American Idol Concert

Yes, the concert actually took place Tuesday July 1st and I realize I am very late in sharing these pictures and story about the concert but its been a little busy since then. It was a great concert. For a group of singers who are pretty new to the entertainment industry putting on a concert for a stadium full of people - I think they did a pretty great job.

We got to Jobing.com Arena then went to our seats (which were SO close) with our friends Saundra (whom Brooke and I have known since we were little girls) and her husband Bruce. Saundra also brought her best friend's daughter Nikki and granddaughter Stephanie. Stephanie was diagnosed with Leukemia last June and just a couple months ago finished a long stay in the hospital and her Chemo and radiation treatment. Brave and amazing girl and I think she had a blast.

Then the concert! Now I know some of you who read this blog don't really like American Idol but these (mostly) novices to the entertainment industry they did a really great job. The contestants played in the order they were kicked off. Each played 3 songs. Brooke was wonderful, great, awesome and amazing. She played Let It Be, 1234 and Yellow (which is off her Songs from the Attic album and I adore her version so I was thrilled that she could play it for all the fans). Also, since I don't really want to have such a long post I am not going to go through each performance but I will add that David Cook was awesome. For being the winner he really is a great entrainer and really gets a crowd going. I am really eager to see what he does with the rest of his career.

Then once the concert was over (around 10:15 pm). A big group of us waited and then were brought "back stage" which really meant we went upstairs to a private room. There was a ton people there. Some were like us, family and friends of to see Brooke and others were fans to the show and other American Idol singers but it all added up to a lot of people and a lot of chaos. Brooke was so great, she stood up on a counter in the room and told everyone she loved them and was grateful to see them but this needed to be organized and a line needed to be formed for it to work.

So Jake and I had the opportunity to meet Kristy Lee Cook, David Cook, David Archeluta, Seysha Mercato, Jason Castro and Carly Smithson BUT we didn't because it is sort of weird to just go up to someone and ask for autographs or pose for a picture (especially because this is new for them to). Instead Jake and I snapped a couple of pictures of the other contestants while they were with other fans.

All and all it was great to see Brooke and her family but we didn't get much time with her. The girl was such a great sport, especially considering the crazy night and at about 12:30 am all of them hopped on a bus and went to San Diego to do it all over again!!!

This picture doesn't do justice to the crowd that was there. It was also interesting going to a concert with a amount of them being pretty young (very different than REM, Coldplay and Pearl Jam that I have been too...nicely enough there was no smell of POT half-way through)

They had a big screen in the back of the stage which was awesome but I wish they would have used more to put the performers on since, though our view was close, we couldn't see their faces.

Here is a picture of Brooke's Aunt Jenny and Saundra's husband Bruce
A couple of girls, one of whom knew Brooke as well, were nice enough to take a picture of Jake and I before the show started
Saundra and I wear our "Brooke" shirts (she is the one who bought our tickets and arranged to get the backstage passes, we didn't have money so without her none of it would have happened - thanks!)

Saundra and Bruce are such wonderfully generous and great people. May they be blessed with better health (they have had a lot of problem in the past couple years). Bruce is a Vietnam Vet and an amazing husband to Saundra. It was nice to see them for a night and even better was their generosity to enable Jake and I to be there!

The next couple pics are not the best quality of the concert but the best that would come out with our camera.

Everyone thought I was silly to take this picture of Saundra eating half-way through the concert but I just thought it was hilarious to turn and see this lady eating celery sticks and peanut butter from her little cooler (Saundra is severally hypoglycemic)

One of my favorites, other than Brooke was Michael Johns. He played a Queen, Dolly Parton and Areosmith song. He was so great.

Then Brooke came on! It was so great because it was the first time so far in the night that someone came out with an instrument and Brooke came up from the floor of the stage playing Let It Be on the piano!

I LOVED her version of 1235 by Fiest (not sure if I have the spelling right)?

There were a couple group numbers that were alright

And of course I loved David Cook. He rocks and, not that I am an expert but he looks pretty great on the guitar. The couple songs he played that I loved were, Hello by Lionel Richie, Hero by Foo Fights and Billy Jean by Michael Jackson.

Then we snapped a couple pictures as the other singers came out

Isn't Seysha even more beautiful in person...and let me tell you even tinier!

I finally got to see my girl Brooke! It hasn't been that long since I have seen her since she came by real quick in December but SO much has happened since then!!

We were able to get Saundra, Brooke and I in a picture as well, which from the huge crowd, was a bit of an accomplishment.

Oh and I ran into my friend Sheena while I was there. Like I told her that night - it seems like that her and Brooke are the same size we were in high school but I have gotten bigger...what is up with that! I will blame the whole, having a kid, on that!