With an upcoming solo concert, the end of the summer tour and a broken pinky, we thought it would be a good time to check in with Elliott Yamin. Hearing Elliotts voice on the phone was like talking to an old friend.
Elliotts been on the whirlwind tour of his life and he seemed about as grounded as anyone could possibly be. The tour, he said, was absolutely amazing yet extremely hectic. With so many shows and few days off, it was definitely an intense experience. When asked about so many of them getting sick, Elliott said that he, too, caught the bug. It was hard not to, as he explained about everyone being in such tight quarters while traveling together. However, Elliott was determined not to miss a show, and he was able to do just that. He said that he learned a ton about performing and that the experience, in general, was all awesome.?
His favorite part of the shows was every time he got to perform with the guys.? Savin Me? with Chris Daughtry and the acoustic performance of Guns N Roses Patience? that he performed with Ace, Chris and Bucky were the most memorable for him. It helped, he said, that theyd all become such good friends along the way. In fact, Bucky has become one of his best friends and he and Ace only yesterday tossed around the idea of going to a USC football game together.
The big news, though, is that Elliotts first solo show will be on October 8th with Taylor Hickss old outfit, LMBO (Little Memphis Blues Orchestra), serving as his band. Hes thrilled to be playing with them. LMBO followed the American Idols on tour and made sure to book gigs in just about every town, which is how Elliott got to know them. They did some improvisational stuff together throughout the summer months and realized that they fit really well together. Elliotts thrilled to be out on his own now and especially excited to have his first gig? be in his hometown. Along with LMBO, hell be playing at the state fair in Richmond, Virginia. Elliott is even more excited that a portion of the proceeds from the show go to a cause near and dear to his heart, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Having been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at sixteen, hes glad that he now has the recognition to be able to really make a difference.
He did touch on the buzz about his pursuit of a deal with a record label by noting that he really wants to work on being a solo artist at this point. Having had relatively few experiences performing before Idol, he wants to make sure to do it right? before jumping into a contract. However, he has every confidence that his manager will land him a great deal when the time is right, as shes already entertaining a few offers.
When asked about his infamous pinky injury? he said that he thinks he has the most famous pinky on the east coast!? He said he was frustrated when his cell phone broke so he tried to grab a rock from underneath some dirt to throw, but the rock actually bent his pinky back, causing, as he described, a nice clean break.? He now has a plate and two screws in that finger and is wearing a cast. Dont think for a second, however, that the injury will hold him back. Elliott said that hes not yet playing any instruments. Not to mention, he broke his left hand and hes right-handed.
E-fans would still do well to make the trip to see him perform his first solo concert in Richmond this Sunday, October 8th.