David Cook announces tour date in Billings

David Cook, bartender turned American Idol winner, announced a performance Tuesday, September 1 at The Shrine Auditorium, 1125 Broadwater Ave., in Billings.

Tickets go on sale Friday, July 24 at 10 a.m.

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The 2009 Home Run Derby: The Music Tells Us Who Will Win

It's officially the halfway point of summer this week, as the Major League Baseball All-Star Game is tomorrow at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. The week will feature a number of musical guests, including a rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" care of Sheryl Crow and a performance by David Cook at tonight's Home Run Derby.

While the actual All-Star Game is perpetually a snoozer even for hardcore fans, the Home Run Derby is always a reason to tune in to ESPN. This year's contestants are an eclectic mix of old saws and newcomers, and since it's regularly impossible to project just who is going to win (past victors include not-quite-legends like Garret Anderson and Wally Joyner), the only real way to judge who will come out on top is to judge each contestant by his entrance music.

Yes, just like the WWE, just about every player in baseball has a song that plays over stadium PAs when they come to the plate. Some choices are inspired, some inexplicable. So here's how the field will likely shake out, based solely on each individual's taste in tunes.

8. Brandon Inge (Detroit Tigers; Korn, "Coming Undone"): Inge would have picked up some points by having the only rock song on this list, but he loses everything he might have gained by attaching his name to one of the least badass tunes in the Korn catalogue. Why wouldn't he go with "Right Now" or "Got the Life"?

7. Ryan Howard (Philadelphia Phillies; Ludacris, "Last of a Dying Breed"): Howard is one of the most feared hitters in baseball, and the intro to "Last of a Dying Breed" is fittingly epic, but the track is full of over-blustery boasts like "Soldiers couldn't cause more disasters on D-Day" and "Luda's got more records than a DJ."

6. Nelson Cruz (Texas Rangers; Daddy Yankee, "Somos De Calle"): Reggaeton is still gigantic among baseball players (you hear a ton of Daddy Yankee at MLB stadiums), so this isn't too surprising. It's a reasonable tune, but it's no "Gasolina."

5. Adrian Gonzalez (San Diego Padres; Pitbull, "Get Up (Levantate)"): Now this is more like it. While "Get Up (Levantate)" is unlikely to strike fear in the hearts of opposing pitchers, it's almost certain to get fans to clap along.

4. Carlos Pena (Tampa Bay Rays; Pitbull, "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)"): Pena gets credit not only for picking something with some regional flavor, but this is the far-superior Pitbull song. Also, the intro to this song sounds a lot like the intro to the Squirrel Nut Zippers' "Hell," which would be my intro song if I started at second base for the Mets.

3. Albert Pujols (St. Louis Cardinals; LL Cool J, "Clap Your Hands"): Taken simply on stats and skills alone, Pujols is probably going to walk away with this (it also helps that the Derby happens to be in his home stadium). His slice of old-school courtesy of LL Cool J only adds to his awesomeness, but he can't get over the hump of the top two.

2. Prince Fielder (Milwaukee Brewers; Prote-J, "Heir to the Throne"): There are not one but two participants in this year's Home Run Derby who have had songs written specifically for their approach to the plate. Fielder's song was written for him by Florida rapper Prote-J and contains the spectacular line "You're a bunch of cartoons and he's Jordan in Space Jam."

1. Joe Mauer (Minnesota Twins; A&R, "Joe Mauer"): "Heir to the Throne" is pretty amazing, but "Joe Mauer" is on another level. It's got a big, minimalist beat, a little bit of Auto-Tune, samples of crowd noise and an incredible lyric that name-checks Mauer's parents. Congratulations, Joe — you're winning this thing tonight. 

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David Cook advice

I talked to David Cook Saturday afternoon and he had lots to say about life after “American Idol,” the secrets to winning the competition and what the future holds.

The complete story will run in Friday’s A&E section but for now, I’ve got a few tidbits to share now.

What does he ask for backstage? Not bottles of champagne, mountains of towels or green M&M’s. “I just like peanut butter and jelly,” he said. “I’m pretty simple.”

Not even M&M’s? “Nope,” he said. “But maybe I should ask for ones with my face on them.” He laughed.

Ask for too many things and promoters get upset. “You don’t want to make them mad when you’re doing well because when you’re not, they’ll remember.”

He says he still stays in touch with some of the folks he met at the Omaha auditions and has thanked his brother profusely for bringing him along on HIS “Idol” audition. The payback? “He’s living in my house while I’m on the road.”

Look for more Friday. Meanwhile, get tickets for his concert at the Orpheum Theatre. He promised it’d be good.

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David Cook, Sara Evans, Ginuwine, Nikko Smith added to All-Star festivities

The celebrity names are pouring in for 2009 All-Star Week, Major League Baseball announced today.

We already know about Sheryl Crow and Elvis Costello, performing at the MLB All-Star Charity Concert at the Gateway Arch at 8 p.m. Saturday.

Now part of All-Star Week are Missouri-centric artists David Cook, Ginuwine, Nikko Smith, and Sara Evans, all booked for other All-Star events (though not as part of the All-Star Concert).

