Ben McCall/Sun Photo AMERICAN IDOL CONTESTANT David Cook performs for fans at the Power and Light District in downtown Kansas City Friday.
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Cook sends fans into frenzy
By: Kurt Kloeblen, Staff writer
Hickman Mills High School students Jennifer Stewart, Bre Lowry and Tiffany Asbury kept jumping up and down in anticipation of seeing an American idol.
The girls ventured to the Power and Light District in downtown Kansas City Friday to see “American Idol” finalist David Cook, a Blue Springs native. The singer made stops throughout the metro area Friday as part of a homecoming day that will be featured Wednesday on the reality talent show.
Cook played two songs – “Livin’ On A Prayer” and “Always Be My Baby” – for a few thousand people who piled into the Power and Light District courtyard.
The girls all pledged their devotion to Cook.
“David rocks,” Jennifer said.
“He’s amazing. He’s the next American Idol,” Bre said.
They screamed as Cook walked out on stage and joined the crowd in chanting “David, David, David.”
Nikki Schepf, Shawnee, Kan., said her friend Lily Garmand dragged her to see Cook perform. They brought their young children to the performance.
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Garmand said.
Schnepf said she enjoys Cook because he is unique.
“He just does his own thing,” Schnepf said, with daughter Madeline, 3, clutching close to her side.
Lauren Kurlbaum, Leawood, Kan., said she had the good fortune of having the day off. She brought a friend with her, who did not want to share her name because she was playing hooky from work.
“I just came down to support David Cook. He’s great for Kansas City,” Kurlbaum said. “It’s great to see someone big in music from Kansas City.”
Fans decorated signs and T-shirts with different pictures and phrases. “American Idol” producers directed cameramen to shoot the signs and urged fans to hold their signs up high.
Becca Stack and Nathan Todd, Columbia, Mo., wore personalized David Cook T-shirts. Stack’s shirt had a large photo of Cook on the front and said “There’s only room for one David,” on the back, alluding to another contestant, David Archuleta.
They said they drove to Kansas City specifically to see Cook.
“He was amazing,” Stack said. “He was so good live.”
Todd joked Stack’s devotion to Cook is “almost stalkerish,” but added he is a fan as well.
“It’s nice to see people that can actually sing,” Todd said.
Cindy Worth, Blue Springs, Mo., said she remembers Cook from high school. She was a senior at Blue Springs South when Cook was a freshman and they were in choir together.
As a member of the Worth family that owns area Harley Davidson dealerships, she said she hopes to arrange a motorcycle ride to benefit Cook’s brother, Aaron, who has brain cancer.
But at this moment, Worth was busy snapping photos with her pink camera and remembering the kid she grew up with.
“He didn’t look the same back then,” she said.
Brooklyn Besse and Katie Mulich, Louisburg, Kan., could not have been more excited as they jumped up and down while hugging their moms.
“He’s the best thing in Kansas,” Katie said.
“He deserves to win,” added Brooklyn.
The girls played hooky from school to see Cook perform.
“He was even better live,” Katie said.
“It’s really neat to see someone from our area,” Brooklyn said.
Contact Kurt Kloeblen at (913) 385-6087 or kkloeblen@sunpublications.com.
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The girls ventured to the Power and Light District in downtown Kansas City Friday to see “American Idol” finalist David Cook, a Blue Springs native. The singer made stops throughout the metro area Friday as part of a homecoming day that will be featured Wednesday on the reality talent show.
Cook played two songs – “Livin’ On A Prayer” and “Always Be My Baby” – for a few thousand people who piled into the Power and Light District courtyard.
The girls all pledged their devotion to Cook.
“David rocks,” Jennifer said.
“He’s amazing. He’s the next American Idol,” Bre said.
They screamed as Cook walked out on stage and joined the crowd in chanting “David, David, David.”
Nikki Schepf, Shawnee, Kan., said her friend Lily Garmand dragged her to see Cook perform. They brought their young children to the performance.
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Garmand said.
Schnepf said she enjoys Cook because he is unique.
“He just does his own thing,” Schnepf said, with daughter Madeline, 3, clutching close to her side.
Lauren Kurlbaum, Leawood, Kan., said she had the good fortune of having the day off. She brought a friend with her, who did not want to share her name because she was playing hooky from work.
“I just came down to support David Cook. He’s great for Kansas City,” Kurlbaum said. “It’s great to see someone big in music from Kansas City.”
Fans decorated signs and T-shirts with different pictures and phrases. “American Idol” producers directed cameramen to shoot the signs and urged fans to hold their signs up high.
Becca Stack and Nathan Todd, Columbia, Mo., wore personalized David Cook T-shirts. Stack’s shirt had a large photo of Cook on the front and said “There’s only room for one David,” on the back, alluding to another contestant, David Archuleta.
They said they drove to Kansas City specifically to see Cook.
“He was amazing,” Stack said. “He was so good live.”
Todd joked Stack’s devotion to Cook is “almost stalkerish,” but added he is a fan as well.
“It’s nice to see people that can actually sing,” Todd said.
Cindy Worth, Blue Springs, Mo., said she remembers Cook from high school. She was a senior at Blue Springs South when Cook was a freshman and they were in choir together.
As a member of the Worth family that owns area Harley Davidson dealerships, she said she hopes to arrange a motorcycle ride to benefit Cook’s brother, Aaron, who has brain cancer.
But at this moment, Worth was busy snapping photos with her pink camera and remembering the kid she grew up with.
“He didn’t look the same back then,” she said.
Brooklyn Besse and Katie Mulich, Louisburg, Kan., could not have been more excited as they jumped up and down while hugging their moms.
“He’s the best thing in Kansas,” Katie said.
“He deserves to win,” added Brooklyn.
The girls played hooky from school to see Cook perform.
“He was even better live,” Katie said.
“It’s really neat to see someone from our area,” Brooklyn said.
Contact Kurt Kloeblen at (913) 385-6087 or kkloeblen@sunpublications.com.