David Cook in Portsmouth, OH for the Declaration Tour-Feb.27

Heroes

Straight Ahead

Make Me

My Last Request

Kiss On The Neck

Breathe Tonight

Idol winner David Cook is having the time of his life

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The way David Cook sees it, there’s been no downside to his winning the seventh season of ”American Idol” last May.

When the show’s executives decided to team the rocker with runner-up David Archuleta for post-show promotion, Cook says he looked at it as ”I’ve got to continue through this process with kind of a friend in tow.”

His patience paid off. When it came time to record his debut album, Cook says producers gave him ”carte blanche,” rather than the heavy-handed direction that former ”Idol” singers such as Kelly Clarkson and Katharine McPhee said they got.

And now that Cook’s on his first solo tour — which includes several Pennsylvania and Atlantic City dates this month before he comes to Musikfest on Aug. 3 — he says he’s having, as his chart-topping single says, ”The Time of My Life.”

”Life’s not bad,” Cook says, laughing heartily in a telephone call last week from Illinois, three shows into his ”mtvU presents David Cook’s Declaration Tour — 2009.”

Not bad, indeed. ”Time of My Life” is platinum — the biggest single debut and highest-selling coronation single in the show’s history — and a second single, ”Light On,” topped the AOL Top 40 and hit No. 17 on Billboard’s Hot 100. Cook’s self-titled album also is platinum and pairs him with songwriting heavyweights John Rzeznik from the Goo Goo Dolls, 1980s pop singer Cathy Dennis and Chris Cornell from Soundgarden and Audioslave.

”To work with these people that I’ve looked up to for years and have them treat me as a peer was the most fun aspect of this whole process,” Cook says. ”I remember my first writing session was with Raine [Maida] from Our Lady Peace — like my favorite band, my favorite singer. I was so nervous, ’cause you always worry about these people that you put on this pedestal, are they going to be jerks, you know? And Raine was the exact opposite — I mean just so chill, so extremely gracious. It just confirmed all these ideas I have of him in my head. It’s cool now because I consider him a friend — like we go golfing whenever I’m in town.”

Cook says he was lucky 19 Recordings and RCA Records let him make the record he wanted. ”I feel like this is the record I would have made with or without ‘Idol,’ with or without RCA, with or without 19,” he said. ”It just allows me to go onstage with the confidence and a passion for those songs that I believe is one of the reasons people have shown up the way they have and people have embraced the record the way they have.”

So what does Cook, a 26-year-old former bartender, think about the theory that older women — ”cougars for Cook” — voted him into the top spot?

Cook laughs: ”Um, honestly, I’m kind of the last person to know. I just kind of took [the win] as I managed to strike a chord with people, and that’s kind of how I’m operating. So do I think — I don’t know how to say it — that older people probably bought into it? Yeah, I hope so. But I also kind of have in my head that maybe the younger people did, too. I’m kinda operating on all cylinders, trying to snag as many fans as I can.”

One woman whose attention Cook confirms caught his attention was former ”Idol” contestant Kimberly Caldwell, whom he dated. Asked to confirm they’re no longer an item, he murmurs, ”Um-hm.”

As for Archuleta, Cook says the competition ended with the show. ”I think Archie’s a fantastic individual and so the way I look at it is we’re both doing better than we were a year before. … As I said kind of before the records came out, I hope he sells a million and I hope I sell a million and one.”

Cook is not a solo performer like Archuleta. He’s got a band, which he describes as ”four of my friends.”

”The only thing I want to get across to anybody that comes out to the show is that I want people to come out and try to have a good time, ’cause that’s what we’re onstage to do,” he says.

DAVID COOK with Ryan Star

When: 8 p.m. Tuesday

Where: Anita Tuvin Schlechter Auditorium, Dickinson College, Carlisle

How much: $15

Info: 717-243-5121, http://www.dickinson.edu/compass

Also performing: 8 p.m. March 16, Bloomsburg University, Bloomsburg; 8 p.m. March 19, Mansfield University, Mansfield; 8 p.m. March 20 and 21, Borgata Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, N.J.; 8 p.m. March 24, Penn State University-York, York.

