WAUKEGAN: Recaps

Thanks to Invisible926, zippy888 and ImFeelingItDawg for these gorgeous photos from last night's concert.

Clack

deborah760's concert MP3 is now up at ClackUnlimited.

From the CB's LUVClay26:

I am here so quick because I didn't want to wait around. The roads are like ice rinks now, so I opted to come back to the hotel. So here I am.

Clack report... There were people taking pix and all, but they were really STRICT tonight. The person next to me had her camera taken away and it is the breaks I guess. I got him singing one song and a couple stills that are a lil blurry (2nd row center pit seat, but my camera looks like it isn't super great). You may have seen reports that he was wearing blue (cute on him) shirt, a tie (blanking what color it was and too lazy to pull out the camera), greyish vest, grey and blue striped jacket, black boots, and grey and blue (VERY CUTE!!!) pants. He even showed us he had striped socks. One was blue striped and the other is a different color which my mind is in a haze now.

He was a real stitch tonight. I think he even commented that we were thinking he was too funny or something. I knew a couple moments I was dying of laughter and I'm glad too. I was freaking out the entire time so it calmed me down to enjoy the concert more.

He made not one, but TWO jokes about the boards tonight. I forget the first one at the moment, but the second one he joked that (paraphrasing) we were going to post and say he was so horrible. *sigh* What will we ever do with this dude?

He also joked about his birthday. (It is funny I am commenting on the banter before the music btw.) He said someone said he looked 29. Then said someone texted him saying the weight looks good on him. So he is a, in words something like, heavy 29 year old now. Oh man. He did comment on Ripagate and we all cheered. Said he was being stopped a couple times so people can have their picture taken with him with his hand on their mouth. All I can say is I would like that anytime...picture optional. *shifty eyes*

Midway through the set he took off his jacket and there were MANY catcalls. It was hottness. He said he was kinda rolling his eyes at our reaction. Doesn't get why he is so cute I guess.

He did some speech on Wednesday night church and went on about how he was only 7 and didn't want to go. "Now you are going to say I'm not a good Catholic boy" or something like that he said. He also talked about UNICEF and BAF. I cheered when he said KC (I saw my old crew there! I miss it there) for the camps. He then said good to give this time of year or (good segway) anytime of the year. This was for DSIAFCD. It was awesome.

This review will be more complete when I get my full recap done Sunday. There have been many adventures in "LUV-land." Speaking of which, I think there is a new vocab word. An Enclaybaler. :)

One memory that sticks out in my mind is in "Sleigh Ride" he did the giddy up reins move thingy. If you are reading, thank you Clay. If not, well, to my fellow fans, it was HOTTNESS!!! :D

MDYK made me cry because I just a ball of nerves tonight. I had several BAD anxiety moments today and was in tears part of the day. I was smiling until that song. I felt better after it. "O Emmanuel" was GREAT! He struggled at the end durring AIW. Poor thing. I am praying hard his voice holds up for the tour. He is a great singer beacuse he messed the end of the OCYOF medley thingy. I noticed, but I swear to god if you didn't know the song how he does it normally you would not notice. He of course called himself out. *sigh* It was fine.

So, that was my main impressions so far. In summary, he looked hott when the jacket came off. The new hair was great. he semed to have shaved (Thanks), and just was great. Mic stand action galore during some of the songs too. I will write more in my full recap, but I hope this glimpse was entertaining...

He was awesome. Now tomorrow night is Merrilville. Then that will be it for a lil while.

laters
LUV

edited to add - WAIT I remember the first message board comment now! He made some comment that after he mentioned Alison Lawrence that we all knew all about him from doing background checks on him. Then said we knew info in the message boads and I think that is how the topic of him pulling up his pants showing his striped socks came about. That was funny.

From the CB's Cageme:

From what I can hear on the CH cellstream, the symphony has been playing selections from the Nutcracker Suite. Very beautiful. I'm hoping it stays clear when Clay sings

can hear her talking but she hasn't turned the radio off yet.. can't make anything out

Intermission.

calling another girl.. asked about merchandise..didnt hear an answer cause she had the music on

TRYING TO MAKE CONNECTION TO STREAM....TRYING...

talking to toni now.. said its very exciting.. waiting for clay to come on..conductor made cute comment about clay really nice crowd loved it..

