judges. USA Today recently ran a fairly alarming article about the contracts all Idol contestants must sign; and some contestants from previous seasons were concerned enough to hire very high-powered help to get themselves out of what they'd gotten into.

But if this 2004 Washington Post story is any indication, Bucky's legal road ahead might be a bit smoother; "niche contestants" tend to be able to slip the bonds of the contract sooner than pop singers do, often landing at more enthusiastic and supportive labels after the Idol organization passes on their option. Josh Gracin says it best:

"I told [label executives] I was singing country music," says Gracin, whose new single, "I Want to Live," is a top-20 country hit and still rising. "I don't know if that had anything to do with it, but they wound up passing. I think it helps [being a country singer]. There's so much competition in pop and R&B, it's hard to break into."

And hey--any young country/Southern-rock singer/songwriter with Hazel Smith as a supporter might find the road to Nashville a little more scenic, too. Kind words from a legend are a lovely bonus for someone starting the second chapter of an exciting adventure.

We wouldn't miss the next few weeks for the world. Happy motoring, Bucky!

4/17, "Regis & Kelly" and "Ellen"

Well, it almost felt like Tuesday...minus an over-amplified band, indifferent judges and agreeably cheesy Old Navy commercials. Bucky sang "Superstition" (his song on the upcoming Idols' CD) on the syndicated Live With Regis and Kelly and Ellen shows today, with only a piano behind him. And for the first time in weeks, his soulful vocals were front and center on national television. (Kelly Ripa and Ellen DeGeneres called Bucky's voice "beautiful" and "cool and distinctive", respectively--nothing you didn't know already, but a nice break from Simon Cowell's opinion.)

And speaking of Simon Cowell, the faint controversy over an out-of-context snippet of Bucky's post-Idol interview had to be gently but firmly addressed on both shows. (Just for the record, the whole teleconference interview is posted here at FoRT; the AP-edited version omits some important information. Bucky was in the process of defending teenaged contestant Paris Bennett, among other things.) Hope this entire quote helps to put it all in perspective:

Q: Bucky, the judges keep saying the same thing over and over again; I’m sure you’ve notice this. They say, “Be true to yourself. Make it your own. Pick better songs.” When you guys get together after a show and after that kind of stuff, do you like look at each other and just laugh about it and sort of in your own way make fun of it? Do these comments that the judges make, are they really seriously taken by the group and by you?

A: I think everybody, yes, we do laugh about it and everything else, but I’m sure some people take it to heart more than other people, but you have to look at it. You have to look at the judges. Like Simon, a lot of times he signs boy bands and stuff like that, so for him to like somebody like me or Taylor, it’s out of the question. It doesn’t matter what we do, he’s not going to like us, because we’re just not his thing. So when he gives me advice – it seems like he used to give advice, but now he doesn’t so much give advice as he does try to just put you down and make the show, “Oh, I can’t believe you said that,” which makes people talk the next day.

Like he told Paris, “Weird.” What is that supposed to mean? That tells her nothing. You did not help her none with your comment. You should have just kept your mouth shut. I don’t mean to sound rude about it, but you can help and then you can just sell the show. He does a good job of selling the show, because he knows exactly what sells and he does it and does it well.

Oddly enough, many of the the hardcore Idol fans out there feel that Bucky has a point.

So how did he sound? Raspy, soulful, and best of all, relaxed. The Ellen performance seemed somewhat more relaxed than the Regis and Kelly one to our ears, although both were a pleasure; we even got a bit of that cool "Real Good Man" slide-dance on the Ellen segment. Kelly Ripa got an encouraging bit of info from Bucky--after complimenting him on his beautiful voice and asking about his future plans, Bucky replied that they'd be going home for "a day", then heading to Nashville to "chase a couple of opportunities." Hmmmmm...

Could there be even more news out of Nashville soon? We'll stay tuned.

In the meantime, remember to catch Bucky on Geraldo at Large at 7:00 p.m. Eastern in most markets; and word has it there's a short Bucky clip on tonight's Inside Edition (syndicated; check your local listings.) And if you missed today's shows, be sure to head over to IDF for info, links and goodies. Finally, a kind poster at the official boards shared her fun in-person Regis and Kelly studio story in this thread--she didn't get a ticket to the show, but she did get an autograph and a hug...

