Drew Lipski
02-13-2007, 01:48 AM
Idol runner-up Covington hits road to find singing career
By ANDREW DANSBY
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
Bucky Covington's first stop was Fox/KRIV at 8 a.m. He had bused in late the previous night from Dallas. Still, he looked squirrelly and spirited. Kind of like a musician on his first tour.
Covington, 29, traveled around Houston recently, making several radio and TV appearances and sneaking in a short nap before performing at the Armadillo Palace, signing autographs, watching American Idol with fans and then heading out on Interstate 10 to San Antonio to start the process again.
That's the former Idol contestant's routine for the next few weeks. He'll break away from the bus from time to time to jet to Tennessee or Florida, where he'll cut the remaining tracks for his self-titled debut album, which is due in April.
"How could you complain about that?" he asks. "This is about trying, seriously trying, to make a career. I want this record to turn out right."
For the time being, he's promoting Different World, his new single. And he's promoting Bucky Covington as a new country music entity.
All American Idol's winners have done fine. Its runners-up have a spottier track record. And the popular show's also-rans — like Covington, who made the final eight — often find themselves trying to stretch their 15 minutes to no avail. Covington's Season 5 pal Chris Daughtry and Season 4's Jennifer Hudson have turned also-ran-dom into superstardom.
But Idol has found secret success with country music, which is less prone to speedy chic cycles than pop is.
Carrie Underwood is one of the show's two most successful winners, having sold 5 million copies of her debut as a fresh-faced country newcomer. That's the audience Covington seeks, evident in Different World, a nostalgic, old-values kind of song with big harmonies and Covington's twangy vocals sounding more polished and confident than they did during his charming but erratic Idol run.
But Covington — who before Idol was working in his father's auto body shop in North Carolina — lovably took his lumps on the show. There's some of that aw-shucksness in his manner, although he frequently peppers conversation with offhand remarks that suggest he doesn't want to come across as too squeaky clean.
When the Super Bowl comes up, he mentions he spent the game at Idol Season 4 runner-up Bo Bice's house. "I went over there, and we pulled one," he says enthusiastically, suggesting a robust round of partying. He quickly winks. "Um, what I meant is we hung out ... quietly."
He talks about time in Los Angeles, perceptions of folks he's crossed paths with (Paris Hilton, Slash — "you know, the guitarist with the top hat and all"), but just about stops dead in his tracks when he learns KRIV is where Judge Alex tapes.
"Who?" one of his handlers asks.
"Judge Alex," he replies. Nothing. So he explains. "You know Judge Judy? It's like that, but Judge Alex."
On the way out, Judge Alex walks by and greets all. Covington smiles.
"Who was that?" another handler asks.
"Judge Alex. You know Judge Judy? It's like that, but Judge Alex."
Outside the Armadillo Palace that evening, he works the charm. Two teenage girls stop dead in their tracks on the way to the front door when they see Covington outside mid-photo shoot. They quickly pull out their cameras. He smiles and makes a little wave with his index finger, prompting one to do an excited little jig.
Such fans are a good start, but Idol's tens of millions of viewers and voters don't necessarily translate into record buyers.
Covington seems committed to making a serious run, though. He was signed to Lyric Street records by Sawyer Brown's Mark Miller, and he's been playing with members of Miller's band.
Post-competition, a different Covington has arisen. Some rough edges have been smoothed out — capped teeth, a snazzy wardrobe — but he's maintained the Buckyness that earned him a loyal legion on the show.
His music reflects that, contempo country with flashes of rock. "I try to put in as much rock as they'll let me," he says.
Most of his record will be written by outside parties. "There's just so many good writers in Nashville," he says, although he's planning to cut a co-write, Carolina Blue, this week.
A Kentucky kid, I mention North Carolina basketball — the loathsome N.C. Tar Heels and the worse Duke Blue Devils — likely make us adversaries.
"You know, with that title, you might think it's about basketball, but it's really about being away from the ones you love."
I feel silly.
"Plus I don't really care about basketball or sports in general. Only NASCAR."
He rattles off a bit of NASCAR history and its roots in races among moonshiners.
"Those guys," he says of the drivers, "they're as big as any stars out there, but you wouldn't know it. They're always giving back, always remembering who they are and where they came from."
