WILKES-BARRE TWP. - It's no surprise that a concert tour based on a TV show that draws 21 million viewers a night drew a capacity crowd at First Union Arena. What was surprising was how well it translated into the live setting, and how much fun it was.
The arrival of Clay Aiken brought the house down with Beatlemania-type shrieks from the thousands of young teensin the audience. With Aiken, the comparisons are true: the kid is a young Barry Manilow, right down to the body language. And like Manilow, he can really sing.
"This is the smallest place we've played, but it might be the loudest," said Aiken at one point. What he didn't know was that it was probably the loudest the building had ever been. But these "American Idols," who are truly living the American dream, deserve the cheers.
I too witnessed Clay tear up and I quickly looked up at the screen and there was a close up of him and his beautiful mouth was trembeling. At that moment I thought someone had stabbled me in the heart. I always knew the right reason why I love and suport this terrific man, but to witness him express his love and gratitude for his audience (live) was the most priceless moment of my entire life. You can not begin to describe it, you just had to be there. You can not express it, you had to feel it. If anyone was at this particular concert and left the building not feeling fulfilled, choked up, and loved in return by our One and Only, you should not have been there.
What kind of magic resides in Wilkes Barre, PA? I'm serious.
I do wonder about the magic in eastern PA!
shadowdancer...i posted a reply above yours..and forgot to login. Geez..we might have been sitting so close to each other..and your recount was perfect...it was a perfect night wasn't it???...I took some pics also...came out pretty good...got alot of hair cropping to do yet..lol...maybe we could share pics.....i am still on cloud nine.