Bucky Covington's "Gotta Be Somebody", and a little "American Idol rewind" of our own (updated w/mystery VA concert news...)

A reader requested a "hat photo"--voila! Bucky Covington on stage in West Palm Beach a few weeks back; thanks to the very talented Judy Lang for this excellent concert shot.

Updated: Word just came in about a new concert date--not much info yet, but Bucky's fans in the Virginia Beach area might want to keep April 17th open. More details as they become available...

Tonight's the night that American Idol devotees have been waiting for--a new season is about to begin, and many of Bucky Covington's fans can't help but feel a pang of nostalgia for the show that brought us our favorite emerging country star. What's interesting these days is that the lessons the show taught us--patience, persistence and confidence--are going to get us through this rather unusual stretch of Bucky's Nashville journey.

A blast from the past: Bucky Covington (and a great hat) in an official American Idol promo photo from 2006.

We've got an odd situation on our hands at the moment, y'all. We're technically between singles as far as radio stations (and Bucky's label) are concerned, but the video for "Gotta Be Somebody" is a big hit, and it's currently climbing the charts at both GAC's Top 20 Country Countdown and CMT's Pure 12-Pack. (Those links go to the respective ballots, by the way. Feel free to vote right now. Sneaky, aren't I?) From the comments on GAC's article about Bucky's guest spot on last week's countdown show, it's pretty clear that both general audiences and Bucky's passionate fans enjoy seeing and hearing him, live, on the radio and on video.

So our mission, interestingly enough, is exactly the same as it was during the days when we "voted for Contestant Three" on Idol. Back then, our aim was to keep him on the show long enough to catch the ears and eyes of Nashville's finest. Today, our video voting, concert-going and radio requesting keeps Bucky's voice, music and image in front of country fans, where he belongs. It's vital! Bucky is a newcomer in a competitive industry, and while corporate moves are carefully planned and timed, there's really no such thing as "downtime" when it comes to listener support.

Ducky Medlock, Jeff Cease and Bucky Covington in concert in West Palm Beach; thanks again to Judy Lang for this photo.

If your local country station is playing "Gotta Be Somebody", keep on requesting it; if they're playing his previous Top Ten hits ( "A Different World", "It's Good To Be Us" and "I’ll Walk") let them know you love hearing Bucky on the air. Be sure to snag your download of Live From Rockingham at Amazon or iTunes you haven't already. And of course--fun homework assignment, yes?--get out to a Bucky Covington live show if you can, and bring a friend or two!

Yep, I know I'm preaching to the choir--but we also know (in many contexts...sigh) how frustrating it can be to have fun events delayed by forces far beyond our control. Spring (for Bucky's next single) and fall (rumored release time for I'm Alright, his next album) seem far away at the moment, but there's a lot we can do until then to give Bucky's new music the best launching pad possible as 2010 unfolds. We're up for it! News post--a short one, I promise-- next, so come on back...