More later!

Very quick update...

Regis and Kelly is airing right now on many Eastern stations; if you're at work or just want to follow along online, there's a play-by-play thread going on at the official boards, and we'll have a recap later today. Also, Bucky's said to be appearing on Fox and Friends tomorrow morning--we'll get more details on that as soon as they come in, or keep this thread handy.

See you very soon with a full post, I promise!

Friends in high places...

Looks like we can add yet another well-regarded expert to those of us who'd like a Bucky Covington CD as soon as possible; Hazel Smith, longtime Nashville writer/producer and CMT commentator, gave Bucky an emphatically positive shout out on a recent podcast, declaring "he is country...we need that", and alluding to her own extensive record label contacts. She'd like him signed.

(This is very high praise from a true Nashville legend; she is a Country Music Association Media Achievement Award winner, and a key figure in the "Outlaw Movement" which transformed the face of country music in the early 70s. Wonder if she's ever listened to Bucky's excellent original songs?)

You can enjoy Hazel's Nashville Insider commentary here; you'll want the one dated "Thu, 13 Apr 2006 11:20:22 GMT".

Naturally, this has caused a bit of buzz on the boards; both TWoP and the Fox folks are talking it over. (Hey, we needed some happy news this weekend...)

And just in case you missed it, Bucky's family expresses some heartfelt appreciation in today's Richmond County Daily Journal. If you voted, you're included!

Be sure to catch Bucky singing on Regis and Kelly and Ellen tomorrow--check your local listings for time and channel. And there's still talk about a Geraldo at Large appearance Monday too, so keep this thread bookmarked for updates.

(Edited to add this extremely useful link: The Late Night TV Page has updated guest lists for just about every syndicated and network talk show, and offers RSS feeds, too.)

More later...have a great night!

A mini post...

Here's a short, sweet spot of news to get your holiday Sunday going:

You might have missed this interesting post at the Fox boards, featuring a quote from Bucky's mother Debbie about his plans for the week--he'll be home briefly, then headed back out again to "check out his options while he can". (Perhaps this means more interviews? The ones he's done since leaving Idol have been quite enjoyable for us--and we're betting the various reporters had fun, too.) There's a lot to be said for striking when the iron is hot...

Looks as though keeping track of Bucky's career could get much easier soon--one enterprising fan has started a newsletter. You can check it out at Google Groups, or read about it here.

If you're a procrastinator (like me), and you didn't get around to ordering one of those ultra-cool "Vote for Bucky" or "Sweet Tea and Biscuits" T-shirts, never fear--they're still available at BSTees, and some new Bucky-related designs are said to be on their way.

With Idol in the rear-view mirror--at least until the tour begins--we'll be focusing more on Bucky's road ahead in the weeks to come. Stay tuned!

Next week's adventures

Bucky Covington's going to be a busy man next week; he'll be singing on both Ellen and Live With Regis and Kelly on Monday, according to the Richmond County Daily Journal:

In addition to numerous brief interview segments on syndicated entertainment shows, Bucky will be a guest on the nationally syndicated “Ellen” show Monday.

He said Thursday night that he’ll be singing Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” during the appearance.

“Superstition” is also Bucky’s contribution to the upcoming “American Idol” compilation CD, he said.

And a "welcome home" Bucky Bash is in the works, although the Idol contract puts some restrictions on the fun:

The biggest welcome home party Richmond County has ever seen will be thrown to honor Bucky when he returns home, said organizer Kim Williams.

A free event featuring several local bands is in the works, but no date has been set.

It all hinges on Bucky.

“We are going to do a ‘welcome home,’ but we’ve got to work around Bucky’s schedule,” Williams said.

Due to “Idol” contractual obligations, Bucky will not be able to perform at the event, but he will be there all day as the guest of honor. The contract also limits Bucky’s ability to sign autographs and pose for photographs.

