PHOTO GALLERY: David Cook Watch Party
Bill Fickle wasn’t surprised when more than 200 David Cook fans gathered to cheer for the Blue Springs star in a hometown establishment Tuesday night. After all, the Side Pockets owner has hosted American Idol “watch parties” for the last half-dozen weeks, and each party is larger and more vocal.
Fans gathered throughout the bar to watch two giant-screen televisions and a host of smaller TV’s lining the walls of the billiards bar at 1237 S.W. Missouri 7. Predictably, the audience was mostly quiet during the performances of Cook’s rivals, but erupted at the close of Cook’s three performances, some of them jumping from their seats and cheering, arms in the air.
If Blue Springs Cook fans are accurate foreseers of the future, this homespun fairytale will end with “happily ever after” when Cook wins the audience-rated television competition.
“I think he did great,” said Karen Bromley of Blue Springs following his final song. “He definitely made it to the finals.”
“He’s going to win it all,” said Bill Accomando of Blue Springs. “He takes a lot of chances with music.”
Chris Eschlimau, of Grain Valley, who just finished a tour of duty in Iraq, proclaimed: “He’s smokin’ hot.”
Caitlin Cox, of Blue Springs, said of his competition, “The girl (Syesha Mercado) is too young, too everyday. He (David Archuleta) is too young. Sherry Cox added, “Cook’s a lot more creatively talented. He deserves to win.”
Fickle agreed with his patrons.
“I think he has the most overall talent, especially to be a recording artist,” the Lake Lotawana resident said. “David Cook does his own arrangements... he’s ready to go.”
Fickle is bracing for even bigger crowds as the show builds to its finale.
He said, “If he makes it, and it looks like he will, next week is going to be phenomenal.”
