American Idols Tour 2011 – Phoenix AZ – Video & Live Blog

Thanks for clarifying the time mj- I knew Arizona is on Mountain Time, just forgot they stay with standard time.

I would imagine the country kids will be met with great enthusiasm tonight. And Pia’s sister (who lives in Tucson) will be there.

I knew Arizona is on Mountain Time, just forgot they stay with standard time.

Their determination to make life confusing. I would not have a problem with daylight savings time just being dropped in general.

I’m excited to see more Stefano videos. Watching the tour vids, he’s really impressed me. I always liked his voice but thought his song choices and phrasing did him in on Idol. In the videos from the tour though, he’s really stolen the show for me.

Seeing the tweet about the David Cook video reminded me…Lauren and Pia were listening to the album on the bus last night enroute to Phoenix, and both tweeted their fans telling them they should buy it because it was great. Nice of them.

Mike M says:
07/17/2011 at 9:59 pm
Seeing the tweet about the David Cook video reminded me…Lauren and Pia were listening to the album on the bus last night enroute to Phoenix, and both tweeted their fans telling them they should buy it because it was great. Nice of them.

Yep, I wasn’t the biggest fan of David Cook his season, but one great thing about him and his brother is that they’ve always been very friendly with all the Idol contestants. It goes to show that if you make connections, you’ll get the support later. On top of that, I think the album is actually very good, so I don’t doubt that their praise of the album is genuine.

Pia also tweeted after David performed on Idol that he was incredible..I’m not opposed to those too teaming up for a duet!

awwww that was nice of Lauren and Pia to show support for Dave. That was very sweet of them. That just goes to show what a family some of these contestants become after their season ends and not necessarily just with the contestants from their season.

Yep, this time zone thing tonight had me confused too. I even did a quick Google search for a US time zone map that had some major cities on it just to be sure. Yep, I was that confused. Heh I can’t wait till the tour moves into the central time zone and better yet eastern time! :D

I’m going to have to start live blogging this concert myself pretty soon, lol.

BTW is starting! Naima is great! Thia is wearing a poofy thing!

Both girls seemed to love the album. Pam, along the lines of Idol contestants and former contestants sometimes being like family, I saw a post the other day showing Lauren’s original twitter page before they got the Ai10 designations. One of the tweets from Lauren in February said Katie Stevens was showing her how to use twitter. I thought that was a hoot.

ScottyMcCreery
i come back in the dressin room after dinner to hear @JDurbinAI10 yelling. I’m thinkin he’s hurt, but no… he’s watching wrestling.. haha.

XD

ETA: I have a link to a very interesting interview with Stefanao. Should I post the link or is that too off-topic here. It’s an eye brow raiser and will probably get under some folks’ skin.

Maybe headlines? His mouth is a shame because I think he’s really talented, and it seems like some of the other contestants like James, Scotty, and Pia do like him. He’s just clearly not media trained.

ScottyMcCreery
i come back in the dressin room after dinner to hear @JDurbinAI10 yelling. I’m thinkin he’s hurt, but no… he’s watching wrestling.. haha.

Now that is hilarious! LOL!

One of the tweets from Lauren in February said Katie Stevens was showing her how to use twitter. I thought that was a hoot.

haha that is a hoot for sure. :D

California King Bed is always a hit the first half of the show.

Maybe headlines? His mouth is a shame because I think he’s really talented, and it seems like some of the other contestants like James, Scotty, and Pia do like him. He’s just clearly not media trained.

Phil, I decided not to post it on the concert thread. Maybe tomorrow.

Still have a few weeks till my show. It’ll be interesting to see if anything changes in the format between then. I think the thirty seconds of Faithfully with Paul, Haley and Casey is my favorite thing in the show. Just can’t get enough of it! It fits all their voices like a key.

LOLz … Pia’s “friend” is travelling with the boys it sounds like:

CAbramsAI10 Casey Abrams
I was so tired this morning, I was walking like a zombie, and I wanna thank @markballas for scaring the sh$/ out of me. It really woke me up
7 hours ago

Wonder how much of the tour he will accompany them on.

ScottyMcCreery
1st half done.. imma hit up the bus real quick n pick up some #nila wafers

put this boy to work the first half.. I really wish Scotty was part of the guys number.

CAbramsAI10 Casey Abrams
I was so tired this morning, I was walking like a zombie, and I wanna thank @markballas for scaring the sh$/ out of me. It really woke me up
7 hours ago

Wonder how much of the tour he will accompany them on.

Was Nikki Reed traveling in the girls bus ?
By the way, I feel so bad for the guys to have Mark there.
Yeah, not a fan.

paulafee123: No barricade action fir me if they are even doing it tonight. The car sayss the temp is 101 at 10 pm

That is crazy.