CH stream is reporting a packed venue, symphony was quite good, audience was receptive to symphony.

Also, reporting a strict camera policy, but hoping to get clack.

Says that the orchestra sounds good, quite excellent, place is packed, Ethel is there, orchestra was really happy with audience reaction when the announcement of Clay in second half.
Strict policy on cameras in this place. Spot is there, has aisle seat. Hoping somebody gets something.

talking about all the girls there..lot of fun..ethel lmaking way up and down the aisle saying hi to everyone.. certer sitting next to 3 10yr old boys.. waiting for their reaction to clay..theater extrodinary..gorgeous..white winter land outside..

announced no camera..cell cameras video.. lots of clack gathers there so they are trying.. jojo there..charlotte in the pit..not seen jerome or any security..

THEY DID ANNOUNCE NO PICS, VIDEO....BUT, THERE ARE A BUNCH OF CLACK GODDESSES ARE EVERYWHERE, SO WE WILL HOPE FOR THE BEST!

EVERYBODY IS SOOOOOOOO EXCITED!!!

No souvenirs for sale, programs were free, heh.
saw Clay's bus in parking lot. CNN was playing on his overhead TV.
Beautifulold fashhioned theatre. Lots of CHers present.

1st floor full.. lower balcaony full. .last 10 row of upper empty..and a few on each side empty.. but very good turn out considering the weather.. lots of excitement in the room..

guy behind them keeps asking what is this guys name who is gonna be singing.. he is teasing all of them...

Jesse Vargas just went on stage with scores and is at the piano. Now off stage again.

nothing much going on.. just chatting about who is there and isn't..coming back on stage.. piano player wasn't there before just came out.. everyone from the symphony made it but one..due to the weather..

Mary putting set list for Clay on floor on stage.

black and white flyer with the program with picture of Clay .. thats all they get..

Almost time. Conductor looking like he's ready ( Jesse Vargas?)
They are switching phones now.
babe in a really low cut dress sitting centre front, right in Clay's face, lol
"Should be interesting," she says.


THE EXCITEMENT IS BUILDING.....

soemone talking.. cant hear anything.. or make it out..here we go.. ladies and gentlemen welcome multi plat.recording artist Clay aiken.. my holy goodness they are out of freakin control. they are screaming like crazy.. gray sweater..Sleigh ride

Here he comes gray sweater

WELCOMING OUR MULTIPLATINUM RECORDING ARTIST CLAY AIKEN.....

AND, THE CROWD GOES NUTS...

HE'S ON! HE'S ON! OH MY GOSH!

He's On!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gray sweater!!!!

Christmas Waltz!

He's on.....Christmas Waltz!
Big screams when he came on.

The audio is very patchy.
I know the certer is so close that she won't be talking but he sounds far away. It breaks up a bit.

board is running so slow.. Clay sound great.. 3.4 time wishing you .. same thing too.. has his rings on.. gray sweater.. hair very long..off to the side.. some major screaming now.. whooooo he did something to get them excited..

Blue shirt, gray sweater .... hair is long ... has his rings on.

Crowd just went wild in the middle of the song.

BLUE SHIRT

GREY SWEATER

VERY LONG HAIR.....

CROWD IS SWOONING....

blue shirt gray sweater gray suit just sang waltz

gray suit, sweater, tie.. blue shirt hair long..major applause after that song.. now singing.. Noel....

The First Noel

HE SOUNDS WONDERFUL....

The First Noel now. Sounds beautiful.

said whoooo he is great.. sound amazing.. lower regrister then bring it up ...let it flow off his lips ..noel noel.. noellllllll noellllllll rising .. born is the king..of Iserial....picking up tempo now..cutting out a bit.. crowd really showing the love..here he goes getting ready to rip.....born is the king born is the kind of iseriaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

held note.. crowd screaming wildly

THE LAST NOTES......YUMMMMMMMMM

Wished us a Merry Christmas!

Lots of banter, audience is laughing.

