It's a Kris Allen Halloween Special!

Normally we use Thursdays and Fridays to catch up and look back at Kris media, but this week is Halloween, so today we're going to have a big Kris Allen Halloween Special post!

I asked for spooky and haunting videos of Monster and Out Alive, and here's what you submitted!

@SnapCracklyPop noted that her video of Monster from the Constellation Room show might work and he was purple if not haunting. We'll take it!


But hmmm, as she mentioned, purple does not equal scary enough - but maybe it was the angle?

Because this video of Out Alive from the same show by IAMmandaD features lots of screams and blue misty smoke!


@SnapCracklyPop also pointed me towards this next video of Kris at his show in Evanston, IL, contemplating his 2012 Halloween costume (see the end of this post for what he actually sported).


Now, let's check out the next entry. Here's Monster from an October 2012 show in Texas City, TX, submitted by @maryet34


Ooh smoky and creepy blue lights! Like it!

Our next entry is from @KYNurse45_ - she remembered that the Hamilton show in Washington, DC was quite smoky and submitted her Monster video! (Also, side note: that is my water glass you see in front of the candle giving off a flickering scary glow.)


Shadowy figures, smoky, flickering candles, and sometimes the lighting makes Kris look like a ghost! This video is scary!

So I went looking for Out Alive from the same show and found this video by crybaby4u, with Kris bathed in white smoke and spooky blue lights:


Spooky! As we all know, this show was October 28, 2012, aka the night Hurricane Sandy hit the east coast, and Kris and company ended up stranded in Washington DC for a few days. So they celebrated Halloween in style and luckily The Washington Post snagged some video! Watch it to see their Halloween costumes from last year!


Happy Halloween from Kris Allen Lists! May you all get lots of the good candy! If I have missed any good scary and haunting Kris Halloween videos, please share them in the comment section below!

Flashback Friday: Constellation Room and Halloween Costumes

On Fridays, we try to catch up on tour media around here! We'll check out a video to catch up on the Out Alive Tour. Plus I'll try to give you a bonus video that is worth another look...

Out Alive Tour Video

Going back to work means that my catch-up has slowed down and I'm only up to the February 8, 2013 show at the Constellation Club in Santa Ana (Orange County), California! Luckily some of our best videoers were at this show, and there are no bad videos from what I can tell. I've updated the show post with tons of links to all these videos!

I decided to go with this one because ... only 12 views? OK, it's not coded great for search, but c'mon. It's a great video that shows how hot Kris was that night (not to mention a dancing machine), and how great the crowd was (if only all the crowds would let loose like this)! So let's give it some love - here's Shut That Door as filmed by jsalow2:


Video worth Another Look

Halloween is a week away, and I need your help! Going to showcase some Monster and Out Alive videos next week, and I am looking for the scariest, spookiest ones - y'know the ones with creepy lighting and dry ice all over the place. If you've got a nominee, let me know! I will not be doing a Thursday or Friday post next week; instead, we'll have a Halloween special!

To get you in the mood, here's Kris brainstorming last year with Austin, TX about costumes:


And here he is throwing out Twizzlers to his adoring fans in Atlantic City, 2010:


Enjoy!

Throwback Thursday: October 24, 2010: Kris opens for Lifehouse in Washington, DC

Every Thursday we take a look back at Kris' career via video.

This week, I'm going to be even more selfish than normal, because I realized that exactly three years ago today was the first time Kris played an actual concert in my hometown of Washington, DC (besides the Idol tour and as opposed to a radio or charity appearance), when he came here to open for Lifehouse in their 2010 tour. So we are doing quite the personal throwback tonight.

This was such a fun concert - got together with a bunch of Kris fan friends at one person's condo for dinner and drinks, then shuttled over to the venue, DAR Constitution Hall, a beautiful place with fantastic acoustics.

Funny anecdote: This was around the time Alright with Me had become KATA's 3rd single and we DC people had begged one of the local radio stations which will go nameless to play it without success. A few of us went up to the radio station's table at the show to plead our case and received the response of "well, ok, do you want a nail file with the station's name?"

But on to the show! It was great. Alyssa Bernal ("Cali, Cali, Cali," remember?) opened, followed by Kris. He was very impressed by DC, as shown in this video by kmt8871 of Alright With Me:



And as you can hear, DC was (and always is) quite responsive to him! It's one of his best cities to play in terms of a responsive audience.

This was also the night he dropped Man in the Mirror from the set list and replaced it with a cover of Everybody Rules the World by Tears for Fears, segueing into an awesome full band Is It Over: Here's a great video from Marilyn Yang:

This was just a great night, capped off with a great performance from Lifehouse and a fun conversation with Cale. Finally, the highlight came when my friend and I met Kris (for me it was the first time) after the show. He was tired and we look super goofy in our pictures with him, but I remember our drive to our friend's place afterwards; we were super giddy and thrilled to have met him.

