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DC talks to KC.com prior to arriving for tour

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Saturday, 30 August 2008

A year ago this month David Cook decided to ride shotgun with his younger brother, Andrew, on a rainy, early morning trip to Omaha, where Andrew was going to audition for Season 7 of “American Idol.”

Someone with the show persuaded David to try out, too. He did. And … we know what happened.

This weekend Cook, a Blue Springs native and this year’s “Idol” champ, returns to his hometown for two shows in the American Idols Live tour, which features performances from this year’s top 10 contestants. From the road recently, Cook spoke to The Star about the homecoming and the record he has been making during the tour.

Have you been looking ahead to these Sprint Center shows?

From the second I saw the schedule. To be able to come home and have that extra day is huge. I’m definitely looking forward to it. To be able to sit down with my family and breathe for a second will be nice.

Is someone helping you manage the torrent of favors and ticket requests?

Unfortunately, no.

Has your family had a chance to see any of the shows yet?

My mom and stepdad, brother, our stepsister, her husband and their baby came to the show in St. Louis. I have a lot of family in Indiana, so Indianapolis was a big show. And my dad and stepmom and cousins and stuff came to the show in Lexington (Kentucky).

Will you do the same show here as everywhere else, or will they let you do something different or extra in your hometown?

The show will be the same, but I imagine the energy level will be different, at least for me. The tour has been great, and every city has been fantastic. But nothing beats coming home.

So you’re not able to change the setlist?

No. Because of all the lighting and production, we have to stay with it. But we try to find ways to switch it up and make it fresh a little bit.

What have you learned about performing at this level during these shows?

The big learning experience has been trying to make it as engaging for people in the back as it is for people in the front. Strangely enough, with that many people you have to make yourself more vulnerable than you would if you were playing a place like Davey’s Uptown or the Hurricane or whatever the Hurricane is now. So that’s been real interesting.

Has it been an easy transition from the live “Idol” show and the Nokia Theatre to these arena concerts?

With the show and the Nokia Theatre, there was always camera blocking involved so you kind of had to stay within yourself. It was a singing competition and a performing competition, so you had to be on top of your game on all counts. The tour is more relaxed. You can use the stage more and interact with the crowd more and be an entertainer more than a contestant. I’m gonna be real honest, and my apologies to everyone at “Idol,” but I much prefer the live touring feel.

You’ve been making a record during this tour. How does that happen?

I haven’t had a day off in two months, that’s how it happens.

Where do you record?

It’s a mix. Like we’ll have two days off between Tampa and Houston, so I’ll fly to L.A. to do vocals. And I had a day off between D.C. and Lexington, and I stayed in D.C. and tracked out there.

So you’ve lined up studios out on the road?

Yeah. And while I’m out on the road, they’re tracking the record back in L.A. We convene through e-mail and iChat. I’m lucky in that I brought my guitar player, Neal, on board, so he’s been out in L.A. tracking guitars for the record. So I have that direct contact.

Who’s Neal?

Neal Tiemann. He was actually in a band with me in Tulsa — MWK. He was the lead guitar player and songwriter, and I was fortunate enough to get him on board for my band now.

Have you hired anyone else?

Not yet.

Is any part of the record finished yet?

Nothing is finished. We’ve been doing multiple versions of everything to make sure that what we do put out is the strongest possible version of each song. It’s a little strange. We’re still working on the title and naming these songs. Everything’s coming together a little backward.

And you’re still shooting for late fall?

We’re shooting for November. So far, knock on wood, we’re ahead of schedule. The general consensus is we can’t put out anything less than a great record. That’s why we brought in Rob Cavallo to produce. He has a history of great records, so in that aspect I feel like we’re in good hands.

There are probably higher expectations for your album than any other “Idol” winner’s. Is everyone feeling it?

Any pressure like that has been manufactured by others. The standards I’ve set for myself will meet and exceed anyone else’s. If I can meet my own standards, everything, I hope, will fall into place.

Has there been any talk of releasing a single weeks before release date?

Nope. They just told me to put together a great record, and the singles will work themselves out. I’m really lucky. They’re allowing me to worry about making a record as opposed to things like writing a single. I’ve been involved in a lot of co-writes plus a lot of individual writing, stuff I wrote before the show. So I’m highly involved in the writing process.

I’ve read that you’ve worked with Raine Maida of Our Lady Peace and Ed Roland of Collective Soul. Anyone else?

Zac Maloy of the Nixons. I had a chance to sit down and write with him.

Will any special guests show up?

I’m not sure. Anything we do will have to meet the flow of the record and feel natural. So no one yet, but you never know.

Article courtesy of KansasCity.com