News

September 9, 2008

Marathon near end for ‘Idols’ finalists

Year-plus tour stops in W-B Twp., then 10 stars from TV can pursue individual careers.

BRAD PATTON For The Times Leader

WILKES-BARRE TWP. -- Four hours before the curtain went up for another sold-out performance, the 10 stars of “American Idols Live” were scattered throughout the grounds of the Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza.

Some were out by the West Gate signing autographs for a gathering of fans. Some were getting their hair and makeup done, or rehearsing their tunes. And some, including David Archuleta, Chikezie, Kristy Lee Cook, Carly Smithson and Michael Johns, were meeting the media in the basement of the facility.

“Me being the oldest contestant, I appreciate the fact that we are playing for 10,000 or 15,000 people every night,” said Johns, the 29-year-old eighth-place finisher from Australia. “That’s very rare. That’s usually reserved for the U2s, the Madonnas and the Bruce Springsteens of the world.”

The Top 10 finalists from the seventh season of the No. 1-rated TV program have been on a non-stop joyride for more than a year. The contestants were sequestered during the filming of the series, then went on the road, performing 53 shows in 70 days.

“It’s a lot of work,” said Archuleta, the 17-year-old runner-up from Murray, Utah. “It’s a lot of time out of your life. It’s not just days; it’s your whole life.”

Many people think the stars show up at the arena an hour before hitting the stage, but as 10th-place finisher Chikezie said, that is far from the truth.

“We roll in on the bus from the last concert, get to the hotel and try to get some sleep,” the 22-year-old from Inglewood, Calif., said.

With three concerts after Monday night’s performance at the Wachovia Arena, they look forward to the end of the tour and getting on with their careers. “It’s super sad. I don’t think the 10 of us will be in the same room again soon,” said Smithson, the 24-year-old from Dublin, Ireland, who now lives in San Diego.

Chikezie, Johns, Cook and Archuleta have projects in the works, while Smithson hopes to sign a record deal in the near future.

“Then I will just put my head down and make it happen,” she said. “I don’t want to make a record fast; I want to make one that I am very happy with and one I could be proud of.”

Johns, who has seen two or three past record deals collapse when the labels folded, is taking matters into his own hands this time around.

“So this time, I own it,” he said. “There are some great things you can do distribution-wise these days, and you don’t have to get a label involved.”

Archuleta, who appeared on “Star Search” in 2003, was signed to Jive Records in June. His first single, “Crush,” was released in August and peaked at No. 2. He is now working on an album.

Cook, a country singer who placed seventh, signed with Arista Nashville in June and has an album, “Why Wait,” coming out on Sept. 16, three days after the tour wraps up in Tulsa, Okla. Her debut single, “15 Minutes of Shame,” already has made an impressive showing on the charts.

ON THE WEB

For a review of Monday night’s show, visit www.timesleader.com now or see Wednesday’s print edition.

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