So all in all, one of my favorite concerts ever! Here's some show info and additional links in case you want to see more! If you have some media to share from this show, please pass it along and I'll link it below!

The Show!

Full Band (Not sure who took this picture, but it was taken during CSA)

1.  Written All Over My Face
2.  Can’t Stay Away
3.  Red Guitar
4.  Alright With Me
5.  Everybody Wants To Rule The World (cover - Tears For Fears)
6.  Is It Over
7.  Live Like We’re Dying
8.  Come Together (cover - The Beatles)

Opening for Lifehouse. Other acts: Alyssa Bernal

Related Links

• Kris Allen Media - some great videos and tons of links to tons of pictures here
• My personal YouTube playlist from the show
• Kris Allen Set Lists

Charity Event: Choosing to Excel (Charity fundraiser), Conway, AR, October 19, 2013

(photo provided by @jakayla_storey)

Dance with the Stars/Conway's Got Talent

benefiting Choosing to Excel

Conway, AR

October 19, 2013

6 PM CDT (3 PM PDT, 7 PM EDT)

Event Preview:

Kris is expected to perform a 30-minute solo set as part of this fundraiser for Choosing to Excel. According to this article by The Log Cabin Democrat previewing the event and explaining the group's purpose, Kris appeared as a peer presenter during his teens for a spin-off organization of the group, which aims to prevent teen pregnancy and provide services to pregnant teens and teen parents.

No AR concert regulars were there; apparently there was a Luke Bryan concert in town as competition for this event. 

Soundcheck and Venue:

(Photo via Choosing to Excel on Facebook)

The Event:

Photo by The Log Cabin Democrat

(Photo by Jeff Mathews)

Set List: (Partial; will update if we get more info)

1. Out Alive [Video] [Video - partial]
2. Better with You [Video]
3. Man in the Mirror [Video - partial] [Video - partial]
4. Live Like We're Dying with contest winner
5. Shut That door [Video - partial]

Related Links:

• Photo Slideshow by The Log Cabin Democrat
• 501 Life Magazine (Photos)

Throwback Thursday: October 16, 2013: Little Kids Rock 10th Anniversary Gala, honoring Steven Van Zandt

Every Thursday, we usually take a look back at some point of Kris' career. Tonight is a special post though, because we are going to take a look back at one of my personal favorite events that he was ever involved in: the 10th Anniversary Gala for Little Kids Rock, held October 16, 2012, in New York City.

Tonight, as you may know, Little Kids Rock is holding its annual gala for 2013; this year, the honoree is the great Darlene Love. This is one of Kris' favorite charities and although he's not there tonight and is home making up mysterious mash-ups for us, I'm sure he would want you to check out the online auction to raise funds for Little Kids Rock! There are quite a few great items, especially if you are a Springsteen or a Modern Family fan, just saying!

As we all heard me go on last year, I'm a huge Bruce Springsteen and E Street Band fan, so an evening devoted to the music of Steven Van Zandt? Fantastic! Kris meets Bruce? Bucket List for fangirl me!

One of the highlights was the grand finale, which featured all of the performers doing a spirited and fun rendition of Southside Johnny's classic I Don't Want to Go Home (co-written with Mr. Van Zandt). So for our throwback Thursday video tonight, here's a video you probably missed of this performance, shot by Kris' friend Andy Davis:



In honor of Little Kids Rock and just because I love all of the performers from last year's event, I've updated our show post from last year from the event with videos for all performers (that I could find; if I missed any, let me know), plus interviews, acceptance speeches, blogs, mp3s and more goodies!  Enjoy!

Flashback Friday: February 7, 2013: Canyon Club, Agoura Hills, CA and a September 5, 2012, interview on Good Day LA

Every Friday, we catch up on media around here. First we look at a video from the Out Alive Tour, and second, we check a video from the past you may have missed the first time!

As you may have known from reading his tweets this past week, Kris is in Los Angeles to visit friends, attend his manager's wedding and most importantly (to me anyway), work on that next album! He also took in time to watch his Idol castmate Allison Iraheta perform with her new band. Check out @SnapCracklyPop's timeline on Twitter for more on that.