Arizona is same as Pacific Time right now. It’s only during winter, that they are on Mountian time. Doesn’t matter now though… concert is over. It’s hard to explain but when we all “Spring forward” in March, they stay the same. So when the Pacific Coast moves clocks forward an hour, AZ doesn’t. So we become the same time as AZ. I have family there and I am in CA. We are always on the same time during our Daylight savings time, which is actually an hour behind Mountain time.

Phil, I decided not to post it on the concert thread. Maybe tomorrow.

Yes, please keep the tour threads focused on the concerts. If you have an article that’s specific to a contestant post it in headlines.

Also, if the article is a FEW DAYS OLD CHANCES ARE IT’S BEEN POSTED AND THOROUGHLY DISCUSSED ALREADY.

I’m betting that eye brow raising article is one that we beat to death about two days ago in headlines. No repeats, please. If you’re late to the party, unfortunately, you’ve missed the boat.

Was Nikki Reed traveling in the girls bus ?
By the way, I feel so bad for the guys to have Mark there.
Yeah, not a fan.

I would be a little surprised I guess if they let him ride along on the bus – but I know nothing about how this worked in the past to know if anyone not associated with the show in some way was ever allowed to travel with the Idols. :)
Could open up a whole can of worms – what if Naima’s husband wanted to come along? What if the other girls had boyfriends? or what if the guys had girlfriends? etc. etc. :)

I wonder if it is because Nikki Reed and Mark Ballas are celebrities themselves that they get to travel with the AI group?

Haley. wow.
HOTRS/BATJ
Moanin’

Any videos from AZ tonight would be great!

Or, maybe Mark B just traveled himself or flew out there and boarded the bus after it had arrived?

I wonder if it is because Nikki Reed and Mark Ballas are celebrities themselves that they get to travel with the AI group?

Why would these celebrities, who can easily afford a plane ticket, be granted permission to travel on the bus? Besides, I think there would be insurance issues, etc. that would likely prohibit this. But then we may never really know….maybe Idol just gave permission for the Top 11 to all have traveling companions since they didn’t think it fair that only Scotty, Lauren, and Thia got to have someone along for the ride.

maybe Idol just gave permission for the Top 11 to all have traveling companions since they didn’t think it fair that only Scotty, Lauren, and Thia got to have someone along for the ride.

Isn’t it the law that the minors have to have somebody with them?

CKB from last night

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cy_yhLIsucw

All I want to know is why Pia pulled her hair back, lol.

I have to say- Mark Ballas sure acts like a boyfriend. And judging by some of the tweets I’ve seen, I think he gets along fine with the boys, Casey and Stefano in particular.

Edit: I forgot about the video posted the other day- I think it was from LA- where Pia boards the bus and Mark keeps on walking- so who knows?

Isn’t it the law that the minors have to have somebody with them?

My point exactly….maybe someone thinks that ALL the Idolettes need a chaperone (she says with tongue firmly in cheek).

CKB from last night

Why do I find Pia’s left arm so damn annoying (along with the knee bends). I think I need to check out some Diva vids and see what they do with their bods while they are singing.

ETA… Maybe Pia should watch some videos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-W5ND6wj_A&feature=related

Well, if he was traveling with them, it certainly would not be on the girls’ bus. I doubt very seriously he was traveling with them at all. Probably drove or flew to Phoenix for the re-union between Pia and her sister. No way Idol is going to start hauling boyfriends around.

Wow, no videos from Phoenix show? Hope some show up!

RYGKMON: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqPuNPtbyCo

randomjoe says:
07/18/2011 at 3:20 am

Haley. wow.
HOTRS/BATJ
Moanin’

Casey showed a little taste and restraint that time on Moanin’. I wonder if he is ever going to get the hang of scatting by the end of the tour. It’s not making monkey sounds, it’s a jazz solo instrumental with the voice. And you don’t have to go Satchmo on us each and every time.

Haley is thoroughly amazing, again, changing up all three songs. Does anyone else do this on the Tour?

I think the thirty seconds of Faithfully with Paul, Haley and Casey is my favorite thing in the show. Just can’t get enough of it! It fits all their voices like a key.

Yes, it does. I saw the show in Oakland, and hearing it live is fantastic. Too bad they don’t get to sing the entire tune. Those two little solo parts by Haley are probably my favorite Haley moments of the show.

I think the thirty seconds of Faithfully with Paul, Haley and Casey is my favorite thing in the show. Just can’t get enough of it! It fits all their voices like a key.

I had really hoped we would hear a duet with Paul and Haley or Lauren. Or, to be kinda fair to all the idols, Naima or Thia. Black Bird (Hollywood week) with Kendra was stunning and would be great on tour. But, since it’s the Pia show, guess we ended up with Pia/Stefano instead.

