By RODNEY HO/ rho@ajc.com, originally filed Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Since this is the final auditions for "American Idol" (before they revive it, say, in 2025), there seems to be more media attention to the auditions, which began with the bus tours in Seattle and Providence. Local media reports say several hundred showed up in Providence while about 1,000 were in Seattle. Another 500 came to Pittsburgh. And 1,500 in San Diego.
This Sunday, the bus stops in Athens for the first time. I'll be there early in the morning. I've never come to a bus tour stop. I know it's a much smaller affair than the ones they do at arenas. And there will be no Ryan Seacrest. Athens has a clear history of generating great music, from the B-52s and R.E.M. to Drive By Truckers and Danger Mouse to Widespread Panic and the Whigs.
Next month, a regular audition site is Savannah. Their historical legacy is a little less defined. Johnny Mercer and Big Boi are from there. It's a relatively small city for "Idol" to go to for its regular non-bus auditions: 142,000 people. It's larger than Charleston, S.C. but smaller than Bridgeport, Conn. But it's dripping with history and personalities.
And as we know, a majority of people who audition are not from the actual city itself.
"Idol" is using all sorts of means to find talent, not just traditional in-person auditions. They'll take on-line auditions, they're soliciting people to audition, et. al. Whatever it takes, it's clear the producers want a strong final season lineup.
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Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
For the first time in my 20 years in Atlanta on my 46th birthday Sunday, I finally went to the Laser Light Show at Stone Mountain. There was a segment featuring Georgia artists such as Ray Charles, James Brown, R.E.M., the Indigo Girls and the Zac Brown Band, a deserving recent act. But somehow, Phillip Phillips made the cut. I like him and respect him but despite the ubiquity of "Home," he pales in comparison to his co-patriots. And they chose not play a single hip-hop act. Why not Outkast's "Hey Ya!"? Even Star 94 plays that!
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Adam Lambert's album "Original High" is projected to sell more than 40,000 units, good enough for a top 2 debut. That number alone shows how sales of albums (even with downloads included) have sunk in recent years. His single "Ghost Town" is at No. 20 on the Hot AC chart, No. 28 on the top 40 chart.
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Core Entertainment, which owns 'American Idol," has its credit downgraded by Moody's because of the sinking fortunes of "Idol" as well as its inability to replace cash flow by selling its Elvis and Muhammad Ali enterprises.
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Season 8 alum Scott MacIntyre received a second kidney, saving his life. MJ has the details.
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Kelly Clarkson is already thinking about a second baby.
Her single "Invincible" is at No. 16 on the Hot AC Mediabase 24/7 airplay chart, ahead of Nick Fradiani's "Beautiful Life," which is only at No. 35 without a lot of upward momentum.
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Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Season 9 runner up Crystal Bowersox is returning to Eddie's Attic for what appears to be a monthly residency after having just performed there in February. Her next trip is Tuesday, June 30. Tickets ($15 in advance, $20 at the door) are available here. Then she returns for a third time July 28 with Marshall Ruffen and Sarah Potenza, then on August 25 with Maia Sharp and Linda Taylor.
The winner of that season Lee DeWyze comes back to Eddie's Attic July 15. Tickets are $20, with VIP access $60.
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Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Alabama native Jessica Meuse, who finished fourth season 13, is coming to Smith's Olde Bar Thursday June 25 in the Atlanta Room at 7 p.m.. Tickets are $10 each. She played there in January, 2015 as well.
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