Why I Like Daughtry

            I have been a fan of Chris Daughtry since viewing his audition on American Idol and I downloaded the debut album of his band when it came out. It wasn’t until just over two years ago that I went from casual fan to a ‘focused’ fan. I was transitioning from a parental caretaker to having a life of my own after the passing of my mother and focusing, finally, on my writing. Around the same time, I purchased my first iPod and as I was downloading my music on to it, I started listening to Daughtry’s debut album and suddenly, it was like listening to the album for the first time again with new ears. I was hooked and quickly downloaded everything else I could. I completely fell in love with Leave This Town and to date, it’s my favorite album by Daughtry.

            But before I fell in love with the band and the music, I became a huge fan of Chris Daughtry. When I watched the story about Chris, Deanna, and their children that ran along with Chris’s audition, my heart was warmed by the love I saw. Chris and Deanna’s story was just so sweet, I couldn’t help but be taken in by them. And what woman wouldn’t want such a caring person in their husband? It was also just so nice to see such a genuine couple and Chris seemed like such a nice guy in the clip and during his run on American Idol. It was such a nice surprise to see that the Chris I saw on TV was just as nice in person the two times I’ve been lucky to meet him. He’s a good guy and that goes a long way for me.

            The music, of course, is also a big part of my fandom. It’s good music. Awesome music. Music I can listen to while I write and not be distracted. The guys in the band are spot on with their playing. The songs are varied and unpretentious and lyrically, there are many lines that are beautifully crafted. They have melodies and are hummable; it’s not just a bunch of noise and empty words that seems to be found in a lot of other music. And, of course, Chris can sing. He’s got the pipes and I’m glad he’s had his neener-neener-neener moment in regards to Simon giving him a no at his audition.

            But the biggest, and most personal, reason I am a Daughtry fan is that when I’m struggling through my lows, I can make those gray days almost tolerable by listening to their music, watching their videos, or reading Twitter. I enjoy tweeting about Daughtry with others on Twitter and I love the interactions Chris and Deanna and everyone else in the Daughtry realm allow us to see. I love that you can see everyone’s humanness in their tweets. When I’m at the very bottom, tweets from the guys in the band or their wives or my tweople can raise me up a bit. Twitter (and Daughtry’s music) can take my mind off of my problems. It was the music that kept me going after that dark day last September and subsequently being ignored by my family when I needed them the most. (I sadly have given up on my family since.)

            I’ve only been able to see the guys in concert twice (a little less than four months apart) but those two events were the highlights of the last couple of years. The energy the guys put out while performing is infectious but the more important part, for me, was the time leading up to the concerts. Having a concert to look forward to gave me a reason to keep going. The days were bad but on such-and-such a date, I was going to see Daughtry and for a couple hours, all my problems, the depression, the anxiety, the OCD could be forgotten. The concerts were so fun and I loved meeting people from Twitter and, of course, having the opportunity to briefly meet Chris, JP and Brian.

            The Break the Spell tour has been frustrating for me, though. Because I teach, I was unable to see the guys up in Minneapolis and Omaha. My next opportunity would be Des Moines but I completely screwed up planning for that properly as I held out and waited to find out if there would be VIP offered. I worked hard to get my 25,000 points to have my first VIP experience but by the time I found out that there wouldn’t be VIP, it was too late for me to save money for the trip. (I should have been saving all along but I have never been a good money manager at all.) As it is for everyone, money is tight and honestly, for an out of town date even just three hours away, it’s not a cheap excursion by the time you figure in extra gas, hotel, and meals. The next opportunity would be Royalton, Minnesota but that date falls two days after the new school year will start, is almost a six hour drive, and is outside (I would not be a happy camper to drive that far to have the concert be cancelled due to rain). And again, a trip like that has added expenses. (Plus Minnesota mosquitos. Those puppies are HUGE!)

            I can hear some of you. You might be thinking that if Daughtry means so much to me I should be doing everything in my power to see them as often as possible. I’m a realist though; I don’t have the means to do so and ultimately, even a three hour trip to Des Moines ended up being out of the question. My budget (and myself, of course) would be pleased if the guys performed in Sioux City. I think they’d do well here both at the Tyson Events Center or the more intimate Orpheum Theater. I don’t believe they’ve ever performed here. Sioux City is not a little podunk town on the edge of the prairie; the metro area has a population of 155,000 and we’ve had some huge names over the past few years (like Elton John). Plus, a local concert here would be easy and after so many struggles over the last five years (cancer, taking care of my mother, her passing, trying to start my own life, family issues, suicide attempt), easy is what I need.

            If I voice my disappointment that there aren’t very many close Daughtry shows to me compared with more populated areas of the country, I’m not voicing out of jealousy. I’m voicing because for me, having that future, doable concert date is important for me. It helps keep me going. Luckily, I do have my book opportunity to look forward to but that process has actually been slower than molasses and is frustrating me. To have a doable Daughtry concert to look forward to would make that frustration easier to be patient with.

            This final reason for being a focused Daughtry fan is a very personal one and I don’t expect people to understand it. We all have our reasons for liking the band and I’d hope I wouldn’t be judged for it and if I am, well, that’s life. I can’t control what people think of me.