Why do I find Pia’s left arm so damn annoying (along with the knee bends). I think I need to check out some Diva vids and see what they do with their bods while they are singing.

ETA… Maybe Pia should watch some videos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-W5ND6wj_A&feature=related

It’s very simple really … they (divas) don’t pretend they are still in the studio doing a straight up rendition for a track. They inject some dancing, some vocals/talking outside the words of the song, they make eye contact with members of the audience. And oh yeah, they actually look like they are having fun …

Haley is thoroughly amazing, again, changing up all three songs. Does anyone else do this on the Tour?

I know Siobhan did with her three songs last year! I like surprises. It is sad that a 4th place winner like James can’t do three solos!

It is sad that a 4th place winner like James can’t do three solos!

James really doesn’t get a duet, does he. Neither does Jacob, the 5th place winner. But Stefano does? And how about 3 solos from a 3rd place winner? Essentially everyone but Thia, Paul amd Naima get 2 solos but the country twins who get 3 & 4 respecitvely. Paul gets shafted IMO with a single solo. I wonder if we are ever going to get an explanation for that (or did I miss it)?

The user says the vids were downloaded from an Android phone which will explain the static noise.

Forget You (Partial)

Lauren-Flat On The Floor & LMMD (both partial)

Scotty-Your Man

Casey-Smooth

Casey showed a little taste and restraint that time on Moanin’. I wonder if he is ever going to get the hang of scatting by the end of the tour. It’s not making monkey sounds, it’s a jazz solo instrumental with the voice. And you don’t have to go Satchmo on us each and every time.

There are different types of scat singing. I think Haley does a more “traditional” kind of scatting and she does it wonderfully. (BTW, I did hear her throw in a little Satchmo in the other day–LOL)

Casey often does a more free style kind of scatting–using different kinds of sounds

http://www.music.vt.edu/musicdictionary/texts/scatsinging.html

Lauren-Clearer version of Flat On The Floor

Lauren-LMMD

Jacob-Never Too Much

You’re All I Need To Get By

If I Die Young

I think the thirty seconds of Faithfully with Paul, Haley and Casey is my favorite thing in the show. Just can’t get enough of it! It fits all their voices like a key.

Would a Twitter campaign help to make this longer? I love that song!

Casey-Harder To Breathe (Partial)

Scotty-Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not

Scotty-ILYTB

Scotty/Lauren-When You Say Nothing At All (Partial)

Scotty-Gone

Finale

Paul gets shafted IMO with a single solo. I wonder if we are ever going to get an explanation for that (or did I miss it)?

Naima and Thia deserve 2 songs also. If I were the producer, I would have taken out one of Pia’s songs (New York or the duet,) one of Stefano’s, one of the girls’ group numbers, Lauren’s Firework. That would have allowed enough time for Naima, Thia, and Paul to have 2 songs. :)

I’ve been reading the posts questioning Mark’s tagging along with the tour and it’s occurred to me that perhaps he’s been hired by the AI folks to help with training Pia with her stage performance. While she’s got a powerful voice, surely it hasn’t escaped their notice that her performance isn’t getting great reviews, or, as someone here put it, sucks the energy out of the show. Their alleged romance would make it easy to cover up the coaching efforts and allow her to save face. Mark’s the kind of guy who wears his heart on his sleeve, not the type to go 2-3 months into a relationship without acknowledging it and their body language and awkwardness in photos/videos doesn’t look like boyfriend/girlfriend, even for Pia who’s not used to being in the public eye. Apparently Mark was brought in to help on her video so it would make sense that coaching would continue at the start of the tour. He was supposed to tour this summer for his own cd. I find it hard to believe he would give that up just to tag along with AI-unless it was for a paying job, like coaching. What do you think?

Guys w/o Scotty-Animal (Partial)

Naima-On The Floor

Lauren, Pia, & Thia-Firework

Forget You (FULL)

While she’s got a powerful voice, surely it hasn’t escaped their notice that her performance isn’t getting great reviews, or, as someone here put it, sucks the energy out of the show.

I’m not saying her stage performance doesn’t need work- because I agree that it does- but if you watch a video of “This Time” from the first concert at SLC and the one I posted earlier in this thread, it’s quite obvious that she has made improvements. Baby steps- as she gets more comfortable on stage, she will continue to get better.

Mark’s the kind of guy who wears his heart on his sleeve

Agreed. And I do think he’s smitten. But Pia came off a long term (4 year) relationship only a few months ago- with all the changes in her life, I can see her not wanting to , or ready to, get into a new relationship at this time. I have no idea, but I would imagine they could have found somebody a lot less expensive than Mark Ballas to coach her.

