Clay Aiken T&T Concerts Continue 'One Up' Trend

Clay Aiken banters with Pittsburgh Tried & True audience.
Photo by cameocat is expandable.

Tried & True Shows

Pitt Audience Proclaims 'Best Yet'

According to concert goers, Clay Aiken's Tried & True Tour shows keep topping or one-upping themselves, as Pittsburgh fans were quick to report that Friday night's show was the "best yet."

The 22-city T&T Tour heads to Cleveland for tonight's 7:30 pm concert at PlayhouseSquare and Sunday to Waterbury, CT, for a 7:30 pm show at the Palace Theater.

In Pittsburgh, "Who's Sorry Now" was treated to not-to-be-missed do wop, mambo, and polka arrangements by Clay, Quiana Parler, and the rockin' backup musicians.

Link to the WPIX website to view a 27-photo slide show from the Pittsburgh show.

Clay Surprises with 'Both Sides Now'

"Both Sides Now," a fan favorite since Clay performed the song at the National Inclusion Project's October Gala, was the surprise closer and can be viewed in this entry.

Featured below are four videos by Scarlett and Canfly. This Google Doc link will allow you to view and/or download all of Scarlett's videos from the Pittsburgh show.

In a microcosm of Friday's show, here are videos of "Mack the Knife," the "Crying" duet by Clay and Quiana, the singer's signature version of "Unchained Melody" arranged by Ben Cohn, band intros plus the beautiful "Both Sides Now" closing number.

Note the iPad charts being used by Ben Cohn, keyboards/arranger/conductor; guitarist Adam Fallen; Del Atkins, bass; and Felix Pollard on drums! As Clay remarked, very "21st century"!

Clay swings 'Mack the Knife' at the Pittsburgh Show.
View video by Scarlett full screen at YouTube.

Clay and Quiana in amazing 'Crying' duet.
View video by Scarlett full screen at YouTube.

Clay's signature 'Unchained Melody' (arr. Cohn).
Link to YouTube to view video by Scarlett full screen.

Clay introduces backup vocalist, instrumentalists.
View video by Scarlett full screen at YouTube.

Singer closes Pittsburgh show with 'Both Sides Now.'
Link to YouTube to view video by Canfly.
Download with this Megaupload file.

Have a wonderful weekend, Clay Nation! Check back after Cleveland ...

Caro

Clay Aiken Talks Tried & True Tour, Music

TRIED & TRUE Tour bus heads north. - Photo by Invisible926 expands.

Pittsburgh, Cleveland Interviews

Clay Previews Upcoming Shows

Every concert on Clay Aiken's current Tried & True Tour inspires audience accolades topping previous performances, and Knoxville was no different.

Paired with video recaps from Thursday night's performance at the Bijou Theatre in East Tennessee are outstanding interviews of the singer by media personnel along the tour route.

An excellent example is Dee Perry's Around Noon radio conversation in conjunction with Saturday's show in the PlayhouseSquare Palace Theatre in Cleveland.

Cleveland 'Around Noon' interview with Dee Perry.

For tonight's concert in Pittsburgh, Patricia Sheridan interviewed Clay on radio and made the dialogue available as a podcast and in print version with the Post-Gazette: Patricia Sheridan's Breakfast ... with Clay Aiken. Here is a Sendspace download of the podcast.

The Pittsburgh Tribune Review also published an interesting preview for the concert: Clay Aiken believes the music should be about the singer.

Below are this weekend's T&T Concerts:

2.18.11 Pittsburgh, PA Carnegie Music Hall, 8 pm
2.19.11 Cleveland, OH Playhouse Square, 7:30 pm
2.20.11 Waterbury, CT Palace Theater, 7:30 pm

Thanks to the clack gatherers, previous concerts are just a click away. Not only do they render/upload videos after a performance, many process the latest while waiting to catch flights home or to the next concert.

Below are three styles of "Who's Sorry Now" from the Knoxville Concert as suggested by the audience: bossa nova, disco, and Cajun.

Clay & Co. perform 'Who's Sorry Now' bossa nova style.
View Knoxville video by Scarlett full screen at YouTube.

Quiana sings WSN with Clay as backup in this version.
View video by Scarlett full screen at YouTube.

Clay and Quiana sing WSN Cajun/Zydeco style.
View Knoxville video by Scarlett full screen at YouTube.

Have a great weekend, Clay Nation! See you after Pittsburgh!

Caro