Homegrown entertainment - David Cook at the Great Jones County Fair

Just a little diversion from this blog's usual topic to address one of the more enjoyable assignments I've had as a reporter – reviewing Saturday's David Cook concert at the Great Jones County Fair. I brought along a digital Polaroid that didn't do much in the nighttime setting, but Julie Riess, from Wheaton, Ill., took some great shots that she sent along. So, for those of you who missed the concert, or would like to relive some of those great moments with David Cook, here are  photos that Julie shot, plus one I took of Green River Ordinance, a really fun band that I'd love to see come to Iowa again.

The concert review is below, too.

By Cindy Hadish

The Gazette

Just over a year after taking the title, 2008 American Idol winner David Cook proved he's deserving of the crown.

Cook rocked the Great Jones County Fair last night under starry skies and perfect outdoor concert weather.

Opening act Green River Ordinance played a solid 50-minute set to an eager crowd of about 6,500.

Charismatic lead singer Josh Jenkins got the audience standing by the second tune and singing along near the end, during “Goodbye L.A.”

This five-man band from Texas was a joy to watch and will hopefully be getting some airplay.

Cook took to the stage just after 9:30 p.m. with screamin' guitar licks on “Heroes,” a song he co-wrote.

Some of the lyrics were a bit muffled, or maybe just drowned out by the shrieking women in the crowd - shrieks that were well-deserved.

He was hot on Idol, but in person, the 26-year-old's voice was extra gravelly, his baby face extra scruffy and hair extra tousled as he played a 10-song set, backed by synchronized headbanging guitarists and a tight drummer. Cook can play, too.

Wearing jeans and a blue T-shirt, which he at one point offered to take off - the shirt, that is - Cook bantered with the predominantly youthful audience.

He gave a nod to his Midwestern roots by noting he is from the neighboring state of Missouri.

“That's why I can see a sign here that says “I know you,” he joked.

The crowd sang along to “Lie” lyrics that Cook wrote: “So lie to me and tell me that it's gonna be alright. So lie to me and tell me that we'll make it through the night.”

Cook dedicated “Kiss on the Neck” to “people not in love,” noting that he's had a few broken hearts of his own.

He threw a verse of Hotel California into the tune, again eliciting shrieks from the crowd.

His expert band sounded especially sizzling on “Bar-ba-Sol,” the third single from his self-titled major label debut album.

A cover of 80s band Cutting Crew's “(I Just) Died in Your Arms Tonight” showed Cook is the cover king, making the song his own.

“Randy would've said something like, ‘that was dope, dog,'” Cook said, referring to American Idol judge, Randy Jackson.

Cook saved his current single, “Come Back to Me,” for the end of his set and exited after just an hour.

An encore of his hit, “Light On,” was followed by “A Daily AntheM,” a song he wrote for his brother, who died earlier this year of cancer.

Cook said the crowd was the loudest he had heard in the 90 shows the band has performed.

My only disappointment with the performance was that it was way too short.