There is an unconfirmed rumor floating around about a possible appearance on Geraldo at Large: check the show's site for details, and be sure to catch the most recent posts on the media thread at the official boards for news, too. While you're there, drop into this sweet thread by a member of last week's dress rehearsal audience, who shares her story (and pictures) of her sign, an autograph, and some lovely smiles from Bucky.

And there's a whole lot of online love and affection for Bucky today--at the Canadian Idol board, a tribute thread is up and running, not to mention the appreciative words at IDF, TWoP and FoRT, among many other places. (I think it's safe to assume he's going to be a very popular performer on the Idols tour this summer...and that's just the start.)

Another great Bucky wallpaper has been posted by a talented fan at Idolforums--lots of good links in Bucky's sub-folder there, so be sure to give it a visit.

Finally, there's an updated link to Vickie's lovely "Real Good Man" tribute montage--click here and enjoy. (Popup blocker recommended for Megaupload, as always.)

More later today!

A high note

Bucky's entire teleconference interview, with no editorial comment added, has been posted by the kind people at FoRT. Even if you've read some of it elsewhere, it's well worth your time to read the whole thing--there are plenty of great quotes there that we haven't seen anywhere else.

Also from the interview--Bucky's song on the upcoming finalists' CD will be "Superstition". (We would have loved "Best I Ever Had" as a bonus track, too, but oddly enough, the Idol people haven't asked us what we think...)

And if you're looking for Bucky on TV this week, Monday's the day--the Ellen and Regis and Kelly spots have been confirmed; rumor has it one or both appearances might (might!) include a song, so be sure to have your Tivo/VCR ready. (And there are murmurs of a Letterman appearance, also--we'll update if we get more news, but word will probably turn up here soonest. Good stuff in that thread--go now...)

One of the sweetest things to come out of this week's events is the shared admiration, respect and fondness that Bucky's inspired, both on his own fan boards/threads and on those for other artists. Constantine Maroulis' witty fans at Rawkhands.org have just started a Bucky thread; and over at Bo Country, Vickie has created a gorgeous tribute montage set to Bucky's version of "Real Good Man"--an absolute must-see. (It's an YSI link, so if it's busy, try again in a few minutes. We'll update as needed...)

Bucky's Queen night "Get the Look" and "Style Weekly" pages have been updated at the Fox site...the "Style" page gave us a bittersweet pang at the end, but the stylist's notes are fun. (And I was right about some of Bucky's stage gear being classic/vintage--kudos to the stylist for a great denim and leather look, and to Bucky for wearing it well. Here's a link to Bootstar, the store mentioned in the article, for my fellow fashion addicts.)

Last but not least--this post would have happened much sooner if not for the fact that I've spent much of the evening cleaning a virus off my hard drive. Be careful out there! Idol season is a great time to make sure your anti-virus and spyware programs are up to date. Surf wisely.

See you soon!

Faster than fast...

A very quick look at the first bits of news this Friday:

From this morning's Richmond County Daily Journal comes the most complete take on Bucky's teleconference interview, with a snippet that has all the boards buzzing today:

His return to Richmond County will be brief.

“I plan on taking it easy a little bit and then doing this tour thing,” he said.

“I’m probably going to be looking toward Nashville trying to find some work.”

Nashville is already looking for him.

On Thursday morning, Sawyer Brown’s management team called the Daily Journal seeking help contacting Bucky. The agency said it planned to offer Bucky a job.

(If there are any more details forthcoming, we'll pass them along. Reality TV Magazine is tracking the story, as well.)

Bucky's appearance on yesterday's Tonight Show with Jay Leno was fun, albeit brief--Bucky good-naturedly agreed to spin the "Wheel of Consolation", and won a "three picture deal" from NBC--three 8x10 photos of Jay and crew, naturally. If you missed it, you might want to hop into the appearances thread at the official boards for updates and more goodies. (The Tonight Show repeats very late at night in some markets, so check your local listings, too.)

Now more than ever, we're upset that our cable provider doesn't carry the Fox Reality Channel--but if yours does, and you missed Bucky's much-talked about interview, it'll be repeated all this weekend.

