I had the time of my life yesterday! I really like Chris Daughtry on AI and my friend Jenn and I were excited to hear that he was coming home yesterday and there was going to be autographs in his hometown and then a concert in Greensboro with his old band Absent Element. We immediately decided we had to be there.

We left Saturday morning at 5:30am and made it to McLeansville at 7am. We bought the official Homecoming shirt and signed a guest book that would be given to Chris. We also found out that there weren't going to be any autographs like originally planned because the radio stations were giving away meet and greet passes instead. Chris was only going to sing 2 songs, talk to the mayor, and address the kids. We decided it wasn't worth staying there when we could be first in line for the concert in Greensboro. (You can definitely tell we are Clay fans and we have the need to be as close as humanly possible.)

We got in our car and headed to Greensboro which was about 20 minutes away. We got there around 7:45am and we saw hundreds of cars, so we got a little nervous. Then we realized it was all the high school students who were taking the SATs (the concert was at a high school stadium). There actually was no one there yet, so we decided to go and get some breakfast. When we returned it was around 8am and there was still no one there, so we waited in the car and ate. At around 9am, another car arrived and we decided it was time to start a line. A really nice man named Carl told us that we were actually in the wrong place and he showed us where we needed to be because they were going to let the first 200 people in from that gate sit on the lawn. The four of us became really good friends the ladies actually ended up being Clay fans (no wonder they got there early too). A reporter from the Greensboro News and Record came by and chatted with us for at least 20 minutes wanting to know why we were Chris fans and all that kind of stuff. It was a lot of fun knowing we would be quoted in the paper the following day!

A little later on we saw this very hot guy. We started talking to him and found out he was the "drum tech" for Chris's band Absent Element. We came to realize that he actually was the friend who had no musical talent, so they gave him that name so he could hang with them. He really was their "Nick". Anyway, he took our picture since we were the first in line and he took our email addresses to send us that picture and other pictures he took during the concert. We became pretty close to him during the rest of the morning and day. He brought the guys out from Absent Element, as well as their band van and we all got to sign it. We also took pictures with the band and got to chat with them. They are all super nice!

We were finally let into the stadium at noon and we headed to where we were allowed to sit. This is where we got a little sad. Even though we were the first in line, we had to sit behind two huge blue tarps for the kids from the charity that was sponsering the concert and the chairs for the VIPs. I would say we were in like the 25th row. I have never sat that far away at any of my Clay concerts. It was just not cool since we had been there for 6 hours. When the tarps weren't filling up we were hoping we would be allowed to move up once the concert started.

About 30 minutes before show time the DJ's from the radio station had a contest to win 10 meet and greet passes. My friend Jenn seriously wins just about anything she wants, so of course she was picked as a contestant. You had to answer an American Idol trivia question correct to win. Her question was Where is Kellie Pickler from? She went blank, but thought about it and eventually said "Albamor.....le or something like that" and they were like "close enough you win!!" Of course I was excited for her, but also a little sad because she really wins everything. She has met Clay at least 4 or 5 times to my once at the book signing. We had been planning on meeting the idols together on the AI tour this year, so I was just a little sad that she would meet Chris alone first.

Anyway, there was nothing we could do about it, so we waited for the show to start. Chris came in with a huge motorcaid and they made a lap around the track. As soon as that was done I saw some people start going under the yellow tape that was holding us back, so I made my way under the tape and right up to the middle about three people back from the gate. We were so close and exactly where I wanted to be!!

There was a huge delay in the show and the DJ's and news people were trying to stall, but about 20 minutes later Chris came out and he was presented with all kinds of rewards from the mayors and commissioners of surrounding cities, including the keys to the city and a certificate stating that June 3 is officially Chris Daughtry day. Chris then went on to sing around 7 songs which included Dead or Alive and a song he had written about coming home and his dream coming true. The show was fantastic and the band Absent Element is fantastic! I really hope they have the opportunity to stay with Chris as his band. I will be the first to admit that I am not usually a fan of rock music, but when Chris sings that all changes. I really think he is one of the only rock singers who can actually sing and he makes you forget about the loud music and pay close attention to that fantastic voice. I really believe he is going to be a star!

Anyway, the concert is over now and Jenn and I start walking to the field house where her meet and greet is going to be. She grabs my arm and tells me to pretend like I belong because that is how I will get in. We make it past security and up to the line. When we get up there the women in charge says "I hate to do this, but you are only allowed to bring in one person with you." Jenn and I look at each other and say "One person?" That is perfect!!! I get to go in with her and all is great in our world now!!! We try to cover up our sunburn the best we can and try and look presentable for one of the hottest men alive. We go into the room and we find out that Chris is running really late, so we will only be able to get an autograph. No pictures with him. Total sadness, but at least we can get some shots as he walks down the line. Jenn decides that she would rather have a picture with him than an autograph, so when it is her turn she asks him if that is alright and he says sure. He puts his arm around her and I try and snap the picture. My camera is so slow because it wants to focus. Anyway, I'm getting nervous that we are taking up to much time so I say, "I'm so sorry Chris my camera is being slow." He says "That's fine" and the picture takes. It turns out fantastic! Next it is my turn, so I hand Chris the Absent Element CD that I had bought earlier in the day and he signs it while Jenn takes a picture of me with him signing the CD. Our turn is now done so we walk back to get our stuff. We meet back up with Chris the "drum tech" and talk to him a bit. He is very hot, so we offer him the rest of our water and he immediately takes it. I swear we are all friends now, he just drank after Jenn and I. We then move out of the building.

We meet back up with Maria the reporter outside and tell her about our meet and greet experience. She wasn't allowed in and she wanted to know how he was. We let her know that he was really sweet and you could tell he wanted to spend more time with all of us, but he couldn't because he was running late. Not to mention he was even hotter up close!! We have now been interviewed in line before the show, right after the show with our imprssions of the concert, and after the meet and greet. We are thinking the article is going to be the day in the life of Amanda and Jenn.

Chris is now being taken back to the limo to head out of the stadium. Since we just talked to him we head over to talk to the band again and get their autographs. I talk to Mark the lead guitar player and back up vocals. I had him sign my shirt and then I let him know that I thought he had a very good voice. He said thanks and that he usually sings more in the set, but he blew out his voice a while ago and is not able to sing as much anymore. I asked him how they chose the songs they did and he said since they only had one day to rehearse with Chris they had to pick the songs that they all knew well. I then asked whether they all knew Dead or Alive before Chris did it on AI, but before he could answer he was called to get into the limo. He was so nice and I hope I get to see him again sometime.

It was then time to leave and drive back to Raleigh on our high from one of the best days of our lives. We went to Greensboro expecting to see Chris sing, but we left with an experience of a lifetime! Hopefully we will stay in touch with Chris the "drum tech" and we will get a chance to talk to him and the band members when they are at the AI show in Greensboro.

I'm glad Chris came in 4th because I'm guessing that this same homecoming would have taken place the week the top 3 idols go home and since it was a Friday we would not have gotten the chance to see it. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see someone from the AI show who is probably going to be huge perform in his hometown with his original band and music that he has written that showcases who he is. Who knows what type of music his label will have him record on his first CD. I am definitely here for the long haul with Chris and I'm lucky enough to have seen him live before he becomes the star that I know he will become.

This morning we found the article online that Maria wrote about the concert yesterday and it didn't include as much about us as we had thought, but it is still a really good article and we are quoted. I will post the link here for anyone who wants to read the article.

Homecoming Article

Also, here is a photoloop of my favorite parts of the day yesterday.

Three from the meet and greet, three of him performing, one of him receiving one of the awards, and one of Jenn and I with the band Absent Element.