LOTS OF TALK....NOT USED TO SINGING WITH FULL SYMPHONE...CLAY DOESN'T THINK HE IS THAT CLASSY (J/K).....SOMETHING ABOUT THE HAIR.....GETTING LOTS OF LAUGHS AND CHEERS....

Said the lady on the plane thought he was 29. Talking about his birthday yesterday. Everyone is laughing. Asks who agrees if he's 21?

Said he's a little nervous about performing with a full orchestra. Everyone is dressed nice and clean...and he's not that classy. He's a little scared. He doesn't know all the musical terms - just slower, faster...

His hair is not the only thing that has changed in the past year! Audience is howling! Something about his hand, I think...!! Don't jump up and put your hand over his mouth. That's rude! BWAH!

He's talking. Something about his birthday. He asking everyone how old he looks. Says that he is nervous. Isn't that classy. Says the sympany uses big words and he just says louder, faster, softer ....

He says something and lots of laughs. Said something about please don't put your hand on someones mouth ... how rude that is. (Or something like that.)

Now talking about all the snow.

He's talking to the audience and has the ROFL.
Talks about the orchestra being all dressed up and he's "not that classy."
They are killing themselves laughing and he is having a ball.

Yes he's in good voice!

Now talking about not getting that much snow in NC.


clay talking. .about his bd yesterday.. lady on plane thought he was 29.. he says 21. little nervous this evening never performed live with orch before.. you guys are amazing..I m not the classy ..little scared..talking today people were using big words.. and i dont know i just say slower faster louder softer..this christmas not the only thing different this year.this hair is not the only thing that changed this year..don't jump up and put your hand over your mouth.. thats rude..chicago lot of snow..it snowed eveywhere..put him in the christmas spirit..one of the very first songs remember most.. choir teacher..background checks on me etc..what kind of sock I am wearing.. crwod..nuts.. socks black and green..favorite MCWL

He’s very excited about the snow there in Chicago..."lots and lots of snow, " he says because they don’t get much or any of it in NC and it really puts him in the Christmas spirit! Joked about the lady on the plane last night thinking he was 29!

MCWL now.

Oh ... he also said something about his socks and perhaps even showed them what they were?

And ... his voice sounds fabulous!!!!

HE IS VERY CHATTY TONIGHT!!

MCWL NOW....MAY THE JOY OF THE SEASON SURROUND YOU, MERRY CHRISTMAS WITH LOOOOVE....


singing now. .softly .. sound so happy and confident with himself.........I can't even hear the orch..just Clays golden voice.. merry christmas to alll.. with loveeeee..love the way he lets love just roll off his tongue..

Merry Christmas With Love!


MCWL now.
Sounds beautiful!

I just close my eyes and I am there.. his voice is very strong.. and powerful.. with that gentle stroke of finess...whowww.softly fading away.. and the crowd is wild..WWL laughter.. dont know what he did..

Winter Wonderland!

JESSE VARGAS ON THE PIANO...

SOME CHUCKLING GOING ON...I WISH I COULD SEEEEEE!

Even with the cellstream cutting out, he sounds wonderful. Audience is cheering and showing him the love!! Jesse Vargas is on piano.

Winter Wonderland now! Audience is laughing! Sounds like everyone, including Clay, is having a good time!

Winter Wonderland now.


applauding in the song..can just imagine him prancing across that stage..raking in the claymate.. he must really be doing someting cute cause we get squillllllllls of laughter a lot..


He is on top again (of his game) funny showed his socks, cause he knew it was important to the boards

Reports that he was very VERY animated during WWL....messed up his hair during that one....that's what he says....not sure why though

IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH HE HAS SOME LITTLE BITS GOING ON DURING WW.....HOPE WE HEAR ABOUT IT....AUDIENCE RESPONSE IS GREAT....

THEY SAID HE WAS VERY ANIMATED...

MORE CHATTING...TALKING TO SOMEONE IN THE AUDIENCE...JIM IS HERE WITH CAROL FROM OHIO WHO CAME THERE FOR HOURS IN THE SNOW....LOTS OF TALKING TO THEM...

He's talking with a couple from OHIO who drove 7 hours to be there tonight and see him...laughing...awww'ing going...."They are STEALING the thunder," he says! More laughing!