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ent/4547500.html
By ANDREW DANSBY
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
Bucky Covington's first stop was Fox/KRIV at 8 a.m. He had bused in late the previous night from Dallas. Still, he looked squirrelly and spirited. Kind of like a musician on his first tour.
Covington, 29, traveled around Houston recently, making several radio and TV appearances and sneaking in a short nap before performing at the Armadillo Palace, signing autographs, watching American Idol with fans and then heading out on Interstate 10 to San Antonio to start the process again.
That's the former Idol contestant's routine for the next few weeks. He'll break away from the bus from time to time to jet to Tennessee or Florida, where he'll cut the remaining tracks for his self-titled debut album, which is due in April.
"How could you complain about that?" he asks. "This is about trying, seriously trying, to make a career. I want this record to turn out right."
For the time being, he's promoting Different World, his new single. And he's promoting Bucky Covington as a new country music entity.
All American Idol's winners have done fine. Its runners-up have a spottier track record. And the popular show's also-rans — like Covington, who made the final eight — often find themselves trying to stretch their 15 minutes to no avail. Covington's Season 5 pal Chris Daughtry and Season 4's Jennifer Hudson have turned also-ran-dom into superstardom.
But Idol has found secret success with country music, which is less prone to speedy chic cycles than pop is.
Carrie Underwood is one of the show's two most successful winners, having sold 5 million copies of her debut as a fresh-faced country newcomer. That's the audience Covington seeks, evident in Different World, a nostalgic, old-values kind of song with big harmonies and Covington's twangy vocals sounding more polished and confident than they did during his charming but erratic Idol run.
But Covington — who before Idol was working in his father's auto body shop in North Carolina — lovably took his lumps on the show. There's some of that aw-shucksness in his manner, although he frequently peppers conversation with offhand remarks that suggest he doesn't want to come across as too squeaky clean.
When the Super Bowl comes up, he mentions he spent the game at Idol Season 4 runner-up Bo Bice's house. "I went over there, and we pulled one," he says enthusiastically, suggesting a robust round of partying. He quickly winks. "Um, what I meant is we hung out ... quietly."
He talks about time in Los Angeles, perceptions of folks he's crossed paths with (Paris Hilton, Slash — "you know, the guitarist with the top hat and all"), but just about stops dead in his tracks when he learns KRIV is where Judge Alex tapes.
"Who?" one of his handlers asks.
"Judge Alex," he replies. Nothing. So he explains. "You know Judge Judy? It's like that, but Judge Alex."
On the way out, Judge Alex walks by and greets all. Covington smiles.
"Who was that?" another handler asks.
"Judge Alex. You know Judge Judy? It's like that, but Judge Alex."
Outside the Armadillo Palace that evening, he works the charm. Two teenage girls stop dead in their tracks on the way to the front door when they see Covington outside mid-photo shoot. They quickly pull out their cameras. He smiles and makes a little wave with his index finger, prompting one to do an excited little jig.
Such fans are a good start, but Idol's tens of millions of viewers and voters don't necessarily translate into record buyers.
Covington seems committed to making a serious run, though. He was signed to Lyric Street records by Sawyer Brown's Mark Miller, and he's been playing with members of Miller's band.
Post-competition, a different Covington has arisen. Some rough edges have been smoothed out — capped teeth, a snazzy wardrobe — but he's maintained the Buckyness that earned him a loyal legion on the show.
His music reflects that, contempo country with flashes of rock. "I try to put in as much rock as they'll let me," he says.
Most of his record will be written by outside parties. "There's just so many good writers in Nashville," he says, although he's planning to cut a co-write, Carolina Blue, this week.
A Kentucky kid, I mention North Carolina basketball — the loathsome N.C. Tar Heels and the worse Duke Blue Devils — likely make us adversaries.
"You know, with that title, you might think it's about basketball, but it's really about being away from the ones you love."
I feel silly.
"Plus I don't really care about basketball or sports in general. Only NASCAR."
He rattles off a bit of NASCAR history and its roots in races among moonshiners.
"Those guys," he says of the drivers, "they're as big as any stars out there, but you wouldn't know it. They're always giving back, always remembering who they are and where they came from."
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ent/4547500.html