David Cook’s latest album isn’t a smash hit with critics.
And it’s hardly bruised the Billboard charts so far.
The capacity crowd that turned out to watch David play the Pullo Center at Penn State York Saturday night could care less.
The fans who turned out for the Canaan Smith / Gavin DeGraw / David Cook show — and it was very much a David Cook crowd judging from pre-show interviews — love all things David.
And talk about dedicated fans.
Two years ago, Donna Chrzanowski of Elizabethtown, was first in line when tickets for a David Cook show at the Pullo Center went on sale. She was rewarded for her hour wait with front-row tickets
This time when she heard about David’s show, she joined the Pullo Center just so she’d have a chance to buy tickets before they went on sale to the general public.
The result: Front-row tickets again, including a pair for best friends Madison Sharp, 12, and Julia Taylor, 13, of Dallastown, who said attending a David Cook concert together has become a tradition for them.
Saturday’s was their fourth, and they were thrilled to have the same seats as they did at the last Pullo Center show.
After all, that night David asked their names from the stage during the middle of his show.
“We were very excited,” said Madison, in what you imagine is a bit of an understatement.
Both became David Cook fans when he was a contestant on American Idol. Madison said her favorite Idol performance was “Little Sparrow.”
Julia said she likes David’s music because she feels like it relates to her life. She said her favorites include “Declaration” and “The Last Goodbye.”
As for Donna, she says she didn’t watch Idol, at least not much pre-David. Once she saw David perform, she started watching “religiously.”
“He had me at ‘Hello,'” she joked, referring to one of his performances in the Idol semifinals back in Season seven.
By the end of Saturday’s show, he had nearly everyone at the Pullo Center swaying to his music and mouthing along with the lyrics. By that time, they’d been on their feet for more than an hour, since the moment David and his band took the stage.
And anyone who wants to complain that the “This Loud Morning” album isn’t loud enough should have been on hand.
The rock started when David opened the set with “Circadian” and didn’t miss a beat until he slowed things down — somewhat — with his seventh song of the evening, “Come Back to Me.”
The spot-on vocals that won his legions of fans on Idol were on display throughout, but never more so than when he stepped away from the mike and sang a couple of lines of “Lie” a cappella, or when he took the stage alone during an encore to perform his latest sing, “Fade Into Me.”
He even threw in Whitesnake’s “Here I Go Again,” a special treat for the York audience for ‘filling the room tonight.” He said the band had played the song during soundchecks before, but never live.
Among the other best received songs of the night — “Light On” off his first post-Idol album, “The Last Goodbye,” and the rocker “Kiss on the Neck,” with a touch of “Hotel California” thrown in for good measure.
Now, back to the fans …
As for the lack of sales success of “This Loud Morning,” some fans think David might be paying the price for being a former Idol contestant. That he might not get the respect he deserves as a result.
“I definitely think that’s what it is,” said Belle Conners, 43, of Philadelphia, who traveled to York to watch her 12th David Cook show Saturday night.
“Anyone who has seen him live knows he puts on a hell of a show,” she added. “Radio just doesn’t seem to want to give him a chance.”
Melissa Burian, 41, of Washington, D.C., was attending her fifth David Cook show Saturday. She says David’s latest album is her favorite, though she also liked his pre-Idol CD, “Analogue Heart,” partly because it sounded “less produced.”
“When he won, I had mixed emotions,” she said of David’s season seven triumph. “I didn’t know what the stigma would be. He always seemed cooler than Idol.”
When it comes to dedicated fans, it’s doubtful anyone at Saturday’s show could top Sanna Kihlman, 22.
She’s from … get this … Finland, and had traveled to the U.S. to watch David’s shows in York, Cleveland and Cincinnati.
Oh, and that’s not all. She’s been to 29 David Cook shows, all in the U.S.
In her mind, “This Loud Morning” is an awesome album. Her favorite songs include “Goodbye to the Girl” and “Let Me Fall for You.”
But why travel all the way to the U.S.?
“Because he’s not coming to Finland,” Sanna said.
“I love his music. And I love watching him live.”
Set List
1. Circadian
2. Heroes
3. Mr. Sensitive
4. The Last Goodbye
5. Let Me Fall for You
6. Paper Heart
7. Come Back to Me
8. Kiss on the Neck / Hotel California
9. Hand That Feeds
10. Time Marches On
11. Lie
12. Here I Go Again (Whitesnake cover)
13. Barbasol
14. Light On
15. Fade Into Me
16. Rapid Eye Movement
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24 Comments
Thank you for your review of David Cook’s show in York. Nothing better than live performances and David always comes through.