They said he was very animated during WW.

He's talking again. Asking someone who they are there with.
Talking with Carol? Asking how they got there. They are from Ohio and drove seven hours.

Asking the audience question but I can't hear what is being said.

Got onto someone from being on the phone.

taling to jim in audience.. your hear with carol..from Oh..did she pay you to come..she slept the whole way while he drove in the snow..lots of laughter..he is really working this..are you two married.. how long..41 years.. whooo..gonna sing a song just for them.. happy anniversay.. he is singing to them..

Are you too married? How long have you been married? Woo, woo how long??? 41 YEARS! We'll do a song espeically for you tonight...

If I mess up my hair, I'll get in trouble. His focus was on some couple the entire time. He's asking them questions. Carol? Where are you from? Ohio? Seven hours? In the snow? Did she pay you to come? She slept the whole time!

Audience is laughing! Clay says they are stealing his concert. Wanted to know who told them to come? People are hysterical! He's taking pictures while she's asleep. He's an enabler. He's a man or the man? Are you two married? Ooh, how long? 41 years?! Audience cheers! She aint' done talking!

Audience is howling! We'll sing a song for you. Happy Anniversary. Don't make me do any work during this song.

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire....

HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS....SOUNDS KINDA JAZZY....CAN'T HEAR THE MUSIC WELL, BUT CLAY'S VOICE COMES THROUGH SOOOOO SMOOOOOOTH....

The Christmas Song. He is GREAT voice tonight. And a great mood too!

sitting on a stool told everyone to cuddle

Christmas Song! Very romantic and beautiful!

His voice is like buttah!

He was sitting on a stool singing to the couple. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.


Just finished "The Christmas Song" ..... now he is sitting on a stool and singing, "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas".

His voice is like buttah!!!!


He sounds spectacular tonight! Singing for all he's worth. Soft and tender, but so very powerful during HYAMLC!

He sounds like he's really warming up now. Voice is just beautiful. Piano is fantastic. Doing some embellishments. Oh, I've missed him!!! Audience is eating it up!!

Sleigh Ride now...and he's doing the "giddy-up"!!!!!

he looked so beautiful.. he looked so happy.. just wonderful...

Cellcerter said he looks very happy.

SLEIGH RIDE!!!!!

THE GAL SAYS...OMG, HE'S RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME....

SLEIGH RIDE NOW

GIDDYUP GIDDYUP AND CHEEKS ARE NICE AND ROSEY....

SR...he is really upbeat. .and sounds chipper and light as a feather.. imagine him bouncing and gliding acroos the stage.. of he visions...he really is on tongiht..voice is beautiful..these wonderful thing....sleigh bells jingling ..lvoely weather..sleigh ride..really singing fast...giddy up giddy up..its grand holding your hand..checks are nice an rosey...I am rocking in my chair...

do you like my shoes. .I had them shinnedjust for you today.. I knew you would be sitting at my feet.. intro orch..and group of people so wonderful to work with so talented so professiona.. Im not.. I cant read music.. just go with the beat.. laughter.. he said oh thankyou.. you a ticket your here..talking to someone in the crowd.. said he was so comfortable with the group..he is really joking a lot tonight and chattychatty..yelled out in the audience hi how are ya..anyone from waukegan..not much response.. anyone from out of town.. lots of screams

Do you like my shoes? I got them shined today….something about it being the only thing people would see for those sitting up very close….not sure exactly if that’s right or not tho! I could barely care if I’m on key talking more about the orchestra! You don’t have to kiss up for nothing….thank you…thse folks are extremely talented we really haven’t rehearsed much…just a little maybe….I’m feeling very comfortable…a wonderful and talented group of people…been good getting to know everyone.

Talking to somebody... did you know you'd be looking at my feet the entire time?

Give it up for these people right here (applause). Talking about the orchestra, been so great to work with, so talented, so professional, (I'm not) laughing.... I can barely read music... (laughing)... something something... I don't normally sing with orchestra music, there's a number of professionals from around N. Ill, somethingsomething... laughing....

