A SERIES OF VIGNETTES WAS INTERWOVEN WITH THE MUSIC.

A series of vignettes was interwoven with the music.
By LINDA M. LINONIS
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- If you measure this man by applause, Clay Aiken certainly stands tall.
Enthusiastic clapping welcomed the singer and his revamped "Joyful Noise 2005" tour Sunday to the stage of the Chevrolet Centre. He welcomed the crowd to Youngstown and said, "The spirit of the season is in the air."
The audience was a mix -- from youngsters to an older crowd -- and not all seats were filled.
Aiken, outfitted in a white suit started out strong, with a backdrop of holiday shoppers, to the song, "Christmastime is Here."
The show featured a Christmas theme. New this year to the tour is a dash of theatrics.
Telling a story
The series of vignettes, interwoven with the music, showcases Aiken's former high school choir teacher, Alison Lawrence of Raleigh, N.C. The audience first sees her coming home on Christmas Eve to an empty house devoid of holiday cheer. But she's remembering Christmases past and Aiken sings, "Merry Christmas with Love."
The vignettes continue as the audience sees the woman alone at Christmas -- almost. A young neighbor, 91/2-year-old Thomas, comes to visit. The youngster goes on and on about the holiday and admits he has "diarrhea of the mouth."
That might be so, but he gets the woman to recall fond memories of how she met her husband at a Christmas dance and how they seemingly danced on air. But her husband died some seven years ago, and she is alone. Her married son has moved away, and he and his wife, Angela, just had a baby boy, Scott.
Aiken offers classic Christmas songs such as "Jingle Bells," "Silver Bells" and "The Christmas Song." His pleasant and uplifting voice adds a new dimension to old favorites.
During the brief dramas, we learn Thomas was in a talent show and came in second. "I should have won," he declares. Thomas says that his mother told him, "Look what happened to Clay Aiken." Of course, this exchange prompted laughter from the audience as it was a reflection of Aiken's own second place finish to Ruben Studdard on "American Idol" in 2003.
Uplifting message
Thomas invites the woman to his own yuletide pageant to be held at the church on Christmas Day. Thomas and the woman agree it's important to spend the holiday with people you care about, whether you're related or not.
Just then, there's a knock at the door, and the woman's son and family arrive. "Celebrate Me Home" accompanies the joyful reunion.
The second half of the show continued with the Christmas pageant at the church. Thomas read various scriptures while Aiken and his backup singers, from a choice spot in the church rafters, offered various religious holiday songs including "Holy Night," "First Noel" and "Come Let Us Adore Him." Aiken closed the show as he began, from the behind the curtain, offering thoughts on the meaning of the holiday and sharing in God's love.
Aiken was well-received in Youngstown, as one car plate proclaimed, "I'd rather be at a Clay Aiken concert." Inside the center, a crowd gathered to buy CDs.
Tasha Sexton and friend Gina Collins of Mansfield traveled about two hours to see Aiken. Sexton said she's seen the singer about six times and enjoys his uplifting presentation.
Aiken's sixth tour
Aiken's Web site notes that the pop singer will play some 40 shows in 36 cities. On Tuesday, he'll be at Heinz Hall in Pittsburgh and conclude the tour with shows Dec. 29-30 in Clearwater, Fla.
Not a bad gig for the 27-year-old man, who is on his sixth tour. The runner-up on "American Idol" in 2003 came out strong with the single, "This is the Night/Bridge Over Troubled Water," which won the Billboard Music Award for best selling single of 2003. In early 2004, he released his debut solo CD, "Measure of a Man," which earned double-platinum status.
Aiken also has been across the country on his "Joyful Noise" tours 2004 and this year. Last December, he released the CD, "Merry Christmas with Love," which was the best-selling new holiday album of 2004. He's also been working in the studio on his next album.
Aiken also is involved in the world community as a UNICEF Ambassador.
Before Aiken took the stage, William Joseph, a Warner Brothers recording artist, played a few selections from his first CD, "Within." The piano soloist won over the audience with his personable manner and talent.
But the time gap between Joseph leaving the stage and Aiken entering was a tad bit long as evidenced by clapping from the audience to jump-start the show.