P.S. Idol Stigma sucks and He doesn’t deserve it. Other idol winners don’t seem to be affected like him. I don’t get it.
Editor,
Well you nailed it buddy! Pretty much summed up David Cook in just a few paragraphs after having seen only one show. Thank you for covering him and for providing readers with your keen and accurate insight.
Poor Belle must not pay attention to actual radio plays outside her local area. David Cook’s “Fade Into Me” is his most recent single and will be the 5th in a row to chart in the Top 40!
Yeah I wouldn’t go around bemoaning “radio just doesn’t seem to want to give him a chance” when he’s had 3 top-10 radio singles and more total airplay than any Idol other than Kelly, Carrie, or Daughtry (not to mention thousands of major label acts who never crack a chart). This meme that Cook has been blackballed by radio is bizarre. TLG struggled but it just wasn’t the right song – and it still charted in the 20’s. Not every song can be a #1 pop hit. Plus I like Fade Into Me and after seeing some of the live videos at MJ’s and other blogs I think it could be a good single for him.
Thanks for the write-up – I finally caught Cook’s live show a few weeks ago and was glad I did. Hope you’ll get to do a review when my favorite Idol (Kris Allen) tours again next year!
Excellent recap! There is only one thing you missed – the hundreds of David Cook fans pasted to their computers watching – listening, we will take whatever we can get to tide us over til the next show we can attend. It’s by no accident that we try not to miss any- we all know each show is different and special and look forward to his banter almost as much as the songs. He is funny really and great off the cuff about anything…priceless stuff! Once you see David Cook live – 1 show just won’t ever be enough. People were already talking about which shows they could add to their plans. He truly can sing anything and the covers are always amazing. I love This Loud Morning – I think it’s brilliant. You’ll never get bored…too many favorites-Circadian, Rapid Eye Movement, Let me Fall for You, Goodbye to the Girl, Fade Into me, Time Marches On, Take Me As I am-I’ll name them all from TLM deluxe. Whenever he sings “Lie” live, OMG that takes my breath away no matter how many times I’ve seen it -then into Bar Ba Sol-sexy fun rockn’ song (another fav of many).
FYI-radio stations blew it really- they have never gotten on the radio fast enough or enough songs there were so many to choose from including idol and Don’t you forget, Barbasol. That’s ok, there is a solution to that-many David Cook fans will admit they just don’t listen to the radio anymore, at all. So clearly they lost more than they know!
He sucked on Idol, his post Idol music sucks. Cook is just a jumped up bar singer who got lucky. That’s evident by his poor sales and reception at radio. People will like who they like – there’s no accounting for taste. He will have his ragtag bunch of moms and old ladies propping him up for a while. No one outside those ranks cares.
Moms and Old Ladies? Excuse me, I’m 19, Fan since I’m 17…and I am definitely not a Mom or old. All my Friends love him too, and we are all under 30. So stop posting crap like that, it isnt true! And he has Fans outside of the US, like you would know if you have read this article seriously. I’m from Germany and so are my Friends. Maybe you should go get a live.
Well, everyone’s entitled to their own opinion. In my mind, he was the deserving winner of the most talented season ever on Idol. And I’d happily watch a concert of him doing covers if that’s what he decided to do.
I really don’t know why I am replying to you ( I’m sure it’s the attention you want ), but I just have to know; WHO ARE YOU! I am a 22 yr old pre-med student. Not a mom or an old lady. I’m reading this article because I am a fan of David Cook. I only follow artists that I like, if I don’t like someone I just don’t waste my time! So what is your excuse? You seek out and read an article about an artist you don’t like and then feel compelled to make nasty remarks? ( too much energy to waste!) I think it is you that no one cares about. ( Sad! ) Get a life!!
KIR, You’re right about there being no accounting for taste. Yours is clearly all in your mouth. If he sucked on Idol, he would not have won, particularly with a margin of 12 million votes between him and the runner-up. I’d tell you to get your ears cleaned out, but obviously you need way more help than that. Another thing, “moms and old ladies”? He has fans of all ages. I’m one of the “old ladies”. But if you had read the article, you would have noticed teenagers in there, too. And the woman from Finland he interviewed? I know her. She’s an attractive woman in her 20s.
You’re a swell person! So full of bitterness and hate, you must have a rotten life. I pity you!