On the Net: http://www.davidcookofficial.com; http://www.myspace/davidcookofficial

David Cook radio interview for FOX all acess

Q&A session with David Cook, WGBX

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Entertainment Director Adam Biemeret of UW-Green Bay’s radio station, WGBX. had a chance to speak with David Cook via phone interview.

Why did you decide to do a college tour?

It is something that I really wanted to do. When I went to school I used to go to shows all the time and there’s just a vibe there you don’t find anywhere else.

Do you have any advice for anyone that might try out for “American Idol?”

Everyone gets something different out of it, but just try to enjoy the experience because you don’t know how long you’re going to be there. There’s a lot of cool things to experience on the way if you can avoid getting bogged down with being in competition.

When people get voted off of “American Idol” do you feel bad for them?

Absolutely. You’re all out there gunning for the same thing and you know these people want it as much as you do. Over time you really build up a rapport with some of the people around you. You really do have time to build friendships with the other contestants. The auditions start in August ‘07 and the showed started February ‘08 so there’s all that time where you get to know everyone.

How do you pay your rent while you’re on the show?

Because you’re on a TV show you did get paid actor benefits. By being on TV you get a paycheck from a union. It’s enough to pay rent.

How drastically has your life changed since “American Idol?”

How hasn’t it changed? More people know my name and it’s a little harder to go out and grab a burger or something. Besides that I’ve got great friends and great family that will knock me down as many rungs as I need to be.

Did you get to bring any of your former band mates along with you on tour?

Absolutely. My guitar player Neal and my keyboard player Andy are in my band with me now. It’s great to have some friends from home I’ve know these guys for six years. So they how to push my buttons and keep me in line and make sure I’m having fun.

What are you doing after the college tour?

We are hoping to extend the tour. We’re talking about staying on the road and just really solidifying it.

Any plans for the next album?

We’re casually writing songs on the road and coming up with some new things. That one of the great things about this band, we’re all songwriters too. So we’ve had a couple of pow-wows and coming up with new material. Maybe we’ll throw in another one later on in the tour.

Some magazines featuring David Cook

David Cook at radio MIX 107.6 in Rio Grande TX Feb.26

Part 1

Part 2

David Cook-Declaration tour-First week’s best banters

Thanks to Jumpnegative

Herald-Dispatch interview-David Cook: “Don’t try to be, just be…”

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It’s hard to believe that it’s been a year since we first met David Cook. But if you think it’s hard for us to believe, think what it’s like for David himself.

Several times during our conversation, when I asked him about his experiences, he used the word, “amazing” and I could almost see him shaking his head in disbelief through the phone—especially when I told him that the tickets to the Shawnee State University concert Friday night sold out in less than five hours.

“We’re really looking forward to you coming here,” I told him.

“Well, I am looking forward to coming there,” he told me. “That’s amazing.”

However, David did ask me to do something about the weather since it’s been a little cold on the tour so far and I told him I’d see what I could do. But if you’ve seen Friday’s forecast, you know I probably can’t do much.

I’m sorry, David. I’ll try harder…

Other than the cold weather, the tour has been going well for David and his band. “So far, so good. We’ve managed to not injure ourselves,” he joked. “The crowds have been great. A lot of cool things have been happening.”

So why a college tour as opposed to bigger venues? “There’s a vibe at the college show I’ve never found elsewhere. It’s one of the most critical audiences. There is no other place where you’ll find more opinions about music than a college campus.”

Cook was also looking for venues that would match what he wanted to do with his shows. “It’s organic. It’s real. It’s accessible.”

So what will we see at Friday night’s show? “People that caught me on ‘Idol,’ they’ll see a little more. We try to have fun. We’re not ones to take ourselves too seriously.” David told me the setlist will have some pre-Idol songs, some fun covers, and some solo songs that were never released as singles. Two of David’s band members were in the group MWK with him, so they’ll also do some MWK songs.

There’s no doubt that it’s been quite a year for David. “It’s been everything I’ve dreamed of and then some. To share the stage with Neil Diamond, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Dolly Parton, and Mariah Carey. To pick their brains was priceless.”

