I had the great pleasure of seeing David perform live on his first solo tour, March 2nd in Northampton, MA. I will share with you that I truly had to go through Hell to get to Heaven but it was so worth it!!

First, New England was hit with a huge Nor’easter on the Sunday evening into Monday of the performance. We got over a foot of snow in many places and I was really worried that the show might be canceled. Fortunately it was not, but I had to drive over an hour through the snow and it was very scary at times, a lot of accidents all over the highway. Fortunately because I work in a school and the school day was canceled, I was able to leave earlier that I planned, and got to the venue in plenty of time.

My friends and I arrived at about 3:00PM and saw that there was already a line, going just around the building. We saw David’s bus and really started to get excited. We found a parking garage and walked in the bitter cold to get a place in line. We were actually in a very good spot, probably only 20 people ahead of us. Now it was time to wait outside in the freezing cold! We were told the doors would not open until 6:30PM and it was only just a little before 3:30PM! =(

We talked with other fans waiting in line to kill some time and we took shifts so that we all got a chance to find some food and warmth. It really wasn’t so bad and I had bundled up before I left, so I was feeling pretty good. David’s road manger Ray, came out and told us that David was worried about us waiting in the cold and to go and come back, but no one was budging! We are a stubborn bunch when it comes to seeing our idol! 😉 I had gotten a great place in line and I was not giving it up! I was truly hoping my efforts would get me a good spot up front near the stage, close enough to see David well while he performed.

There were fans of all ages and genders at the show and I saw a few people in wheelchairs, which I later found out about. Very moving story about that, which I will get to!

Anyway, finally 6:30PM arrived and the doors opened and we were moving. It was all very orderly and my friends and I were able to get right up to the front of the stage. We were so excited!! =) In retrospect for those of you going to a show, I will tell you being up close to the stage comes with a price….it is extremely loud and I really think I would have enjoyed David’s voice better had I been a little further back. It took my ears a whole day to get the hearing feeling like it was back to normal. The upside of being up front…a great view of David and watching his performance, he really interacts with us fans. When he came out he sang “Touch My Hands” and he did touch my hand! He gave me a really nice squeeze, kinda of like you get when you share “Peace be with you” in church. For all my Catholic friends…you know what I mean! 😉 The people were going crazy all around me and I will share that I am not a big person, I am just about 5’1″ and I had brought some little kids that were stuck way back , up front with me so they could see David. Poor things were stuck literally in a sea of tall adults and couldn’t see a thing, so I had them station themselves in front of me so they could really see/ experience David. These little girls were only 7,9 and 11 and they adored David and had never seen him live before. I had, so I wanted to let them get closer to David…a real thrill for them! Anyway, when David saw me and the kids, he reached out for our hands and shook them but then all of a sudden, some very large adults started to reach over us to get to David and I literally was getting squished. Very scary feeling!! Well, David saw this and immediately started to motion to them to all back away. What a guy, he was trying to protect us! After the song was over he reminded everyone that there were some “little people” up front and to please be mindful, as he did not want any one getting hurt. Sigh, he is so sweet!! He then went on to say/sing “There ain’t no mountain snowy enough to keep me away from you”! He really does have a song for everything!! He then said he couldn’t believe we would wait in so much cold and snow to see him and he was so grateful to us. Did I mention that I ADORE him?!!!

David sang so many wonderful songs from the album and he also sang a few covers like…. Jason Mraz’ “I’m Yours” and Sara Barellis’ “Love Song” as well as an encore of “A Thousand Miles”. He was simply amazing. David is one of the very few, if not the only singer that I have seen ‘live’, that sounds better in person than he does on an album. He hits every note beautifully and his voice is so powerful and smooth, truly incredible to listen to! My favorite songs of the evening were… “You Can”, “Somebody Out There”, “Zero Gravity” and “To Be With you”. These were jaw dropping performances! Of course they all were, but these songs were exceptional to me and the ones that moved me the most that night. “Angels” as well, during the encore…chills, really! The song “Zero Gravity” shows us a side of David, some have not seen before. He bops and dances around the stage like crazy . The song is very catchy and fun and David seems to love performing it. I will also add he helped to write it and it is another song that should have made his album! (Didn’t I write another post about that? Lol!) He is no longer that shy young man from the AI days. He is very confident, yet still full of charm and personality.

The concert was over way too fast, I could not believe how fast our time with him went. =( For those of you waiting to attend a concert, do your best to take it all in and savor every moment. I felt like a kid the day after Christmas, as my friends and I were leaving the show. We were told that David would not be coming out to see fans due to the weather, but I now know the real reason and I will share it with all of you. (Remember the people in wheelchairs I mentioned earlier) I must say at first, I was disappointed because I would have stayed longer to see David again, even for a moment. We left wishing we could have spent more time with David. =( But then I read a blog on Snarky Archies which explained everything!

