‘Idol’ winner Phillip Phillips feels ‘Home’ on stage
Written by Vicki L. Kroll | | news@toledofreepress.comAs Phillip Phillips rolls down the road, he can’t wait to strap on the guitar and walk onstage.
“It’s the only place where I feel peace,” he said. “You don’t have to worry about you have to go here, be here at a certain time, answer the phone at this time of the day, then do radio.
“It’s the only place where I can just not worry about anything, just kind of lose yourself however long you’ll be playing. You just feel real free.”
Phillip Phillips
The latest winner of “American Idol” sounded laidback and happy during a call from Oklahoma on a recent day off while on tour, and why shouldn’t he? His hit “Home” is on the radio as well as small and big screens.
“It is everywhere and I hope people aren’t getting annoyed with it,” he said, then laughed. “I’m really proud of it, and I’m thankful it’s doing so well.”
That track that features Phillips’ fine fretwork has sold more than 3.4 million copies. His disc, “The World From the Side of the Moon,” debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard Top 200 Album chart and No. 1 on the Billboard Rock Album chart in November.
“Gone, Gone, Gone” is his new single.
“It’s a good love song, but it doesn’t have to be about a love relationship; it can be about a relationship with somebody else or something else,” Phillips said. Being on “American Idol” was his own “something else,” the 22-year-old said.
“It was tough. It’s not easy like it looks on television. You have to make a lot of decisions and you have to work long hours, and a lot of it is just hurry up and wait. You get drained out and sometimes you just have to take a break, kind of take a breather and relax,” he said. “It was fun; it was a great learning experience.”
His favorite part of the show: the mentors.
“Stevie Nicks was just a sweet woman, and Gwen Stefani and Tony [Kanal from No Doubt] were great,” he said.
Phillips and his four-piece acoustic band will open for Matchbox Twenty at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 15 at Stranahan Theater. The show is sold out.
“Rob Thomas is one of my heroes, and Matchbox Twenty is a band that has so many great songs,” Phillips said. “It’s an honor to share the stage with them.”
When he takes a break from the star-making machine of reality TV and the road, he likes to be — where else? — home in Leesburg, Ga.
“I just like to relax a little bit, hang out with friends and family, and eat some home-cooked meals and watch some movies.
“My mom makes homemade chicken potpie, and chicken and dumplings, and she does deer cube that’s really good. There’re so many good meals; I could just go on and on,” he said with a laugh.
Tags: American Idol, Gwen Stefani, Matchbox Twenty, No Doubt, Phillip Phillips, Stevie Nicks, Stranahan Theater