Do you like my shoes? I had them shined today just for you because I knew you'd be looking at my feet the entire time. You're really close! Asking the audience to clap...I think for the orchestra. Introducing the maestro and saying how talented, professional, he's not. He can't read music, can barely tell if he's on key....audience boos. He stops. Well, thank you. You don't have to kiss up or nothing. Thank you.

Folks are extremely talented. No rehearsal except for a short run-through this afternoon. He's feeling very comfortable. Bunch of professionals from northern IL. Based in Zion. Audience cheers. Yeah, Zion! He's funny tonight. Anybody left in town right now? Anybody from Waukegan? If you're from town, spending the night, there's going to be a sing-a-long in Zion.

Don't sing tonight. Let him sing. He'll entertain us and then you can sing tomorrow. Go support music in your community. That's how he started.

Took off his jacket. Audience is cheering!

he took off his jacket and the crowd when nuts.. he rolled his eyes.. said he gained some weight..getting stool out.. lots of laughter

Saying he had his shoes shined so the front row could look at them all night.

Getting for the symphany now. Talking about them and giving them their spotlight time.

Said someone was trying to kiss up to him and he said, "you don't have to kiss up to me ... you already have tickets, you're here." HAHA!

Promoting something that is going on locally over the weekend. (So sweet.)

Let me entertain you tonight and they can entertain you tomorrow.

Oh ... big cheers ... he took off his jacket!!!!!! Says he is gaining weight or something like that. Says he looks like he is an overweight 29 yr old.

Sitting back on the stool.

MDYK!

From the CB's DontBotherImLost:

I just came back from Waukegan and I live in Northside Chicago. I went with my parents. The drive to Waukegan was long because didn't take the I-94 instead we took US-41. It was really long and didn't have many street lights. We got there around 6 and we had dinner at a Chinese restaurant within the vicinity of the theatre. I saw one of the orchestra members there and it was the guy who played the french horn.

After dinner, we went to park our car at the parking garage across the street from the theatre. We went in. I saw that they weren't selling any merchandise. It was very small and compact. They had two lounges. I've got to say that a lot of people were getting lost just to get to the restroom. I've had to point out at point while talking to somebody on my cellphone were the men's restroom was. My parents and I sat in Orchestra Left about 10 to 12 rows to the last row.

The show started at 8. There were a few stragglers who entered during the chamber orchestra's performance. I thought that the orchestra's performance was good. I thought that the pieces they played were just right. At times, I thought that the cello and bass section were off a tiny bit. The conductor was very good. They played Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite, Mannheim Steamroller, and another one which I can't remember. The conductor's wife had her solo during one of the Mannheim Steamroller piece's which I believe was the Holly and the Ivy. They also played Greensleeves. After the Nutcracker Suite, the chamber orchestra was finished.

There was a brief intermission.

Clay came on and everybody was just loud and excited. I can't really describe it. He was wearing a greyish jacket that was over a grayish vest with a blueish shirt with a tie. His pants were the same color as the jacket and he was wearing black shoes. He came on and he sang The Christmas Waltz. After that he went on to sing The First Noel. After he finished The First Noel, my dad commented that Clay was good live. My dad has never seen Clay. So yea. There was banter after The First Noel. He talked about his birthday. How somebody commented that he looked like he was 29 but he thought that he looked like he was 21. He also talked about how he wasn't used to the snow and that Raleigh didn't get that much snow. He talked about how he has never performed with an orchestra. He said that most of the time the band usually followed him. He talked about how the orchestra was nice and classy that he wasn't. He also mentioned how he didn't know the musical terms for when it got softer, louder, faster, slower and etc. Softer is diminuendo and faster is crescendo. I've learned some of this in my music theory class. Anyways, he talked about how his hair changed then he got into the subject of putting his hand on people's mouth. He talked about how people in the airport wanted a picture with him with his hand over their mouth. He talks about Allison Lawrence, his choir teacher, how she got him to remember one of his very first Christmas songs something along the lines of that. He said how the messageboards knew everything about him. So he lifted up his leg pant and showed his socks. I didn't quite see what he socks he had on because the person in front of me was block me. Then he sang Merry Christmas With Love. He sounded really great during MCWL. He sang Winter Wonderland after that. After singing the song, he said that he was distracted by this lady who had her cellphone and she was calling people telling them that she was seeing Clay. Something like that and how her husband was holding the cellphone. He then questioned the lady what her name was and who was the guy. The guy was her enabler. She said that they came from Ohio and it took them 7 hours to get to Waukegan. She said that they have been married for 41 years. They spent their last anniversary at Meadeville. The husband also mentioned how when they were driving to Waukegan, the wife was sleeping. He said that the next song is for you and don't make the guy do anything just listen. He sang the The Christmas Song sitting on the stool.
After that he sang, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas. He then sang Sleigh Ride and he was really upbeat. He was making motions as if he were on a sleigh and steering the horses. Yeah!

