Show your BEVRs!

After we drove out of the ice storm in the Lou, all was well!

Officially started off the weekend Friday night drinking Hot Sex in the hotel room in Merrillville while reading the Jillcert of Waukegan. There is no other cellcert that even comes close! Thank you Jill!

Saturday was so much fun meeting up with Broads I hadn't seen in so long.
I hadn't seen Nelle since StL IT. Three yrs with Clay has made her even more lovely. It's always great to see Karen Eh, (you know she'll capture the "goods"!!), and OHCindy, Pat in Indy, Jannet, Cin&Chris, LadyLuke, Special K, and more I'm too tired and overwhelmed by Clay to remember right now. I finally got to meet Erin!! What a beautiful, fun Broad! She always had a sparkly smile on her face and in her eyes..like Clay! And Grape!! What a Broad! You really out-did me having a tongue picture in your purse and I had none!! I'm so ashamed! Mwaaahh!!

The concert. Totally overwhelming!
Every new concert tour seems to be my favorite that I think he can't top....then he walks out on that stage!
I've never been so moved by his voice! The enormous power of that voice made the blood rush to my face and gave me goosebumps! I really think the reason he breaks his singing up with the fun banter, is so I don't pass out from hearing him sing!...and to give me a chance to compose myself enough to check out the goods!! Although they were definitely the best when he walked out on that stage! After the concert, I found out Special K totally noticed the same thing! Bwaaahh!!
OK..back to the concert. I had a big diversion there in my thoughts.
I really thought he'd change up the order of songs or the ending of AIW after Friday night...but I must have been so taken back by just being there, that I was unable to think straight enough to remember... I'm talkin' Mr. Titanium Balls here!
I'd drive thru any ice storm just to hear him sing that again and see that sublime smile on his face! Indescribable!
I'm so thankful for how happy that man makes me!
And just as thankful for the Clack gatherers! They could easily sit there and simply enjoy the concert. But they instead capture it all and stay up til the sun comes up, downloading and uploading it for everyone! Very time consuming and certainly not as easy as some may think. I bow at all of their feet!

Going to bed feeling very thankful!

Thank you for sharing, Lewd :)

When you express YOUR happiness, it just makes all the rest of us who weren't there feel all giddy and giggly and grateful too! MWAH :)

Last mintue choice on a weekend away become's
karma filled joyfest!!!


THE INGREDIENTS WILLING ABLE TRAVEL PARTNERS A TANK
OR TWO OF GAS AND A ICKET TO WHAT WOULD BE A KU DE GRA
DISPLAY OF DETERMINATION TALENT SHEER WILL..NOT TO
MENTION A SUIT FILLED WITH PURE "SEXY".

TALK ABOUT A COME TO JESUS (plus hair)MOMENT!!!!

THE SHOW STARTED LIGHTS DOWN AND BILL PORTER'S
ORCHESTRA TOOK THE STAGE NOW I EXPECTED TO BE WELL
A TAD BORED. HOWEVER,WITH A CLASSIC CONDUCTORS
COMEDY ACT HE NOT ONLY MADE US LAUGH BUT ENTERTAINED
US ALL AS WELL.

MOST IMPORTANTLY HE PAID CLAY A HUGE COMPLIMENT SAYING THAT
HE WORKED WITH FRANK SINATRA AND THOUGHT HE WOULD NEVER WORK WITH THE LIKES OF HIM AGAIN UNTIL HE MET CLAY AWWWW

THE KARMA' A FLOWIN

THE COMEDY ACT TOOK US TO INTERMISSION

AS I SAT ALONE AND QUIETLY WATCHED PEOPLE VISIT AND PREPARE FOR "DA MAN"..I KNOW THE SENTIMENT IN THE AIR WAS NOT ONLY THAT
OF OUR MAN IN THE BUILDING BUT THE COMMON FEELING OF THE ABSENSE OF OLD FRIENDS NOW QUELED HUGS HANDED OUT AND TAKEN..IT'S BEEN AWHILE AND WE ALL KNOW IT.
WE ARE SET WE ARE READY..

