David Archuleta - Archey Report - Charlotte, NC - 08/17/08

(Here's the Archey Report from Kathleen from Charlotte, NC! Yay!)

My day started at 7 when I left midtown Atlanta to drive north on 85 where I picked up Amanda (wickedelphie) on the way. The drive up wasn't too bad. We listened to all of the American Idol tracks I had on my iPod which helped pass the time. We got into downtown Charlotte at around 11 and easily located the venue. We arrived just in time for the barricade set up in the plaza, so Amanda and I were able to secure spots up against the barricade. We idly chatted with some avid Michael Johns fans--they were really very nice.

At around 2 the Idols made their debut! Carly and Cook were the first ones to emerge. Cook had to do press that day, so he went through the line in about 15 minutes or so. Prior to heading to Charlotte, I had put together gift bags for Archie, Cook, Carly, Rami, and MJ. As Cook passed down the line I was able to give him his gift bag and have him sign an 8x10 group photo. While he was in front of our barricade the crowd behind us went wild and started shoving us into the barricades, particularly Amanda who is a tiny little thing. Cook actually yelled at the people behind us in an effort to protect Amanda by saying, "Back up! Back up! Don't crush people! I will sign everyone's stuff if you just back up." He looked great in his argyle sweater! Unfortunately he was very rushed so there wasn't much interaction. Carly followed closely behind Cook and I was able to give her her gift bag as well. Carly is breathtaking and her significant weight loss is very evident in person. She also went back into the arena after 15 minutes of signing.
Next Kristy Lee came out and she looked great. I know everyone has said this, but she is just stunning in person. KLC was willing to sign and take pictures with everyone. I feel awful saying this, but there just wasn't a great demand for her so she was able to head back in after 20-30 minutes of signing. During this time Jason and Archie headed out together. When Jason made his way over to our section this elderly grandma behind us gave Jason a book titled, You're My Sister for him to sign. However, she didn't really explain that the book was to be signed by him and not a gift for him, so he looked at it questioningly and asked, "You're my sister?" and laughed. Once the woman explained that it wasn't meant for him, he laughed and willingly signed it. Jason was such a doll and appeased each fan that requested a picture with him. Amanda and I each took a photo with him and then let him go on his way.
Finally my future husband, little Archie, made his way over to our section. I bashfully gave him his gift bag and he was appreciative. Then the woman next to me, the older MJ fan who had been with us all day, told Archie how much I loved him and just became very vocal about how excited I was for this. I used this introducation to start talking to him about the Atlanta show which I was attending the following day. He mentioned that his grandparents and family would be at the show and he was wicked excited. Then I segwayed into asking him about "Crush" and enlightened him about the casting I went to. He said that he hadn't seen anyone from the casting and didn't know anything about it and he asked, "Did everyone look good?" to which I assured him that he would have a great cast and a great music video. Then I timidly asked for a picture and he obliged! He hadn't taken photos with anyone down the line at this point, so I was wicked nervous and I really didn't want to get him in trouble, so I kept saying, "I'm sorry! Are you sure this is okay? I don't want you to get in trouble or cause chaos..." and he just laughed it off and said not to worry and took a picture with me. I'm just bummed because the end result wasn't very good--I'm cheesing crazy hard a la WhatAFeeling and Archie is looking the wrong way. Oh well, I'm sure our wedding photos will be way better...
Next Chikezie came out and he is just the most soft spoken sweetest guy ever. He really is a giant teddy bear! He was wicked sweaty and brought a towel with him that he and Michael jokingly shared at one point. When he made it to Amanda and I we asked about how we was feeling and let him know we were concerned about his health and just hoped for the best and what not. He said, "I'm feeling a bit better day by day. Day to day." I let him know that Desi was farther down the line and looking forward to seeing him and had a "get well" card for him. He looked pleased and chatted with us a bit more as he signed more autographs in our section. Then Amanda and I each took a picture with him.
MJ came out and the MJO ladies next to us went nuts! The woman next to me gave MJ some treats and collars for David Puddy (woot woot--Puppy Johns!). I was in charge of getting pictures of MJ and her and their entire interaction, so I didn't really have much going on with Johns. All I can say is the man knows how to play to the crowd and thrives off the interaction with fans. While he was in front of us he got a 5 minute warning text to come inside of Meet and Greet, but he stayed out for way longer than that, which I'm sure landed him in a bit of trouble.
Brooke was the last Idol to make an appearance. She looked great! She's so pretty. I loved that she was comfortable enough to greet her fans in sweats, a t-shirt, and flip flops. She was in rush, so she wasn't doing pictures which disappointed some people, but I was just happy to see her. When she passed our way I told her her hair looked great and she was wicked happy. She was so proud to say, "I actually did it myself this morning! Thanks so much. I'm glad it looks good..."

