Local Boy Returns

"We want Chris!"

It was a day the Triad has been waiting for several weeks. McLeansville's American Idol contestant Chris Daughtry officially returns to the Triad and the area wanted to pull out all of the stops for him. Of course this isn't the first time the Triad has played host to a name made from that little singing contest that FOX runs every year.

In 2004, High Point's Fantasia (Barino) was crowned American Idol 2004 to much local acclaim just to have her turn around and dis her hometown in a "tell all" book where she admits that the Guilford County Schools left her academically illiterate. Even though Mr Daughtry didn't take the AI 2006 crown (that was Birmingham, Alabama's Taylor "Soul Patrol" Hicks) the future looks brighter for him.

His hometown of McLeansville spent this first Saturday morning of June honoring him and later in the afternoon, he and his band, Absent Element, gave a free concert at Grimsley High School in Greensboro to all who wanted to attend. At the concert, in true fashion, every entity that could hang on to his coat tails did from local businesses, local and federal elected officials and the governor's office itself. The poor woman from Governor Easley's office must have had too much Hollywood in her eyes because as she was giving Mr Daughtry one of many accolades, she misspoke. What she INTENDED to say was, "The first time you opened your mouth to sing, a wonder sound came forth." What she DID say was "The first time you opened MY mouth..." I just hope she wasn't wearing stiletto heels when she stuck her foot down her throat. Mr Daughtry wanted this concert to help the Children's Home Society of North Carolina and donations were taken for that organization.

Absent Element

Mr Daughtry, his family, band and close friends arrived in 2 very stretch limos with a police escort where they were taken around the running track of the stadium where the fans cheered and waved at the convoy and then to the schools field house. After a few minutes down in the field house preparing for the show, they emerged and walked over to the stage in front of one of the football goal posts. After an introduction that lasted too long and another 15 minutes while everything from certificates and keys to the city were bestow upon him, Mr Daughtry asked a simple question to the audience. "Wass up guys?! You ready to rock?!" The crowd goes wild and Absent Element, who has had a lead singer absent for the last 5 months begins to play. First song? Bon Jovi's "Wanted. Dead or Alive." Performed just like he did it on American Idol 3 months ago. This time, you could tell the improvement in his performance. As they played and he sang, you saw the same kind of style live that was on television. The IT factor that is needed to succeed in the record business was there on display in that high school stadium. He didn't seem to be a bar band singer, but someone you could see doing stadium concerts with people going crazy. The intensity that he showed on American Idol was there in front of his first "professional" fans. He also made a conscience effort to make contact with everyone one there. It was a beauty to behold. What he can become was there for all to see. He had graduated from local musician to up and coming star.

Wanted: Very much alive

Absent Element is not a bad sounding band. I was surprised how much the couple of cover songs they did sounded just like he had song them on the show. Most of the songs though were originals from the band's only release, an indie EP called "Uprooted."

As the show went on, you could feel that Mr Daughtry wanted this show to be just right. As important as every performance on AI with 30 million plus people watching were, this crowd of 3500 were his core, his base, his family and friends and in his short professional career, THIS was the big time, proving to the home crowd he was worth their time and support. The crowd was equally worried that they didn't disappoint him either. Several times he asked the crowd if they could hear OK or if they were bored. Each time the crowd responded enthusiastically in support for him and the band. I think neither had anything to worry about.

This audience did had a nice cross section of people. You saw the hard rockers in their tee shirts and barefoot, rednecks, older people in the 50's and 60's, and the "wine and cheese crowd" of men in their Izod shirts, khaki pants and women in their chic tops and pants and high heels along with teenage girl groupies that always hang on any celeb of any fame more than pageant queen.

As the show went on, you could tell that Mr Daughtry is tired. He had that drained look in this face that after 5 months of stress and being away from home can create. His wife and children sat on stage at the back looking on in satisfaction. On Deanna's face, his wife, you could see that all of those nights rehearsing, being gone to gigs not much more than orchestrated reasons for getting drunk and raising hell were paying off. People had come to hear him along with his band and not just for beer. And that was why many had come. To see and hear Chris Daughtry. Even though Mr Daughtry tried to play the whole "Chris Daughtry Show" circus atmosphere down, it permeated the air like a dead skunk in the middle of the road. The band has said all long that they have supported and continue to support Mr Daughtry.

One thing that came out of the Welcome Home Show was that he is on a different level than his band mates now. Even though Absent Element is a good solid band, they are, a local band. Mr Daughtry, on the other hand, is a "national name." He has doors opening for him that the others in the band do not have and may never have. Most fans of Mr Daughtry know he was in a band, but I would wager most of those people have no idea what that bands name is.

It was announced at the show that he has officially turned down Fuel's offer to be their lead singer. In my opinion, that was a smart move. After researching it, it appears that Fuel needs Mr Daughtry's celebrity more than he needs them. But on the other hand, in my opinion, if he sticks with Absent Element and tries to bring them along with him, you will never hear from him again. The public knows and wants Chris Daughtry, not Absent Element, even if Chris Daughtry is in the band.

And that is a hard thing. No one has anything against Absent Element, they are a good sounding band, I personally like them, but the record business is a hard business. It is built on a fickle lady called "fame" and she doesn't care if you live or die. People think Simon Cowell is too mean. Just the opposite. He has to tone himself down for American Idol. If he was allowed to be as nasty as record people are, he wouldn't be the person we love to hate. He would seem to be just plain mean. To quote funny woman Tracey Ullman who had a record contract in the 80's with Stiff Records in the UK, "Those bleeding record companies are nothing but thieves!"

Of course the problem is as simple as what was faced by three guys in a local band about to break national in 1962. Do they keep the drummer and stay a local band or go with a better drummer and "break nationally?" We all know that answer. Pete Best is a middle class man now in his 60's in Liverpool, England. His three band mates and a new drummer named Ringo Starr went on to be the best band in the world, The Beatles.

His final song was sung with nothing but his gutar. It was a song he had written right before AI called, "Home" and he said he was glad to be back among us.

But for a while on a sunny June Saturday, the local community welcomed home a man who is a husband, a father, a singer, an idol and a good man. I wish him all the luck in the world as he starts this wild ride of fame.

Thanks for the great afternoon Mr Daughtry. I look forward to doing it again soon.