Something tells me “American Idol” Season 8 winner Kris Allen hated posing for a Tribune photo shoot more than anything on Friday. Maybe it was the bored expression on his face during the shoot in the John Hancock building (875 N. Michigan Ave.) — or maybe it was the fact that he said, “I hate this more than anything.”
Either way, it looked like the “Live Like We’re Dying” singer was dying for the photo shoot to end.
“I like interviews more than photos,” said Allen before playing a free outdoor show in the John Hancock Center Plaza. “In an interview, you just talk.”
The family-friendly concert — part of Gardens of The Magnificent Mile celebration — was one of two shows Allen played in Chicago on Friday. He performed at the Old St. Pat’s block party later in the day. Had Allen ever played a block party before where more people were raising cups than camera phones?
“I don’t think I’ve been to anything like that,” responded Allen, sitting in the Hancock tower office where his shoot took place. “When you play a crowd like that, they’re there to have a good time. You play songs they know, and they’re set for the rest of the night.”
Allen beat out Adam Lambert to win “Idol” in May 2009 and released his self-titled debut album in November. He has experienced what Season 9 winner and Mount Prospect native Lee DeWyze is going through since his “Idol” win in May, and he called the first two months “crazy.”
“You don’t know what’s going on,” Allen said. “It’s big stadiums every night in front of a ton of people, lots of press, lots of answering questions. After the album is done — that’s when it’s OK to take a break.”
DeWyze hasn’t enjoyed the same success as past Idols — sales of his single were below expectations, and eight dates from the “Idol Live” tour were recently canceled — but Allen feels DeWyze will be OK.
“I don’t know exactly what’s going on,” Allen said. “As long as Lee works hard, does what he loves, does his thing, I think he’ll be completely fine.”
Sox become servers: Before I could ask A.J. Pierzynski a question at the White Sox Celebrity Server charity event on Thursday at Texas de Brazil downtown, the Sox catcher — dressed in a black Texas de Brazil vest — had a question for me: “Want me to make you a drink?”
I accepted, and let’s just say that if this were college or a wedding, I would’ve ordered drinks from Pierzynski the rest of the night. “It’s a caipirinha,” he said matter-of-factly after asking a restaurant employee what the drink was called. “It goes down real smooth.”
I’m not sure “smooth” is the word I’d use. But in Pierzynski’s defense, he did have one of the bigger responsibilities among the seven participating Sox players. While pitcher Matt Thornton stood behind the desserts table with nothing to do and first baseman Paul Konerko told guests, “Try the Brazilian sausage, it’s really good” at the meats table, Pierzynski poured drinks.
“I really wanted to carry around the meat and serve it at people’s tables,” Pierzynski said, “but they wouldn’t let me wear the bowtie.”
About this week: Didn’t get to see the “Transformers 3” film crew shoot a high-speed car chase on LaSalle Street on Saturday? They’ll shoot on Michigan Avenue later in the week (the street will close Thursday night and re-open Monday at 5 a.m.). Apparently, the crew will be filming scenes that include explosions and gunfire on the Magnificent Mile.
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Sightings: Naughty by Nature rapper Treach had drinks at The Cedar Hotel on Friday and returned for lunch Saturday. … The band O.A.R. hung out at the Underground on Friday and Bull & Bear on Saturday. The Blackhawks’ Duncan Keith was at Bull & Bear on Wednesday. … The newest Bull, Carlos Boozer, partied at Market on Friday, while teammate Derrick Rose hit the West Loop bar and restaurant Thursday. … Ed Swiderski was spotted at the Stimulus Social Club’s monthly charity event at Stanley’s in the West Loop on Thursday, the same day it was reported that he and his “Bachelorette” fiancee Jillian Harris had broken up. … Retired race car driver Dale Jarrett joined friends at Epic on Thursday. …The Minnesota Vikings’ Bernard Berrian partied at The Fifty/50 on July 3.
For more Luis, go to chicagotribune.com/aboutlastnight