Agreed. And I do think he’s smitten. But Pia came off a long term (4 year) relationship only a few months ago- with all the changes in her life, I can see her not wanting to , or ready to, get into a new relationship at this time. I have no idea, but I would imagine they could have found somebody a lot less expensive than Mark Ballas to coach her.

I agree – he’s smitten and she’d be crazy to get involved at this moment while launching a career-but Mark attracts publicity/papparrazi which gets her name into the papers and on celeb tv shows…all good for launching her career. And I don’t think expense is as much an issue as publicity, buzz, etc.

Sorry! Don’t know how to get the quoted portion shaded and the new message not shaded.

@Jeannie- copy and paste what you want to quote into the publish box. Then highlight that text and click on b-quote.

Then space and type what you want to say :)

If you were going to teach Pia how to perform as a singer, would you pay Mark Ballas? Unless you were getting her to tango or waltz, I think you would go to a more experienced coach or mentor.

Thanks Halo9125. I’ll save your message so I’ll know the next time.

Ringo, I didn’t mean teaching her as a singer, I meant teaching her stage performance, how to move, etc. Mark is a teacher/choreographer by profession. He’s had years of training and years of experience and he’s used to dealing with novices. Since he started coaching her for the video, it would make sense that he would continue some additional coaching. Anyways, I was just throwing the idea out there for consideration. It just seemed weird for him to be tagging along on the tour.

Their alleged romance would make it easy to cover up the coaching efforts and allow her to save face. Mark’s the kind of guy who wears his heart on his sleeve, not the type to go 2-3 months into a relationship without acknowledging it and their body language and awkwardness in photos/videos doesn’t look like boyfriend/girlfriend, even for Pia who’s not used to being in the public eye.

Oh if you ever saw them out and about in L.A. then you would know they are a couple or deserving of the best acting duo award for 2011.

Mark also sings and plays guitar. He is a regular act at the Mint, House of Blues, etc in L.A. He also has recorded an acoustic album

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euB6CzMdkPw&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snO0iZ6yeHI&feature=related

Oh if you ever saw them out and about in L.A. then you would know they are a couple or deserving of the best acting duo award for 2011.

it would be interesting to see them live then, becayse in videos and phots of the pair the only time they tougch is to pose for photos or when he is helping her up a stair, in a door etc. And I include the “famous” touching her booty shot in that mix.

In all of their shots I’ve seen their body language does not signal attraction – in fact they have arms crossed and leaning away from each other when not grouping together for the cameras.

Yes adamland. I have his cd. I like it alot. Saw his show w/Harry + Chris-he puts on a fun show.

Does anyone know if AI has ever brought in trainers or coaches for other idols? They’ve got ALOT of money riding on this tour for them to leave it in the hands of novice performers. Surely other idols have been in a similar situation of having the singing skills but trouble with the performing aspects of the show.

it would be interesting to see them live then, becayse in videos and phots of the pair the only time they tougch is to pose for photos or when he is helping her up a stair, in a door etc. And I include the “famous” touching her booty shot in that mix.

In clubs, restaurants, etc where cameras aren’t around they are a lot different towards each other.

Since the idol tour isn’t “The Pia Tour” I think the girl can just sink or swim on her own as far as performance skills. I think that during the tour preparations someone probably taught all of the idols a few dance steps but I don’t think Idol the tour cares much after that.

Now interscope, or Pia herself, could be footing the bill for a performance coach.

Agreed. And I do think he’s smitten. But Pia came off a long term (4 year) relationship only a few months ago- with all the changes in her life, I can see her not wanting to , or ready to, get into a new relationship at this time. I have no idea, but I would imagine they could have found somebody a lot less expensive than Mark Ballas to coach her.

I don’t know – my impression has always been that Pia was the one who asked Chris Jericho to introduce her to Mark because she was pretty smitten with him. I always thought her to be the aggressor. I think they’re together, but trying their best to keep it under the radar. From the gossip, it seems to me they’re a bit serious. I don’t think he’s travelling from place to place to hang with the guys. ;-)

my impression has always been that Pia was the one who asked Chris Jericho to introduce her to Mark because she was pretty smitten with him. I always thought her to be the aggressor.

I’ve posted about this previously- and without saying too much (I won’t, because I wouldn’t betray Pia in that way), this isn’t what happened, and she in no way, shape or form was the aggressor.

Okay, I thought Pia dumped her boyfriend for Stefano, which made Haley mad for some reason. Then, Pia hooked up with Mark after the boot, and Haley and Casey had a fauxmance. Hopefully, nobody is hooking up with Stefano. He seems sleazy.

I won’t lie. I like gossip. I don’t ship, but I hope someone someday writes a tell all for all seasons of Idol.