And from the kind posters at Idolforums, here's a great picture thread featuring after-show photos from Wednesday, including a sweet shot of Bucky singing to his pretty wife Crystal.

Finally, the striking photograph up top is already sold out at AllPosters.com--but you can sign up to be notified when it's back in stock. (We missed out, too.) [Edited to add: looks like it's still in stock at Art.com.]

See you later today!

Into the whirlwind...

(Edited to add a link to an brand new--and very, very funny!--Bucky Q and A interview at Entertainment Weekly. Enjoy!)

Bucky's been exceedingly busy on the interview circuit--lots of links here, and more to come all this week. (If you have any news about upcoming appearances, please feel free to share it in comments, and I'll update as fast as I can. Thanks!)

Here's a little of what's been happening today--and it's also interesting to see which media outlets used which parts of the same interview:

MTV.com has much of his teleconference with reporters, including Bucky's thoughts on the advantages of years playing the bar scene, and a cute quote about his "best buddy through this whole thing", Elliott Yamin.

A longer article from Zap2It contains a hint about where Bucky may be headed, musically:

After his round of post-show interviews and appearances concludes in the next week, Covington says he plans to head home to Rockingham and "take it easy" for a short time before the "Idol" tour starts later this year. After that, he's likely Nashville-bound to try to sell his brand of country-rock.

"A lot of today's country has got a little rock drive to it," he notes. "The guitars are a little heavier, the drums are a little more beat on. It's a good sound -- I like the route country's going, and I'm excited to maybe get into it."

Simon Cowell's "advice", and the recent value or lack thereof, gets a review from Bucky in this longer excerpt from the Charlotte Observer.

As for TV spots, so far we're heard rumors that he'll be on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno this evening at 11:35/10:35 Central, Live with Regis and Kelly on Monday, Ellen "sometime soon"--best bet is to check the shows' respective websites for updates, watch Bucky's official site at Bucky Covington Online, and bookmark TWoP's Bucky thread and this ongoing thread at IDF. (As a matter of fact, might be a good idea to go there now...)

Stay tuned!

"We love you, Bucky!"

A news sweep for the first day of this new phase in Bucky's blossoming career:

The Richmond County Daily Journal has the hometown reaction to yesterday's events, along with messages of love and support from around the country and some kind words from Bucky's gracious family:

Theresa “Mama Tee” Dunn, who is Rocky’s mother-in-law and the woman behind Bucky Covington Online, posted a message to all of Bucky’s fans on the “American Idol” chat boards.

“I want to thank each and everyone of you who have dedicated these past few months to supporting our ‘Idol’ and for dialing those digits every week,” she wrote. “Our journey is not over, it is just beginning. Yes, there is the tour and the next year with ‘American Idol,’ but then I think a bigger success is in store for Bucky Covington.

“His dream will be realized in a much bigger way. There is the CD for the twins to make — ‘Sweet Tea & Biscuits’ and ‘Double Vision.’ You have not heard the last of him. We look forward to meeting everyone at the tour this year.

“Well, I guess my Hollywood trip for next week is canceled. I am saddened at the moment and I know good things await on the horizon, but just for the moment I am going to give in to my emotions. The love you have shown all of us has been very heartfelt and we are humbled by the generosity bestowed upon us all.

“We hope you will continue to e-mail us at the Web site and we look forward to hearing from you. I hope you will understand if we take a day or two to answer.

“Again, a very personal thank you to everyone here who have been a part of our ‘Bucky Family.’”

Bucky's mother Debbie has posted a message at the official boards, too--be sure to head over there and join the chorus of appreciation.

And here's an important thread to bookmark--the fans at the Fox boards are keeping track of Bucky's post Idol TV appearances, which will probably include the Jimmy Kimmel, Regis & Kelly (on Monday) and Ellen shows, among others. (One fan mentioned that Bucky was on this morning's Fox News--read this, and get ready to smile.) As news comes in about where Bucky will be appearing, we'll post it here as well. (Edited to add a list from IDF: "American Idol Extra [FOX Reality Channel 6:30PM] , Jay Leno [NBC 11:35PM]".) We'll keep up with this all day today.