I thought it would be good to revisit some past trips to Los Angeles for this week's Flashback Friday post:

Out Alive Tour Video:

I've worked my way up to the February 7, 2013, Agoura Hills show at the Canyon Club. (Agoura Hills is a suburb of Los Angeles.) This show is most special because it gave us one of Kris' best cover request songs ever, Wicked Games by Chris Isaak. Enjoy kradamantium's video of it below, and then check out my updated post for the Agoura Hills show for more videos and an mp3 of Wicked Games (courtesy of @summerdaze_)



Past Video:

Well working on the album this week, I thought it would be fun to hear Kris' thoughts after his last album, Thank You Camellia, was released. Here's @isbinla's video of his September 5, 2012 interview on Good Day LA, featuring a performance of Better With You.



Enjoy!

Throwback Thursday: After Dark at Oklahoma State University, October 8, 2012

Every Thursday on non-show nights, we take a look back at Kris' career via video!

This week, we go back to last year to a show that Kris did at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The show was part of a Christian program called After Dark, but with Kris as headliner, it pretty much just turned into a party as this video of Alright with Me shows ... audience storming the stage to dance!



You can find the updated post for the 10/8/12 OSU show here, with additional video links - unfortunately, there's not many videos from this show. If you know of one I missed, send the link to me and I'll update!

Flashback Friday: San Diego 2/2/13 and Kris Plays Electric Guitar in 2009 and 2010!

On Fridays, we try to catch up on tour media around here! We'll check out a video to catch up on the Out Alive Tour. Plus I'll try to give you a bonus video - Out Alive Tour!

Out Alive Tour Video
I'm up to San Diego and wow, was that an epic show on February 2, 2013 at the Soda Bar. There's no shortage of media to choose from; so I've updated the post for that show with all of the videos and yes, mp3s! Special shout-outs go to Ocamy21, SnapCracklyPop, Kradamantium and TheRealConcertKing who all went the extra mile and made you YouTube playlists (linked on the show post), and to Summerdaze_, coming through once again with the mp3s.

I couldn't decide between these two videos to feature here so you get them both:

Kradamantium's sexy video of Kris being sexy and ad-libbing during Leave You Alone


Ocamy21's awesome video of Seven Nation Army/Shut That Door


But also be sure to hit up the show post and check out Torres singing lead on California Dreaming and the band just doing another great job on Breakdown. Plus if you are West Coast, don't miss the banter before Better With You.

Bonus Video

We also try each week to take a look back at a fun or great (or both) video that maybe got overlooked or maybe just deserves a second look! I put out a request on Twitter and Summerdaze_ asked for something featuring Kris on electric guitar. (Perhaps inspired by this picture he tweeted.) Sounds good to me and it's the least I can do to thank her for the mp3s. But what to choose?

There's the first video that comes up in search on YouTube when you input "Kris Allen Electric Guitar"


Ah his Bright Lights solo during the 2009 Idol Tour, Charlotte version. He did great on that. Here's another fun video of it from the Portland 2009 Idol Tour



Then thinking through his own songs, the ones that have always stood out to me for electric guitar were Can't Stay Away and Is It Over, but Is It Over was always more of an Andrew DeRoberts tour de force. So we will go with Can't Stay Away, back to the Fall 2010 Lifehouse tour, where the KAB had evolved the song into a big guitar jam at the end. I found 3 pretty videos for you of Kris and his red electric guitar.

Here's Westbury, NY (k21886):


Here's Washington, DC (mamaygr - disclaimer - that's my personal account so this is actually my video)


Here's Kansas City (Debbi Ronnebaum) with bonus Red Guitar (for which he puts the red guitar down and picks up a brown one, LOL.)


Enjoy!

Throwback Thursday: October 3, 2012: St. Louis, MO Start of the 2012 Fall Tour & Happy Anniversary to this Blog!

So, a little announcement: I'd forgotten I'd started the blog on September 13, 2012! So tonight, belated Happy Blogaversary to me!

And in researching for tonight's post - October 3, 2012 was the first night of the fall 2012 tour. It all started with a show in St Louis at a venue called Off Broadway. So of course for our weekly look back, we will go back to that awesome tour's beginnings.

Let's begin with the lovely original song, Should I, performed by Kris for VIP Meet and Greet holders that night.


Also, this was the first time they did my favorite of his new songs, Paul Simon!


Heck, he even covered Nelly's St. Louis!


And because we're celebrating, here's pretty much my favorite song from Thank You Camellia (since Kris has not yet done Turn the Pages live).


Props to Debbi Ronnebaum for the awesome videos! Make sure you check them all out. Kris debuted his mash-up of Titanium/Every Breath You Take live at this show, and also revamped versions of Alright with Me and Teach Me How Love Goes.

Now to make that easier, and because it's my Blogaversary, I've gone and updated the post for October 3, 2012 with links to all the videos (thank you Debbi) and mp3s (thank you @summerdaze_) for the whole show! Enjoy!