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Idols adjust to life on road
'It's hectic, it's tiring, but it's fun,' Elliott says during stop here
BY DOUGLAS DURDEN AND MELISSA RUGGIERI
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITERS Jul 30, 2006
Last time Elliott Yamin came home to work, it was on a private plane. Yesterday, it was on a bus with nine other guys.
The glamour of "American Idol" has turned to the reality of road life - arriving in cities at 3 a.m. (men are in one bus, women in another), getting little sleep, meeting with the media, sound checking, performing, meeting fans and then doing it all over again the next day.
It's new terrain for almost all of the Idols, including Yamin, who is still learning to adapt.
"I didn't know what to expect. It's hectic, it's tiring, but it's fun. It's work," he said tersely, backstage at the Richmond Coliseum four hours before show time.
. . .
Wearing a backward baseball cap, a T-shirt and baggy shorts, Yamin talked about his newfound fame in between chews of his gum.
The downside, he said, is that there is no privacy. "It's exhausting. . . . Sometimes it's a hassle. I need to learn to take care of myself better."
What keeps his energy up? "The crowds and the amount of support every night," he said.
As for his well-publicized tardiness at the White House on Friday, Yamin found that he and President Bush have something in common.
"He said, 'Why were you late, son?' and I said I was asleep and he laughed and said, 'Oh, you're a sleeper like I am.'"
But last night's stop downtown wasn't only a homecoming for Yamin. Many of the other Idols were also back on home turf - the South.
"It's nice to start heading south and see some pine trees," said "Idol" winner Taylor Hicks, who is from Birmingham, Ala., and seemed most excited about crossing the Mason-Dixon line and into the land of sweet tea.
. . .
Mandisa, a Tennessee native, and Kellie Pickler also agreed that the best part of the tour so far was - as they exclaimed together - finally being closer to their Southern roots.
"Automatically, the catering changed from yesterday to today. There's always something, there's always hot sauce and sweet tea," said Mandisa.
North Carolinian Bucky Covington, who, along with Pickler, will receive his homecoming tonight in Greensboro, N.C., grinned about being "In Yaminland!"
While the Idols prepped for the show, their fans were lining up outside - especially Yamin supporters.
Nancy Nassetta of Henrico County was in a sea of green T-shirts - green being the official color of Yamin's fans. But it was her boyfriend's T-shirt that was getting the most attention.
"Until Elliott showed up, I was #1," read the front of John Bishop's shirt.
Is he a Yamin fan?
"I'm a fan of Nancy's," was his answer.
. . .
Concert-goers were taking pictures of anything "Idol"-related, including a large truck advertising Pop-Tarts, official sponsors of the tour.
But several struck gold - their own unscheduled meet-and-greet with Chris Daughtry's parents, Sandra and James Daughtry of Kents Store, who were in Richmond to see their son perform for the first time since the concert tour started.
Daughtry, whose elimination from the contest was considered this season's shocker, lives in North Carolina, but he's a graduate of Fluvanna County High School.
At 5 p.m. yesterday, his parents stood outside the Coliseum wearing T-shirts emblazoned with their son's picture, patiently posing for pictures with fans.
"We're just excited to see him and to know he's doing well. He's loving what he's doing. It's an exciting time," said Daughtry's father.
Andrea Fortes and her family - her two daughters and her mother - might have journeyed the farthest to see last night's concert, and specifically Yamin.
They live in Hawaii.
They've been planning the trip since early May, when they became fans of the Richmond singer.
"I said, as soon as we know if there's a concert in Richmond, we'd go," said Fortes, who flew in Thursday.
It turned out she had to buy her concert tickets on eBay - four for $600. "And we're separated.
"Seeing him live, I'm sure it will be worth it."
Contact staff writer Douglas Durden at
ddurden@timesdispatch.com or (804) 649-6359.
Contact staff writer Melissa Ruggieri at
mruggieri@timesdispatch.com or (804) 649-6120.
Richmond Times-Dispatch: Idols adjust to life on road
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