What else can I say about David Cook other than oh my god? There’s just something about him that makes me get weak in the knees and feel as if I’m dreaming. And maybe I was yesterday, as there are barely any pictures of me floating about the interwebs with last year’s American Idol.
I touched down in to San Diego Wednesday evening too see Cook preform at the Del Mar County Fair last night with that being the only expectation on Thursday’s agenda. I’ve had this trip planned since March, and unknown to me- was a plan in the works to meet David prior to the concert yesterday evening. As soon as I was in the car, I was informed that I’d be meeting David at an exclusive meet & greet in downtown San Diego. Part of me could not accept that as fact, that is to say, until he was standing less than five feet away from where I was sitted. If it wasn’t for the vodka I’d quickly downed prior to his arrival, I think I may have fainted. I arrived an hour early to the meet & greet venue, which was a very posh little, three-story bar in the heart of Downtown. There was not a soul in sight, and I’d started to wonder if there was any truth to the information that was passed along to me. I took a walk in to little Italy, grabbed a tea at a local coffee shop, and rang my sister to pass some time. About half an hour later, I walked back to the venue to find a reasonable line forming in front. A positive sign. Save for the demographic I saw before me, which startled me slightly. The cougars were on patrol! I took a quick glance inside, and saw people bustling about, hanging signs for the radio station that was hosting the event. Security confirmed I was indeed on the guest list, and waited about 15 minutes until being allowed inside. I wasn’t sure what to expect when the 30 or so guests, including myself, were ushered to the topmost floor, as it was the smallest. We were served champagne and cupcakes, and so began waiting patiently for the man of the hour to arrive. I talked to other attendees, took business cards, schmoozed a bit. Mentally noted the layout of the venue, watched a sound check happen on the stage on the first floor. 2:30 rolled around. Still no sign of David Cook. The radio station informs us he’ll be late. Typical, I thought. I waited some more. Again we are told to wait another half hour. Then 15 minutes. Then yet another 15 minutes. And hour and a half finally passes before the fans gather at the windows to wave at David as he makes his way inside at long last. The frenzy begins. The cougars get their claws ready. I sit patiently at the table I was seated at, had being previously informed that they were going to seat David just adjacent where I was already at. I had no reason to move, I had the best seat in the house! A line forms, small children are getting anxious, and people are readying their cameras and sharpie pens. I wonder if I should get another hard drink. David finally gets upstairs and immediately the screaming begins, his handlers tell him where to stand, he obeys diligently. One by one, the fans go up like routine and get a picture taken by a local paparazzo, and are told no other pictures can be taken, or items are to be signed, due to his tardiness. I sit and watch some rather interesting meets take place. A cougar asks for a kiss on the neck in a raspy, low voice. David is taken aback, and has to sit and laugh a minute before regaining composure for the line that’s barely moved. Everyone gets a shot at him, the handlers rush the meet onwards, making our hour and a half wait seem like it was for nothing. Eventually, the people stop coming up, as everyone just remains near that’s already had a picture, polluting the view and completely screwing me of my chance to spring from my seat and get a chance to at least say hello. Immediately as I go up to David, he’s whisked away by a tall woman with black hair. My frustration is seen. Outcrys are heard. I flew from Phoenix to see him, after all. David looks my way and apologizes and that’s that. The meet is over. I got nothing. No hello, no picture, no signature. Just an apology for my 2 hour wait for him to arrive. I leave, biting my tongue and cursing the time wasted on a fruitless event.
Time to switch gears, concert time. After the letdown from earlier, I wasn’t expecting much. And indeed, that was what I got. The set for the stage was set up like some poor game of Tetris, and severely inhibited the vision of most the patrons on either side of the stage. I was just off stage left, and had to crane my neck a bit to see. More waiting. I start to get cold. I go up to the little white tents marked with ‘Concert Merchandise’ painted on, and get myself a David Cook hoodie as it’s now late evening, overcast, and getting darker by the minute. The line was long, and I’d asked a lady in line what the time was. She said 7:40. Ah, again with the lateness. David was to take the stage 10 minutes ago. The line progresses, I get my items, and head back to my seat. I waited about another 5 minutes and finally see David come up stage left and begin the set. Another 15 minutes gone. The concert itself was great, David hits every note flawlessly. He mentions said cougar from earlier who wanted a kiss on the neck and dedicates the song of the same title to her, as she’s in attendance. David banters with his band, and the audience, and presses the set forward. We get a new song added, and it goes over without a hitch. The band takes a short 5 minute break during the set, leaving us wondering if the show is over, but the frenzy and screaming continues those five long minutes to bring David back singing Light On, to which he flubbed his own lyrics. A few other songs get sung, and before the 45 minute mark draws to a close, so does the concert. I was more than a little disappointed. 60 dollars a ticket, and we didn’t even get an hour set. I managed to snag a guitar pick despite my displeasure with the entire day, and left feeling slightly cheated. And that was that. The three month wait for my belated birthday came to an end with me clutching a dirty guitar pick with tiny red font that read, ‘David Cook’.
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Nice!