THE KARMA'S REALLY FILLING THE AIR!!!

NOW THE LIGHTS DIM AND WE HEAR THE BEST THING I HAVE HEARD IN YEARS

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN " MULTI PLATINUM RECORDING ARTIST CLAY AIKEN!!!!

THE CROWD ERUPTS AND OUT STEPS GREY SUIT CLAD SEXY MOFO AND BABIES THE PACKAGE WAS A SLAMMIN RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX..LIKE JACK IN THE BOX "BOING" IS IT HOT IN HERE..

WELL I GOT A WARM RUSH: THE SHOE'S OH THE SHOE'S THE LENGTH,THE LINE, THE SCOPE OF THE MAN " FRICKIN STUNNING"

SUCH GRACE "HE'S HOT"

AND MORE THAN EVER I NOTICE HE ENJOY'S HIS HAIR BUT NOT AS MUCH AS I WANT TO

THE BANTER IS FLOWING NOW ALONG WITH THE KARMA!!!

HE TOOK THE RIPA FOR A MUCH NEEDED WALK AHH THE MILES HE WILL GET OUT OF THAT HE CALLS HIMSELF THE KING OF CONTROVERSAY I'LL JUST KEEP CALLING HE MR.SEXY...WAHO!

THE KARMA IS LIGHT COMIC AND LAID BACK WAY BACK!

HE FLUBS A FEW LINES AND MISS'S SOME LYRICS BUT IN TRUE CLAY FASHION HE RECOVER'S AND BLOWS US AWAY > HE MAKES US FEEL LIKE WERE SITTING IN HIS LIVING ROOM NEAR A FIREPLACE TRIMMING THE TREE..WERE ARE HOME!!!

WE SAVOR THE FLAVOR!!!

IT'S HARD TO SAY BUT EVERYONE IN THE ROOM KNEW WHAT HAPPENED ON OPENING NIGHT..HE TELLS US IT'S A CRAP SHOOT!***

THE CLAY COMEDY ACT IS ALIVE AND WELL AS HE BANTERS ABOUT ETHEL,ANN,TINA THE BINOCULAR'S IN THE FOURTH ROW.HE CHASTIZES
TINA FOR GRAPPING ANN''S HEAD > HE PLAYS WE LAUGH.HE SINGS WE ENJOY..

THIS IS A GOOD NIGHT...

NOW THE FINALE:
HE GIVES US A GRAND EFFORT ON DSIAFC EVEN TOSSEN US A PRECURSER GLORY NOTE!!!HE TAKES A MINUTE FOR THE ENCORE HERE IT COMES..
NOW ALL NIGHT I NOTICED CLAY TURNING HIS FOOT OVER GIVING LITTLE STOMPS ON SOME NOTE'S
HE APPROCHED THAT MIC LIKE A SOLIDER PREPARING FOR BATTLE
HE CROSSED HIS FINGERS ETHEL REMIND HIM "IT"S ALL GOOD"!!!!
A DEEP BREATH AND IT'S ON!!

I HAVE NEVER SEEN HIM PURPOSELY MANIPULATE HIS VOCAL CORDS AND STRETCH TO OPEN HIS THROAT & BREATH.
THE EYE'S WERE FIXED ON A FOCUS POINT ABOVE US ALL.

THEN I SAW SOMETHING A DETERMINATION I SAW WILL AND I SAW A REACH FOR SOMETHING MORE!!!
THE SMOOTHNESS OF HIS LOWER REGISTER WAS UNPARELLED TO DATE
MY GOD IT WAS GORGIOUS PROFOUND AND MADE MY HEART START TO POUND AT THE SITE AND SOUND OF IT ..

WEATHER HE KNEW IT OR NOT HE GAVES CRESHENDO GRANDE
HE BUILT IT TOOK IT IT WENT HIGHER AND HIGHER

THEN HE GRIPPED THAT MIC HIT THAT STANCE DROPPED THAT FOOT AND PUMMPED ALL HE WAS WORTH INTO THE FINAL VERSE:

I WAS ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT SCREAMING INSIDE OMG!
MAKE IT CLAY YOU CAN DO IT...
THE LAST RUSH OF COLLECTIVE KARMA HIT HIM EYES OPEN WIDE AND THAT MAN NAILED THAT SHYTE!!!!!