After that he talks to a lady who was sitting in the front row. He comments on how she was really close to him and how she was so close to his shoe. He said that his shoes have been shined. He talks about the orchestra. How professional they were and how they had special guests performing in the orchestra. The orchestra was from Zion, Illinois. He said that the orchestra was going to have something going on at a church and there was a sing along Messiah thingy going on there. Then somebody from the crowd said something and he said don't sing tonight, let me sing. I know it's something along the lines of that because it was right after mentioning the Messiah event. He took off his jacket and put it on the mic stand. Then he commented about how he had gained weight. After that he sang Mary Did You Know sitting on the stool again. It was really good and the ending was just wow. He sang Hark the Herald Angels Sing/ O Come All Ye Faithful after. Wow. The end note on that was just ahhh!!!!

After singing that he talks about David Foster who wrote this song and that somebody has been singing in the past 2 years. He was talking about Quiana and how she's been singing the song in the past. He talks about taking it from her and singing this time around. He sounded beautiful and his voice was very strong during this song.

He talks about what his favorite song is at the moment. He talks about it has changed over the years. He also comments on a person sitting near the front and she had binoculars. I don't know what was going on there. He then asked Jesse if he knew the church version of O Come O Come Emmanuel. Jesse didn't know. So Clay talked about how this was his favorite song and that he did it last year. It was arranged by Steven Curtis Chapman, a new version of it. The out of nowehere Jesse starts playing on the piano what seems to be the church version of the O Come O Come Emmanuel. Clay mentions something that he doesn't know what type of music that is. The conductor comments that it is a Gregorian Chant. The Gregorian Chant by the way is the basis for most church songs. He sings O Come O Come Emmanuel. I think it was better performance than the one I heard on GMA. But yea.

After that he starts talking charities. He mentions BAF and Unicef. He talked about during Halloween, he collected money for Unicef. I wanted to yell Toga Treating during this because I did that this Halloween. I'm part of the Illinois Junior Classical League which is about the Latin/Greek language. We collected money for Unicef and dressed up in togas. So about the concert, sorry I veered off-topic. He talked about there were some peopel in the audience who helped out with BAF. He talked about the summer camps in Kansas City and Raleigh. He mentioned that there was also a summer camp in Gary, Indiana. During the talk about charities and such, he mentions giving to other people. He then says that it was a nice segue for Don't Save It All For Christmas Day. OMG. This is one of my fave Christmas songs ever. I died during this part to how amazing he was.

He leaves the stage and he leaves his jacket on the stool. he comes back for the encore which is All Is Well. I've got to say that it was good. It was more than good. It was great. No words can describe to how amazing it was. But it was just great. Then it was done after he sang the song.

There was a part in the show were he was talking about the shows and this was his third time doing it. He asked the audience if they had gone to the previous ones. The first year, second year, and both years. Yeah!

Right after the show, I had to leave because my dad had work early in the morning. On the way to the parking garage, my dad was humming All Is Well. I was glad that my dad liked seeing Clay as this was his first time. My mom seemed to be happy seeing Clay. I was really happy that I went and I didn't cancel because of the snow. I just wished that Clay sang a Jim Brickman Christmas song because that would've rocked. I mean the very first year, they included Sending You A Little Christmas. I'm happy that he at least sang Don't Save It All For Christmas Day.

I have to go to sleep now. I've got to do laundry in 5 hours. Really tired now. Good night!!!