Concert: Gray Snail Saloon talent still Cook-ing

It’s no secret: Season 7 ‘American Idol’ winner still packs ’em into Tulsa nightspot where he had standing gig
Buzz up!
BY BRANDY McDONNELL
Published: July 3, 2009

When David Cook takes the stage tonight at Thackerville’s Winstar World Casino, it will be his third Oklahoma show in less than two weeks.

Actually, it will be his fourth, if you count last week’s post-concert acoustic performance at the Season 7 "American Idol” winner’s old stomping grounds, the Gray Snail Saloon in Tulsa.

Cook, along with bandmates, buddies and opening act Ryan Star, played for a packed house of about 250 fans and friends June 23 at the Gray Snail after putting on a show that night for a sell-out crowd at Cain’s Ballroom.

Before the singer/songwriter/guitarist had "The Time of My Life” on the reality TV contest, he moved from his hometown of Blue Springs, Mo., to Tulsa to join regional band the Midwest Kings. By the time he auditioned for "Idol” in 2007, Cook had launched a solo career, playing a regular date every other Wednesday at the Gray Snail.

"He was still booked when I was watching him on TV. ... Right before he left to go to L.A., he said, ‘Hold my spots, I may be right back,’” Gray Snail owner Rob Mason said with a laugh. "Then, he got on to where he was in the final 13, and then we pretty much knew after that we might not see him for a while.”

Credit Cook, 26, for not forgetting where he got his start. In an interview with me last August, he expressed nostalgia for his old haunt, even as he was playing crowded arenas on the "American Idols Live!” tour.

"The crowds are a little bigger, and you ... just have more resources available to you. But I don’t know, part of me actually kind of misses playing the Gray Snail on a Wednesday night,” said Cook, whose publicist confirmed that he returned to the Tulsa bar last week.

So, when his first solo tour brought him last week to Tulsa, the now-famous Cook visited the Gray Snail for what was supposed to be a private after-party for 50 people following the Cain’s show.

Mason said they tried to keep the saloon soiree hush-hush. But word got out and spread on MySpace and Twitter.

"Nothing’s a secret if it’s on Twitter,” said Little Rock, Ark., fan Sydney Frames, who attended the Cain’s concert and then hit the Gray Snail after getting a message that originated on the micro-blogging site. "He (Cook) did say ... this was the worst-kept secret ever.”

Cook and Co. performed for about 30 minutes, playing Alice in Chains’ "Man in the Box,” Fleetwood Mac’s "Little Lies,” his hit "Light On” and more.

"It was cool just having them two feet away from you doing what they do,” Frames said. "It was awesome.”

Tonight’s Thackerville concert will be Frames’ 10th Cook show; 11th if you count the Gray Snail.

Fremont, Calif., fan Cathie Dillard stopped at the Gray Snail between the Cain’s concert and her trip to Oklahoma City to see the "Idol” again June 24 at the Diamond Ballroom. She’s been to more than 50 Cook shows on the tour and plans to be in Thackerville tonight.

But the Gray Snail event was special, even if it was cramped, because Cook and the others could be more laid-back.

"There were so many people there ... but it was amazing,” she said.

For Mason, the downside to last week’s acoustic event was that the Gray Snail was so crowded he didn’t get a chance to thank Cook for the support he’s given the venue.

"Honesty, it was a disaster,” Mason said with a laugh. "We didn’t have any lead time; we were trying to get everything squared away ... it turned out to be a lot bigger than we expected. But, oh sure, absolutely, it went great.”