Encore delivers holiday wish...
Taylor ended his Shadow Tour at the High Noon Saloon with an appropriate holiday wish:

The Border Song (Elton John)
Let us strive to find a way to make all hatred cease
There's a man over there what's his colour I don't care
He's my brother let us live in peace
He's my brother let us live in peace
He's my brother let us live in peace

"Taylor Hicks belted out blues and rock..."
"...with technical brilliance at the High Noon Saloon Friday night." [by:]Katjusa Cisar/The Capital Times

"A mighty force pinned Taylor Hicks to his chair Friday night at the High Noon Saloon. He did his best to fight it--squirming in the seat, kicking at the floor, sliding and jerking his chair around--and all the while belting out blues and rock with technical brilliance.

"In or out of a chair, Hicks knows how to lay it down. Backed by an ace trio, Hicks sculpted songs with strong-armed bellows and sly nudges. His raucous "Forever Man" and Nick Lowe's "I Live on a Battlefield" sparked with feeling, with no small help from Brian Less' pounding keyboard and Sam Gunderson's slithering guitar solos. Hicks didn't pick up his harmonica until late in the show on "What's Right Is Right," then let loose on it with screaming, fluttering blues."

"19" honors troops...
An emotional version of "19" that Taylor dedicated to our troops, deeply touched hearts in Madison last week.

On Veterans Day he gave the song to our military. "Honoring our country’s servicemen and women is something that we should all celebrate together. For Veterans Day, I’d like to illustrate my appreciation for those who have served in defense of our livelihood and country by offering a free download of my song, 19." It is available on several military organizations websites.    For more information, visit taylorhicks.com

Great stocking stuffer: "The Distance"...

                                
Photo above by RagsQueen, High Noon Saloon, Madison, WI 12.11.09

                    

 

 

 

More weather woes and illness...
Taylor cancelled media appearances last week in Wallingford, CT stating he was suffering from strep throat. The weather cancelled "Grease" on Saturday night as the blizzard of 2009 followed the thespians of "Grease" East from Wisconsin to New England.

Taylor tweeted Saturday: "Sorry about Show tonight, Cancellation caused by treacherous weather at end of show."

With many airports closed in the East, the cast's travel home for the holidays could be delayed.

"Grease" is on hiatus until its St. Louis run starting January 12, 2010.

New music on setlist in Madison
Fans were pleased with the new additons to the concert in Madison, WI, especially the Elton John classic, "The Border Song" or Holy Moses, encore for the Shadow Tour show in the frozen North last week. Another tag added in "Seven Mile Breakdown" was the blue grass vibes of "Valley Road" (Bruce Hornsby).

   WATCH: "Seven Mile Breakdown" on AOL

                                                                                                                                            





























Modern Whomp in San Francisco           

 

 

 

Snow follows Taylor to CT                     
Follow TaylorRHicks on twitter
He's a boy from Alabama dealing with winter in the North as he tweets more snow pictures from CT, above.

Idol Ace Young takes over lead in "Grease"...
Fellow Season Five Idol finalist, Ace Young, has switched roles in the touring company of "Grease" to the lead role of "Danny." He previously played the role of the Greased Lightning car buff, Keniecke.

Taylor talks about winter in New England...
Taylor answered questions for Amy Ellis from the Hartford Courant:
"I love touring," said Hicks, "in whatever shape or form touring comes in, whether it be Broadway or music, I'm very accustomed to it as I have lived on the road now for four years solid since my victory on 'Idol'."

"Q: And I thought living in New England during the winter was bad. Are you a winter person?
A: Well, being from the South, not really; 18 inches of snow is definitely a change of pace for me, that's for sure."

Taylor is getting his change of pace as "Grease" tours Northern venues!

"Whomp at the Warfield,"
the live concert DVD
and Taylor's first,
is slated to be released
January 5, 2010.

See Taylor's promo for WATW at:
taylorhicks.ning.com