– Headliner Crow now has additional duties. The Kennett, Mo. native will perform the U.S. National Anthem as part of the special pre-game ceremony to the 2009 MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday at Busch Stadium.

The broadcast begins at 7 p.m. on Fox with video addresses from President Barack Obama along with former U.S. Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter, as part of the special pre-game ceremony honoring the 30 “All-Stars Among Us.”

Following the video, President Obama will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

– Country singer Sara Evans, a  Boonville, Mo., native, will perform “God Bless America” during the 7th inning stretch.

– “American Idol” winner David Cook, who hails from Blue Springs, will sing two songs at the start of the State Farm Home Run Derby at Busch Stadium on Monday. Prior to his performance, “American Idol” finalist Nikko Smith, son of St. Louis Cardinals’ Ozzie Smith, will perform the National Anthem. The State Farm Home Run Derby will be broadcast live on ESPN at 7 p.m. Monday.

– R&B singer Ginuwine will perform the U.S. National Anthem on Sunday prior to the 11th annual XM All-Star Futures Game. The game will begin at 1 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ESPN2, ESPN2 HD and MLB.TV. XM will provide satellite radio play-by-play coverage of the XM All-Star Futures Game on XM 175. Ginuwine recorded his new CD “A Man’s Thoughts” at Notifi Records studio in St. Louis; Notifi is run by Ira DeWitt, wife of Cardinals’ president Bill DeWitt III.

Get more information at www.allstargame.com.

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David Cook to perform at Major League Baseball's Home Run Derby

What's more American than the 4th of July, baseball, and American Idol?  Okay, okay, so the 4th has already come and gone, but season seven American Idol winner David Cook and his band are set to perform two songs at this year's All Star event in St. Louis.  Cook, a Missouri native, will perform just before the start of the State Farm Home Run Derby at Busch Stadium.  It's actually an all-star lineup of singers and Missouri natives, as David joins the ranks of nine-time Grammy winner Sheryl Crow, who will perform the US National Anthem as a part of a special pre-game ceremony, and Country star Sara Evans, who will perform "God Bless America" during the seventh inning stretch.  David won't be the only Idol contender to be a part of the event, as fourth season contestant Nikko Smith, who is also the son of St. Louis Cardinals phenom Ozzie Smith, will perform the U.S. National Anthem at the game. 

The actual game takes place on July 14th, but David Cook's performance before the Home Run Derby will be on July 13th.  You can catch it on ESPN at 8 PM EST.  

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Former 'Idol' winner Cook to perform in Yakima

YAKIMA, Wash. -- David Cook, the hard rockin’ season seven winner of “American Idol,” will perform in Yakima next month.

After leaking limited information about the concert on its Twitter feed over the past week, the Capitol Theatre released the specifics about the concert on its blog Thursday afternoon.

Cook will perform at the Capitol at 8 p.m. Aug. 23. Tickets cost $34 for general admission and go on sale July 17 through TicketsWest, www.ticketswest.com, 800-325-7328, or the Capitol Theatre box office, 509-853-2787.

Also visiting the Capitol next month is radio show host/adult contemporary musician John Tesh, whose “Intelligence For Your Life” radio show airs locally on My 99.3 FM.

Tesh’s concert is at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 21. Tickets, which are already on sale, cost $12, $30 and $65.

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David Cook Named Topps Southern League Player of the Month

HOOVER, AL - The Southern League announced on Thursday that former Barons outfielder David Cook has been named the Topps Southern League Player of the Month for June.

Cook, who was promoted to Triple A Charlotte on Tuesday, finished the month with a .303 average, 8 home runs and 29 RBI, leading the league in both home runs and RBI during the month.

The Columbus, OH native started June in grand fashion, hitting a grand slam on June 1 during a 4-for-5, five-RBI game in Huntsville. He added to those totals with a three-RBI performance the following night. Cook finished June just as hot, hitting two home runs and driving in seven runs in his last five games of the month. In all, he recorded eight multi-hit games and drove in three or more runs on five occasions.

Cook was selected to play in the 2009 Southern League All-Star Game, held at Regions Park on July 13, as well as the 2009 Southern League Home Run Derby, held at Rickwood Field on July 12, but he will be unable to participate in either due to his promotion. On Wednesday, it was announced that Barons outfielder Jordan Danks will replace Cook on the South Division roster. His replacement in the Home Run Derby has not yet been determined.

Tickets to the 2009 Southern League All-Star Game as well as to the 2009 Southern League Home Run Derby and Celebrity Softball Game are available online at barons.com or by calling the Regions Park Box Office. Tickets for both events can also be purchased by visiting the Regions Park Box Office.

The 2009 Southern League All-Star Game will be played on Monday, July 13 at Regions Park in Birmingham, AL.

The Barons won the South Division First-Half Title and will open the playoffs on Thursday, September 10 at Regions Park. Game two will be played Friday, September 11 at Regions Park. Tickets to both games are available online, in-person at the Regions Park Box Office or by calling the Barons at (205) 988-3200

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