David has also been able to perform at Carnegie Hall and for the troops as part of a USO tour. “These are amazing things people never get to do, let alone dream of doing. Those experiences, which I’ll take with me for the rest of my life, are invaluable.”

In fact, David talks about these experiences with such zeal it was hard to keep up (I think I need a speedwriting class.). When at one point I was forced to tell David I was catching up, he actually apologized to me. “I talk fast and long, I apologize.” At one point, David even said, “No worries. Take your time.”

If I ever had a doubt about all of those text messages I sent for him last year, I definitely don’t now…

And since he was being so nice, I almost hated to bring up “Idol” since you know he’s tired of all of those questions. But I had to ask him the question I ask all the Idols I’ve interviewed: What’s the most popular question you get about “Idol”? And wouldn’t you know, he gave the same answer. “Is Simon as mean as he is on TV and the answer is yes. But he was my favorite judge because he motivated me every week.”

So since I’d opened the “Idol” door I asked him if he’s had any time to watch the show this season. “I’ve seen very little of the show, but I try to keep educated through the Internet. I’ve seen a little bit. I think the talent is as strong as ever.”

Speaking of strong “Idol” talent, the Internet is still buzzing about David’s duet with Carrie Underwood at the opening of the Idol Experience at Walt Disney World. “Carrie’s been great on a personal level, just helping me since she’s been through this,” David told me when I asked about the duet. “And we share an Oklahoma connection.” So what was he thinking when he took the stage with her? “I was just thinking, don’t trip her up,” he said, only half joking. David said he’d love to sing with her again if the opportunity could get worked out.

The other thing I was nervous to ask about was David’s personal life. But I had to ask him if he’s been surprised about how scrutinized his life is. “It’s probably the most unnerving thing. Sometimes it seems like if I cough it’s going to be on CNN. But I appreciate that people care enough to talk about it.” David then shared with me something that someone told him once, “Loved or hated, never ignored. I’m okay as long as I’m not ignored.”

Since I still had a minute or two, I couldn’t resist asking him about his opening act, Ryan Star. “Ryan is a great guy. We did a radio show together in Atlanta. When I saw his set, I was just mesmerized. He’s got a passionate intensity about him on stage that I hopefully match. He’s really set the bar high.”

For my final question, I asked David what he would say to a group of struggling musicians who were in his place a year ago. “It’s really easy to try to chase what is at the moment, but there’s no longevity in that. I guess if I had to give advice, I’d say, ‘Don’t try to be, just be.’ When I started focusing on who I was, everything fell into place.”

And I don’t think things will be falling out of place for David any time soon…

David—and Ryan—will be in concert at the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts on the campus of Shawnee State University this Friday night beginning at 8. So yes, I will have LOTS more for the next few days. And you can read more from me in this weekend’s “The Herald-Dispatch”…

David Cook in Conway, AR for the Declaration Tour-Feb.25

David playing football

Lie

KOTN

Banter

Anodyne

Intro-Life On The Moon

Football in the dark

We Are Only Honest When We Are Sleeping

ADAM

‘American Idol 7′ winner David Cook comes to Knoxville

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David Cook, who won “American Idol” last season, will perform at 9 p.m. Friday, April 10, at the Square Room. Tickets go on sale 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 27. Tickets are $25 and can only be purchased at the Square Room’s official website. Here are some details about David: He is cool. His hair looks like it needs to be combed. He gets anxious a lot. He fainted one time after an “Idol” show. He’s 26, from Oklahoma and single (ladies!). Cook broke several Billboard magazine chart records after winning “Idol.” He had 11 songs debut on the Hot 100 in one week, beating the previous record set by Miley Cyrus in 2006 when she had six songs debut on the chart.
“The Time of My Life” led the pack, debuting at No. 3 on the Hot 100. Cook’s 11 charting songs also gave him the most songs by one artist on the Hot 100 of any week in the Nielsen SoundScan era (which began in 1991), and the most of any era since The Beatles. They had 14 songs on the chart a week in 1964, but since no one from that year is still alive then we’ll just have to take his word for it.