David Menconi in On the Beat: Along with the ongoing Scott McCreery watch, last week's "American Idol" performance show featured a little extra Triangle content when contestant Paul McDonald performed "Come Pick Me Up" - a song co-written by Ryan Adams and Van Alston, proprietor of Slim's and other bars and restaurants around Raleigh.
A barfly anthem for the ages, "Come Pick Me Up" originally appeared on Adams' 2000 album "Heartbreaker," and it has come to be one of Adams' most enduring signature songs over the last decade.
"'Come Pick Me Up' was one I helped edit more than write," Alston said. "It was so long ago, I can't even remember exactly what I did on it. I may have added a word or a line here and there. But my part was more editing, helping Ryan put every thing in the proper sequence."
Adams' original had some blue language, which McDonald edited down to a PG version for television that didn't make much sense. He looked awkward onstage, too, skipping about as he sang. Still, the judges were surprisingly positive, even though Jennifer Lopez said she had no idea who Adams was. But Randy Jackson professed to be a big fan of Whiskeytown, Adams' 1990s-vintage Raleigh band.
As for Alston, he has a publishing co-credit for "Come Pick Me Up," which means he gets paid when the song is performed. Television can add up to big bucks, which should make for a nice sum on his next check from BMI. McDonald has also recorded a studio version of "Come Pick Me Up" for iTunes release.
"I can tell you I'm pleased and honored that someone selected a song I had something to do with writing," Alston said. "And I voted for him. Heck, yeah."
Both McDonald and Garner's McCreery advanced to the "Idol" Top 12.