Apparently there were two fans that had come to the show to see David, both of them terminally ill. One was a man named Michael, his was the story I read on Snarky Archies.. a truly touching and heart wrenching story! The other was a boy. David wanted to make sure that he had private time with each one of them so he waited for the venue to clear out, so he could be with them one on one and really spend quality time with them. When I read the story, I cried and cried! David knew it would be the one and only time he would have with these people, and he wanted to make it special. One of the friends of the young man named Michael, describes in her post how kind and compassionate David was with him and that David held Michael’s hand and they to talked for awhile and David had tears in his eyes. He spent a lot of time with Michael and signed things and took photos with him. Again, it is all on Snary Archies if you would like to read more about it. Truly touched my heart! Just when I think I can not possibly adore David Archuleta any more than I already do…he says or does something and I admire him more than ever. Such a special, unique young man. The world needs more David Archuletas!! 😉

So that is my story. After a long day of driving in the snow and waiting in the cold, I had the privilege of seeing and hearing the most wonderful singer I have ever experienced live. It was all worth it and I would wait in the cold all over again just to see/hear him sing some more!

Those of you that are going to a concert, you are in for something very special. Enjoy!! 😉

Take care all,
Katie

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For many travelers an airport looks very much like any other. But David, the touring musician, seems especially happy when he has a layover at the Atlanta airport. Here are the Top 3 reasons why:

• 3. He feels at home in “Crush Country”.
• 2. He can wear his t-shirt that says “The Big A” without feeling egotistical.
• 1. He shops for more Elephant Poo Paper which he uses for ‘organic’ songwriting.

Tags:   Atlanta · Top 3
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In response to some fans who have mentioned that they are getting negative comments because of the amount of time spent following David’s career, this is my perspective:

How can someone at 18 inspire us to be better people? How can he create such an overwhelming sense of well being?  Just hearing his voice soothes my ruffled state.  Does he have us mesmerized with his songs?  Do we try to explain his magic?  Analyze our affection or pretend we don’t love him when teased by family or friends.  Does the constant ridicule fade away or does it gain momentum?  All of these apply to some of us and we have learned to listen and politely accept their well meaning comments.  You need to feel David not explain David and until you can do that no one can understand our relationship as fans.  Do we have ODD?  Probably!  Is it unusual?  Probably!  But David is unique and provides an unusual amount of promise that no other artist has given us for quite sometime — a long and interesting career with a gift from God that’s meant to be shared.  He is our instrument of  love and good will and I have no intention of giving him up.  He touches my soul and lifts me up when days are low.  Thank you David for changing our world!

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Teen “Idol” Archuleta hits all the right notes at Croc Rock
By John J. Moser
Of The Morning Call

What’s not to like about “American Idol” runner-up David Archuleta?

Absolutely nothing, if you were at Allentown’s Crocodile Rock on Sunday.

In a concert that spanned 70 minutes and 14 full songs plus a medley of four others, Archuleta sang with passion, exuded an engaging boyish stage presence and didn’t hit a single bad note with his rich tenor voice — and, in fact, hit many very good ones.

He nailed the signature notes from the opening “Touch My Hand” (the title of which he took literally — handshaking the front row) to the killer closing of Robbie Williams’ “Angels,” and even outdid the big note on the recorded version of his hit “Crush.” He emoted often, but never in a cheesy way, and worked so hard that four songs into the show he was wiping sweat and by the end was breathing hard.

In a white hoodie, jeans and sneakers, Archuleta was delightfully disarming, dancing around the stage as you expect an 18-year-old would, constantly talking to the packed crowd (he even took a picture of them, explaining he wants to document his first solo tour), and frequently smiling and waving — which, of course, brought shrieks from the mostly teen-girl crowd every time.

The show made the inherent weakness of “Idol” for Archuleta obvious: While great on other people’s material — during the medley he did Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours” better than Mraz and, alone at the piano during the encore, made Pike County native Vanessa Carlton’s “A Thousand Miles” believable for a vulnerable male voice — he was even better on his own material.

With a four-person band that gave him umph, Archuleta showed mastery of many styles: a funky “Works For Me”; the driving pop of “Don’t Let Go,” a catchy “Waiting for Yesterday” and a great “A Little Too Not Over You”; and even neo-disco on the unreleased song “Zero Gravity.”

But the highlight was the slower songs: “To Be With You,” with him on piano backed by violin, was heartbreaking, and as good as any torch singer. “Somebody Out There,” which he sang like a siren while sitting on a stool, would be a great wedding song. “My Hands” had a sweet a cappella coda.

As talented a pop singer as Archuleta is, his wonderful voice just seems suited to songs that center on it, which may show where his future lies.

And what’s not to like about that.

Tags:   Crocodile Rock · Pennsylvania · rave · reviews
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David’s music puts a song in my heart, a smile on my face and a “spring” in my step, every time I listen. His voice and the way he expresses himself through his music is something to behold! A true blessing!! =)

Take care all,
Katie

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