'Idol' David Cook talks cougars, crosswords as tour hits Detroit

BY JULIE HINDS • FREE PRESS POP CULTURE WRITER • July 23, 2008

In the circle of life that is "American Idol," the show begins each year during the snows of winter. After the spring flowers bloom, a winner is chosen. Then, in blazing summer, the concert version travels across the country, making a regular stop in Detroit.

Yes, the "American Idols Live!" 2008 tour arrives at Joe Louis Arena on Thursday. Expect to see screaming young girls, a Pop-Tarts mascot (the event's presenting sponsor), and all of your favorite Top 10 finalists, from the dude with the dreadlocks, Jason Castro, to the chick with the tattoo sleeve, Carly Smithson.

This year, the hottest performer should be David Cook, the 25-year-old pop-rocker whose confident, creative vibe helped him defeat cutie-pie teen David Archuleta for top "Idol" honors.

We caught up by phone recently with Cook, who's making his Motor City performing debut. He shared his idle thoughts on, among other things, cougars, Chikezie and crossword puzzles.

QUESTION: Is there a way to understand your routine on the road? Is it crazy or is there a lot of downtime?

ANSWER: It's a lot of hurry up and wait. But more than anything, now we get to concentrate on being performers as opposed to being contestants and I think that's kind of freed all of us a little bit. The stress level is a lot lower. The hours are a bit better. We get to do what we love without worrying about getting voted off. It's a win-win.

Q: Are you trashing hotel rooms or not? Do you secretly want to?

A: You know, if I were not worried that it would ruffle feathers, I might want to glue some furniture to the ceiling. But no, I'm a pretty docile guy.

Q: Will this be your first time performing here?

A: Yes it will, I've played in Hillsdale, but never in Detroit.

Q: Did you play pre-"Idol" in Hillsdale with your band?

A: Yes, MWK. We played at a school there. Hillsdale College maybe?

Q: Are there any classic Motown songs you've performed onstage before?

A: Well, when I was living in Tulsa, I played a couple of times an acoustic "Let's Get It On." ... It was pretty interesting, to say the least. There's a reason it only happened a couple of times (laughs).

Q: Do you have time to work on your upcoming CD while you're on the road?

A: Yeah, actually, I got into St. Louis late last night. I was in LA for a couple of days working on the record. What I like about it is, to me, it's not really carrying the vibe of a generic melodic rock record. I think there's some twists and turns on it. Lyrically, I feel like I've had something to say for a while. To be able to put pen to paper and actually get it out of my system is pretty therapeutic.

Q: Does it have a title yet, to give us an idea of what to expect?

A: Not yet. I definitely want there to be an attitude to it. ... I don't want to come out singing standards or anything. That's just not my vibe.

Q: You seem like someone who wants his performances to be interesting and intimate. How does playing big arenas affect your style?

A: That's been the big learning curve for me, to make it as intimate for the person in the nosebleed seats as it is for the person pressed up against the railing in the front row. There's a weird irony in that when you're on a stage that big, the best way to get across to an audience is to make yourself as vulnerable as possible, which is tough to do with that many sets of eyes on you. But so far, the crowds have been really responsive, so based on that, I'm at least in the ballpark.

Q: What about cougars for Cook (your middle-aged female fans)? Has it been fun to be associated with that?

A: It's actually been really funny for me. ... I've signed so many David Archuleta T-shirts on this tour, everybody's kind of moved past the battle lines being drawn. Everybody's been really complimentary and cool and to be able to really get back to that vibe -- so if I'm not another contestant, I'm not going to get something thrown at me -- is always a nice feeling.

Q: So you're cool with having a wide age range of fans?

A: Oh absolutely. The more people that want to get into what I'm doing, bring 'em on. We've got plenty of room on the bus.

Q: Which of you among the Top 10 is the most geeked about the concerts? Who's the real live wire?

A: Probably Chikezie. He comes out and opens the show. His energy level every night has been absurdly high, to the point where it's a challenge to try to keep up. But ... that's a tough call. I think we're all really excited and the tour's still really fresh.

Q: Of the other nine finalists, who would you like to become for 24 hours?

A: You know, oddly enough, I'm pretty content with being myself at the moment.

Q: Is fame what you imagined it to be?

A: It is so much more than I could ever have imagined. I never want to be that person that turns anybody away for showing interest in my career and myself. In that aspect, I'm making the time for everybody. As soon as I got off the bus here, I went and dropped my bags off and went outside and signed autographs for 30, 40 minutes. The people that come to these shows are the people who put me where I'm at, so it seems like the very least I can do.

Q: What happens when the tour is over?

A: We get into finishing the record the rest of September and maybe a little bit of October. Then a lot of press and promotion until Christmas. We're going to try to get the record out mid-November. Then we start doing shows in the new year.

Q: You're a word guy. What are you reading now?

A: I just finished a Chuck Palahniuk book called "Snuff." It's definitely an adult read, for sure, but it was interesting. I'm a big Palahniuk guy. Stephen Colbert's book "I Am America (And So Can You!)" I've been thumbing through that. Other than that, just a lot of crosswords and stuff.

Q: You're a huge crossword puzzle fan. Has your name been in a crossword puzzle?

Liquidsunshine wrote:

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Then we start doing shows in the new year.

Cook 2009! I am so there.

HELLS YEAH.

I can't fricking wait.