As for Bucky's musical future? Well, the shouts on the message boards are loud and clear and unmistakable--we want a CD. We're not sure about the contractual time frames and limits for a contestant who finishes in Bucky's spot, but we think this very informative article on Idol contestant turned successful recording artist Josh Gracin could hold some excellent clues as to how Bucky will make the transition. (Notice, too, the involvement of Rascal Flatts, who gave Bucky a great shout-out on The View a little while back. )

We're thinking positive over here. It really is just the beginning.

Back later today with as much news as we can find...

4/12 Results: "Stickin' by our Real Good Man"

(Screencap by KathyG85--be sure to visit her beautiful gallery.)

By now, you've already heard the news. I'll spare you the usual recap--it was a long and drawn out one-hour show, with a few bright spots and a lot of filler, nonsense and general weirdness--and get right down to the heart of the matter, which is Bucky Covington, and us, and where we all go from here.

Perhaps the most achingly bittersweet part of tonight's events was the way Bucky took it in stride. It only underscored what we--and the show--would be missing when he faced the situation with a shrug and a smile and a soft "Well, somebody had to go." Bucky gave this thing his all, and he gave it his all his way, resulting in some of the most memorable performances in Idol history. If there was ever any doubt that Bucky Covington is exactly who he seems to be, that doubt is long gone now.

But is Bucky long gone? Not a chance, y'all. Not a chance.

Yes, I know. Many of us here are Idol veterans, and we've seen it happen before--some lovely, charming performer finishes eighth, or seventh, or tenth, and stands next to Ryan, shouting "you haven't seen the last of me, America!", then promptly disappears for good. But Bucky Covington is something entirely different, I think. Bucky was and is something too discernably real for Idol--a true, organically-grown singer/songwriter with a raspy, rootsy voice and a beautifully-honed Southern rock sensibility. Never in a million years would most of us have thought that someone so utterly genuine would get so far on this season of Idol, where--to be frank--being genuine seems to be virtually a liability.

Yet, there he was, and there we were, and some of us who wouldn't ordinarily touch American Idol with a ten-foot pole were dialing our fingers off every Tuesday night, and crossing those raw fingers every Wednesday. In a strange way, we have Idol to thank for bringing us someone who wasn't quite the perfect fit for the show--but who was decidedly a perfect fit for us, his new and loyal fans.

So where's Bucky going, and where are we going with him?

It's true that we won't have our Tuesday and Wednesday night dates with Bucky, and we'll miss that terribly. Let's face it, he was an absolute joy to have on our TV sets twice a week. But there's no doubt in my mind that there's some heavy rotation on CMT and/or MTV in Bucky's future, and there's the summer tour to look forward to. (Something tells me Bucky's going to absolutely run away with the live Idols show this year. Just a hunch.)

We're going to be here for him, plain and simple. He's got the voice, the talent and the charm--and now he's got the audience, too-- a nationwide audience united in our desire for his first CD. We can't vote for him with our phones any more, but we can sure vote with our feet and our wallets. Yep, this is the one time when a departing Idol didn't even have to say it--but I will. You haven't seen the last of Bucky, America.

This blog is still open for business. More news as it happens...

(If you'd like to send Bucky some love, you can leave a message on the fan blog at Bucky Covington Online--the site is sponsored by his family and friends.)

Smile a while...

A few stops to make you smile on this most suspenseful Wednesday:

The Queen theme night wasn't the biggest hit with most of the critics, but some reviewers had good things to say about Bucky's "Fat Bottomed Girls" performance. Palm Beach Post entertainment blogger Leslie Gray Streeter gives him some "love, love, love", and Reality TV News notes that he "seems to be peaking at exactly the right time in the competition."

And as always, the Richmond County Daily Journal has the inside scoop from Bucky's family:

“It was about like he was performing back here in Rockingham,” Rocky said. “He sure looked comfortable up there.”

Father Gene Covington added, “I think he was one of the best tonight without a doubt.”

Wife Crystal Covington watched Bucky’s performance live in Hollywood.

“I think he did well,” Crystal said in a phone interview. “He has a good chance of staying in the competition. I don’t think he’ll be going home (tonight).