That is not very nice! WHO ARE YOU? WHO MADE YOU THE CRITIC? David is awesome!! I don’t believe just old ladies like him…my husband loves him! You can have your lousy opinions but we don’t have to like them.
Actually, the reviews from critics for THIS LOUD MORNING were very good. To me this is a great album. I believe, it was too much time between & records Idol watchers are fickle. Now he has to play catch-up.
KIR – get a life. You obviously need one. Or a better one
Thanks for the review and the otherwise respectful comments.
With the Bieper/Ke$hit/LadyGoo-Goo over-produced crap on the radio there’s no room for a true artist like David who sounds as good or better live than on his CDs. The diversity of his audience, which does include more than just ‘moms and old ladies’, shows the expanse of the population who can relate and feel his music.
*YAWN* how boring, another David-hating-troll obviously ‘cares’ enough to read an article about David and post a comment. Cheers!
Hahahaha! LOVE this response! Don’t you just LOVE the nitwits who have NOTHING better to do than come to David’s site to bash him?? I can HONESTLY say I have NEVER EVER been to Lady Gag-me’s site, nor Katy Can’t Sing a Lick Perry’s, nor Taylor I’m SO Overrated Swift’s. Come on, get outta here and go listen to and comment on your overproduced, fake, autotuned, sugar-coated POP crap and leave the REAL musician to fans who recognize and appreciate talent. Oh, and don’t even bother to respond because once I’m done with this post, I’m outta here … no time for trolls tonight. I DO have a life…husband, kids, dog. AND I’m not an UGLY OLD GRANDMA either!
Great summation of David Cook’s concert… David is doing what he loves to do, making good money, has a large fan base who appreciates all hus music, pre-idol, idol and post-idol. He’s doing just fine and doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone. He is the most talented male artist out there. Period. He puts on an amazing rock show and it is evident he is not autotuned unlike most of the crap on the radio today. I stopped listening to radio a long time ago. Thank you to David Cook for keeping real music alive & well!
I was @ this show and as usual David gave it his all & more. I still can’t stop thinking about it… next day. Have been to many shows & will continue,music & the man…AMAZING.Appreciate his music even if radio doesn’t,however I think he’s done well there overall & regardless his music is still a breath of fresh air..so unique & creative,he has brought new life to my music world..Thank you David…you are loved & appreciated,I don’t very many artist can truly saw that..He is the ”REAL DEAL” Your songs are No. 1 hits to your fans:) Thanks for these Awesome photos BTW
I was @ this show and as usual David gave it his all & more. I still can’t stop thinking about it… next day. Have been to many shows & will continue,music & the man…AMAZING.Appreciate his music even if radio doesn’t,however I think he’s done well there overall & regardless his music is still a breath of fresh air..so unique & creative,he has brought new life to my music world..Thank you David…you are loved & appreciated,I don’t think very many artist can truly say that..He is the ”REAL DEAL” Your songs are No. 1 hits to your fans:) Thanks for these Awesome photos BTW
thank you for the review. i was at the York show, totally blown away by David Cook. the only points i would disagree with is the lack of critical acclaim (it was well received) and sales analysis (not many albums are bruising the billboard charts nowadays.) other than that, spot on.
Great review….I don’t know why winning Idol would hurt him. He is amazing. I have seen him 6 times and it’s never enough. I adore him and his music. He is such a wonderful guy and so great to his fans. I could see him over and over and never get sick of him. Daughtry was on Idol granted he didn’t win but it has not hurt his sales or popularity as he is my 2nd favorite Idol. I don’t get it. SUPPORT DAVID AND ALL HE WORKS FOR! HE WORKS SO HARD!!!
This was not my first Cook show (by a long shot!) and he and his band just keep getting better and better. They rocked Pullo harder than I’ve heard them rock before. And ‘Fade into Me’…was there a dry eye in the house? His voice was drop-dead gorgeous. To me, that one song (while I LOVED the heavy rockin) summed up why I (and probably many many others there) follow David Cook religiously. He has a connection to his audience that I’ve never seen at the many shows I’ve been to in my lifetime. I think it’s his depth of emotion and character that comes through in his lyrics as well as the philanthropic activities that he’s involved in. He has a ‘deep soul’ and it comes through loud and clear. Keep bringing it David, and I’ll keep coming to hear it!
(Oh and not to discredit Gavin DeGraw…tho this review isn’t about him, ha! He had so much personality and sounded great, in spite of his being sick. Canaan Smith was an enjoyable intro as well.) But…who am I kidding? It WAS all about David! ;-D