We finally left the barricades to go find Desi and we made it over to her just in time to see the taking of the Mavid Army picture with MJ. What a proud moment for them!
For the concert, Amanda and I were seated in one of the first dozen rows of F2, so we were not disappointed with our seats. I won't go on about the concert experience, because everyone is familiar with the set list, outfits, etc. However, I will say I'm happy Papa John's switched up his dialogue a bit before "Dream On." Instead of talking about how the song got him kicked off the show but can't get him kicked off the tour, he said that Randy Jackson did not like his version, but "He's not here!" I have been reading for weeks about Carly's fingerless gloves that she wore during her set, but I am happy to report that they did not make an appearance in Charlotte. As we all know now, Cookie was not feeling well during his set, but you really couldn't tell. He just was a bit more goofy and loopy than normal and talked to the crowd and the band about how things were going wrong in the set and how it was all just off. He's a pro for being able to fool the crowd with his rock star antics even when he felt like death. During PDSTM MJ did some yodeling/flute playing at the end of his line which cracked the crowd up. Then Jason missed his cue and came out on the stage laughing, which caused the rest of the group to laugh a bit too. MJ and Chik did the robot which almost rivaled the original Mavid robot. One of the best Mavid dances to date occurred, which was the one with the umbrellas and "Singin' In The Rain" kick at the end--adorable! Lastly, Archie kicked Cook while he was bowing to him on the catwalk at the end which made all the fangirls go wild.
Afterward Amanda and I went back outside to where the barricades were earlier and secured ourselves an awesome spot next to the barricades by the doors the Idols emerge from. We were pumped. Before the concert started I had purchased a program, so I now had a new thing for them to sign. KLC came out and I quickly got her signature and complimented her on "God Bless the USA." Chikezie came out next and he was just so incredible. He remembered us from earlier and took the time out to talk to us. We told him how energetic his set was and how seeing it live gave us a better appreciation for him as an artist and what not. Carly came out and signed my program too. I spoke with her, but I can't remember for the life of me what was said. Then Archie came by with Dadchuleta. While he was signing autographs in front of us he broke out into song (I can't remember what it was for the life of me) and I was in complete awe and disbelief and I said, "Oh my gosh" and he looked bashfully at me and said, "Sorry" and I replied, "No! Private concert!" It was awesome. I wish I had gotten it on video, but I was trying to get my program signed, cellcast for Jeff, and take pictures all at once... Then Jason came by and he was sweet as usual. He added a dreadhead to his signature for me this time and it made me wicked happy. Brooke spent a little bit more time with fans compared to before, so that was good too. Syesha came out and for some reason I found myself complimenting her set--but seriously, "Listen" was excellent live, so it wasn't lying, but Amanda reminded me that I can't like her because of how upset she's made Rickey. Papa Johns came out last and he brought an entourage of his friends with him--it was cool that he was letting his friends experience part of the craziness with him. When he got in front of Amanda and I, I told him about how excited he made Desi and her Mavid Army friends by using their umbrellas tonight and how much I loved the Mavid dance. Then he talked about how he and Dave came up with it and he did the little kick again in front of us and it was wicked adorable and funny.
Overall the concert experience was wicked fun and very memorable. I'll try to do a write up about the Atlanta experience, but it definitely couldn't top Charlotte. Can't wait for Tulsa now!