“The (studio audience) was totally into it. All of the songs that have some rockin’ to them, the crowd, they’re going to get up and just go for it.”

Most importantly, Crystal said Bucky was pleased with the performance.

“He’s comfortable with tonight,” she said. “He’s always cool and laid back; even if he was worried to death, you wouldn’t know it.”

If you've enjoyed R. Shawn Lewis' chronicle of Bucky's Idol journey as much as we have, be sure to check out his beautiful photography--he captured yesterday's Bucky Bash in both words and pictures. It's a fun way to get a glimpse of the sweet and supportive hometown scene. (And for Rocky's fans, there are some great onstage snaps, too...)

More pre-show news later today--hang in there!

4/11, "Fat Bottomed Girls"

(Screencaps coming sometime tomorrow--stay tuned! We swiped this one from Google...kudos to the unknown creator.)

It's the night after Queen-mas, and all through the Idolsphere...people are scratching their heads, actually. It was neither the trainwreck nor the triumph the audience (and the media) alternately feared and hoped for. It was a bit of everything under the sun, with much after-the-fact debate going on as we speak. (And not all of it's about the contestants--the judges might have a bit of explaining to do tomorrow as well.) What to make of it all? Nobody's sure at the moment.

One thing is sure, though--it definitely started off with a bang.

Way back when we started this blog, our first recap of a big-stage Bucky Covington performance was his take on "Superstition". And right away, we noticed something--while the traditional Idol performance radiates almost visible waves of "notice me! look at me! vote for me me me!" ego-neediness, there have been the occasional--and welcome--Idol singers who seemed genuinely interested in whether you were having a really good time out there. Bucky struck us as a true entertainer, in the best and most giving sense of the word. (And it looks like we weren't the only ones to notice--Brian May and Roger Taylor gave him a similar shout out on his "rockin' good attitude" and easy interaction with an audience. No disrespect to Paula Abdul et al, but I think I'd go with the members of Queen here.)

So was tonight a preview of the rockin' good time we can expect with Bucky on the Idol tour, and in his concerts after his Idol days are done? Yep. Did he sell a few extra tickets to that Idol tour tonight? Probably. Would we miss him for the world? No way...Bucky's far too much fun.

"Fat Bottomed Girls" is a strictly-for-fun song, and he brought the right, slightly naughty attitude to make this one work. In his leather jacket, slim cut jeans and denim shirt, bangin' fair hair flying, he looked 100% rockstarry; from what we could hear over the booming band (why is the band so dang loud on Idol this year, and why is the mix so muddy?) he sounded like his aimiably raspy, Southern-accented rockstarry self--an ideal song choice for his distinctive vocals.

As is the case all too often (with the exeception of last week's wonderful "pimp spot") Bucky was given a few hurdles to overcome--the less-than-desirable "opening act" spot (well, someone has to do it very week, we guess), bright, blah undramatic lighting, and no fancy camera work. Even so, he had the crowd on its feet, clapping and smiling and having a good time--which is the desired effect when performers are successful in, you know, the real world. We'll go on the record--Bucky's recording voice is lovely (again, go to Bucky Covington Online and give his original songs a good listen), but he's also going to be quite the live draw when all is said and done.

It's probably best to let the esteemed gentlemen of Queen have the last word on this one. "Sort of felt like us at the end", they said. Coming from Queen, that's quite a dandy compliment.

Buzz on the boards: That was one enjoyable performance. Save Bucky!
Our take: When do tickets go on sale?

See you tomorrow for screencaps (heaven willing) and the usual Wednesday fare...

West Coast, it's all up to you...

This is a make-or-break night, everybody. Even if you're just casually passing through this blog, please pick up the phone and dial at the top of the hour.
The vote totals are rumored to be extremely close tonight.
Every vote helps. Thank you!
-------------------------------------
Vote, vote, vote at the top of the hour! Dial this number to vote for Bucky Covington:

1 866 43657 01

Quick recap in comments now--if you've seen the show and want to talk, come on in!
Full recap after the show airs on the West Coast.