I YELLED HOLY FRICKIN SHYTE!!! DID I JUST SEE THAT

THEN THE "LOOK AT ME FACE" AND THE HEAD GRIP WAS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS.

I WILL HAVE MORE THAN A THOUNSAND NIGHTS OF PRIDEFULL MEMORIES OF THAT PERFORMANCE<

HE SHOWED US WHAT LURKES IN THE HEART OF A SPECIAL TALENTED GIVING LOVING SNARKY MAN IN THOUSAND DIFFRENT WAYS...

KILLER OVER AND OUT ...BY THE I SLEPT WITH MY CLACK JUST TO HAVE IT NEXT TO MY HEART....MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL!!!

Killer, I started holding my breath, reliving hearing him that night, while I was reading about your experience. That was soo amazing, and you made me feel it all over again. I can't imagine being there. Thanks for sharing. xoxo.

Special K...OMG!!! Just read your BEVR and had goosebumps all over again!!!
I really can't remember ever reading a post or a BEVR that actually gave me goodebumps! Thank you darlin'! Made my heart pound happy!
Since Sat. night I haven't been able to go to bed without watching Merrillville AIW. I tell myself...I'll just watch it once, and I can't stop watching it.
I'm so tired! The man is wearing me out! Can't wait for the weekend, so I can watch it more and have time to pull myself away from it to watch other Clack, and... come back and read Special K's BEVR a dozen more times.

omg... Diana just made me cry! What a memory that made, huh?

Well ladies, I did it!

I am no longer a Clay-live-Virgin! Course, my son was in the room so I pretty much had to behave!

My travels and concert experience are as follows:

On Friday, December 8th we drove for 7 1/2 hours! Thats how long it took us to get to Williamsport. It actually wasnt all that bad. The weather cooperated and so did my son, Charlie! Im not sure which one I was more worried about! But since they both behaved I was able to actually enjoy the drive.

Well until we stopped just outside of Pennsylvania for something to eat. I am not necessarily known for my smarts. I locked the keys in the car! An unhappy but very courteous Sheriff was called and the car was unlocked and we were back on the road! *rolls eyes* (pssst, she broke the lock on the door. I havent been able to lock it since) Oh well, all part of the adventure!

I will skip the rest of Friday and get right to Saturday. The day of the concert in Williamsport PA. Wow. I have very few words .. just WOW!

Around 4:20 pm Charlie and I finally found our way to Pazzo Restaurant. Cause I got lost. Hee! Its a gorgeous little place with such ambiance. The food was amazing. The company was even better! *waves to all the Broads*

Cheyanne and Cindy are fantabulous hostesses with the mostesses. Charlie and I were welcomed with open arms! But we left with our arms full. Such generosity and kindness. I even got a Clay umbrella! How cool is THAT? I cant thank them enough for all they did for us. Oh and did I mention that Cindy just happened to have an extra copy of All is Well hidden away for us poor Canadians who couldnt buy it? *muah*

We left the restaurant feeling excited and very very full! We went back to the hotel, changed into our 'concert clothes' and headed for the venue.

The orchestra was wonderful. Even Charlie liked them! We were quite surprised to see 15 and 17 year olds in that orchestra. Such talent.

Then after a short intermission, I was de-live-virginized. AND he was wearing his glasses! *faints* I mean, what more could a girl ask for? "Specially with her son in the room.

I am a horrible person. I admit it. I dont even know what the first song was. Who could remember? Oh shush, I know most of you do but it was my first time .. sheesh! I was transfixed. Charlie got up on his knees so that he could see better. He never said a word during the first two songs. And for Charlie thats a challenge *wink* ... then Clay started with his opening banter and I was toast thereafter.

His jokes with Bridgette and the 33 year married couple. His hand over the mouth schtick. The rules he gave us throughout the show. The boss that brought 7 people for free. The lady on the cell phone. The "playing with the wood" comment that had Clay stumped. Clay busting out laughing during a song because someone practically stood on his lap to take his picture. There is just too much to put down here. It was perfect. If I wasnt laughing I was singing along or absolutely transfixed by the sound of heaven floating throughout the room.

