Hallelujah! After two weeks of trying to score tickets to a "student-only" David Cook show on my campus I finally lucked out and got a pair from student who changed her mind about going. Although the show wasn't until 7:30 pm, by about 1:00 fans started lining up for the general admission show. I knew I probably wasn't up to the close-to-the-stage crush of bodies, so I got there about 6:00, at which time the line snaked around the entire perimeter of the student union. It move quickly, however, once the doors opened. No seating at such student shows, but I and several other older "non-students" who didn't relish standing the whole time sat on the edge of an elevated platform that had been set up to allow students in wheelchairs a better view. The room was not that big so I still had a good view and when David sang my favorite numbers I was able to move up much closer to the stage for good camera shots.

Mr. Cook has definitely been developing his audience interaction skills. He chatted and joked quite a bit with the crowd, read signs, responded to shouts of "I love you" from the college girls, and seemed to have a great ol' time. Although he sang a couple ballads he mostly rocked for the college crowd. I was at a disadvantage because I had not heard most of the songs from his recent album, so was only familiar with the one or two released as singles. Glow sticks were available for us to hold up during his song Light On. The only nod he made to his American Idol performances was to sing Billie Jean which was actually my favorite song of the evening. Two women next to me were definitely "Cook-ites". They had driven up from Missouri and had been some of the first in line that afternoon. They were tickled that they had caught David coming out of the student shower room that afternoon (fully clothed but hair still wet :) and had been able to pass on a gift to him. Being a "Urbanite" I could empathize with their excitement and enthusiasm over making a connection with their favorite performer.