There are two songs that I remember quite clearly. For two different reasons. The first one being "My Grown Up Christmas List" ... at the end of it I realized I had tears streaming down my face. I turned to Charlie who was doing the same thing. In fact he began sobbing and I wrapped my arms around him. We sat there hugging and crying for several minutes. All Charlie said to me was "Tommys here ... and Clay just sang to him"

Then the encore. I dont think anything will compare to the 2nd night of Clays performances. We all know that, but last night was beautiful. I now know that I have heard a musical genius at work. I now know what everyone has meant that has gone to a show before me. Its really very difficult to put into words. In fact Im not sure I can at all. It just .. was. I remember leaning forward. I realized at one point I had my hands over my mouth. I stopped breathing. I know I did because when he hit "the note" my arms shot up like a referee during a touchdown and I let out an EEEEE! that woulda made my cat proud!

I dont think Charlie and I even touched the ground as we headed back to the car. We floated. A perfect ending to a perfect day.

Jennifer...Thanks for sharing your experience! I love reading them all, but especially about someone's first night with him! Hey, I can't remember the name of the first song right now either. He messes up my mind for sure!
At first you'll think it'll take a while to come down after seeing him the first time. Then you'll realize you never do come down, and you'll never want to. Clay, live, is absolutely, totally addicting, and there's no turning back now! See you at the Spring tour!!!!

OK...I've never written one of these before...in fact, I never even knew what a BEVR was until a few months again...so I hope you won't be bored to tears with this, or think I'm the worst writer ever. I'm gonna just give it a shot...

I travelled to Hartford with a good friend from work - a lukewarm Clay fan who only owned one of his CDs and had never seen him perform before. She thinks Clack is the sound a train wheel makes! Needless to say, I spent most of the drive there filling her in....about performer Clay, comedian Clay, humanitarian Clay, fan adored Clay....until by the time we arrived, she was actually getting excited about seeing him! (I was past the point of excitement into another zone altogether - I mean, geeeezzz...I'd been without the man for a whole year!)

When we arrived at the Convention Center, I realized I had blundered big time by not making advanced reservations for dinner...the local restaurants were all doing a booming business because of the Clay fans in town, and my friend and I were starving! I approached a group of ladies who looked like they'd be Broads if they could be - and asked where we could eat.....they sent us to some Tavern that was dark and noisy and had the best food ever!

There was a large group of fans partying there, but the place was so packed I never got a chance to meet them and find out who they were.....I think I heard someone say they were from CH. Next time...Anyway, the bartender Adam (yeah, we were on a first name basis in no time! :)and I got into a serious discussion about all things Clay, including his "staying power." I, of course, told him Clay has plenty of that!!! (stop smirking )

When we got to the venue and got a peek at the floor set up (it's not a conventional theatre), my heart just soared because it was such an intimate place compared to the other places I've seen Clay. We listened to the orchestra from our "assigned" seats which were about 12 rows plus 20 feet from the stage - but during intermission, I dragged my friend up to the second row on the left side of the stage having seen two empty seats there. (Ethel and I will be best buds if ever we meet:)

I have to digress just for a moment to tell you that ever since I first started attending concerts frequently back in the 70's, I have never been content to sit where I'm supposed to. I am not obnoxious or pushy in the least, but I ALWAYS manage to get close to the performers. I have honed this ability over the decades, and can now become almost invisible when it comes to "movin' on up!" Interestingly enough, friends my age are enthusiastic over my prowess, but my teenage daughter and her friends are embarrassed by it. Ha. With age, comes ability and wisdom both!

Anyhoo, the orchestra was FANTASTIC and as much as I was anxious to see Clay, I would have welcomed another 15 or 20 minutes of orchestra music. Yes, they WERE that good.....and Clay later commented on the fact that of all the orchestras he'd performed with so far, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra was the BEST. He urged us all to be grateful for having such a fine orchestra in our area and to support them! (Since I do WHATEVER Clay asks, I will be sending the Orchestra a donation in future.:)

Towards the end, the conductor invited any members of the audience who had auditioned for American Idol to come up on stage for a sing-a-long. About 7 or 8 people went onstage, including Julia D'Amato! (Who worked as a hairdresser right in my town, Danbury.) It was kinda funny because the conductor went up to her to ask her name and when she told him she had been a finalist with Clay on AI2, he looked pretty shocked. Not a planned moment. Later on in the concert, sweetie pie Clay asked that the spotlight be put on "Jules" at her table. When he asked how she was doing, she said she was signing autographs, and he said..."Whoa. Put the spotlight back on me! This is mah show!!" Pretty funny.

Jennifer...don't feel bad....I can scarcely remember Clay's first number either. I FELT like a virgin concert goer when he saundered out...in a grey suit, darker shirt, and I think , a purple tie. You can't hold me to these colors because depending on the angle of the lights, his clothes seemed to change color. (The Clack will reveal all.) His bod in that suit was incredible....tight pants (sigh), broad shoulders (sigh again) to die for. And THE HAIR...OMG, THE HAIR. Whether you like the length or no (and I'm in the Ponytail Cart, so you know how I feel about it), it is sooooo shiny and thick and lustrous, and the color is so beautiful. I don't know how I restrained myself from jumping right up and running my hands through it :) (Okay...I know how....Jerome looked a wee bit intimidating. Ha.) And my intellectual BF had his glasses on....he must've heard me ask for that! :)

The banter, the banter, the banter. All the usual stuff, but personalized for our audience. He was onstage almost 1 and 1/2 hours - they had to tell him he was running out of orchestra (or venue?) time because he was gabbing so much! Since I had (ahem) snuck up close, I was sitting near all the folks with whom he interacted....Jennifer, whose constant waving her arm (in my face, I might add) merited a hello from Clay and a comment that he'd love to talk with her more, but he had a concert to do!...sat right next to me.....the fan with the binocs decorated for Christmas with ribbons and bows all over them (which Clay managed to drop and let her retrieve under the ropes, while he ran to the other side of the stage, pretending to be afraid of her! ha)....the couple he sang to.....the lady who "giddy upped" along with him....I was in stitches being able to see and hear everything so well.

Last night he remarked, quite loudly and obviously, that he would cover Ripa's mouth again if he could do it all over again. He said something like "you gotta do what you gotta do." The audience loved it. All in all, he was extremely chatty - really into the audience (he had the lights brought up so he could see us at least 4 times!) - he even called us "family." (I melted.) The banter over the word of the night was hysterical...some lady had brought a dictionary with her which Clay looked at and said she was "cheating"....he kept saying how stupid he was and totally snarked on the young woman who knew the meaning of the word! He asked her to demonstrate it and when she was scared to do so, he laughed and said, "You don't feel so smart now, do you?"(The word means to create a fluttering sound which Susan showed on the harp, but all I can remember is that it started with a "B." Insane word!)

Well, I've been leaving the best for last....the SINGING....because I don't know what to say. I really and truly felt as though I were hearing him for the first time - maybe because the venue was nice and Clay was performing ALONE. To see and hear just OMC, in a pure concert mode....it was blissful. NOTHING to distract from the voice!(Well, except for the piercing screamer 4 rows behind me...there's one of them in every group!) He took common words of the English language and sang their meaning a thousand different ways - with low, sensuous, profound tones up to rafter shaking notes of celebration and awe. I was mesmerized. His singing is emotional and technical genius. No matter how often I hear it as the years past, I will never be able to fully "get" how he does it. It is truly a gift from the Creator....to Clay and to us!

I should end by saying that my lukewarm Clay friend who came to the show with me is now a HAWT Clay loving fan!!! All the way home from the show, she kept thanking me over and over for inviting her. She said she'll be buying all of his CDs and doesn't want to miss any future tours. It is so much fun turning others on to what we've loved all along - our sweet, adorable, talented, amazing, sexy man Clayton Holmes Aiken. My love for him is infinite.