"Idol's" Blake packs Westlake Mall for concert, heads to Bothell for parade

Blake Lewis — Bothell's, Seattle's and America's newest star — packed Westlake Mall for a lunchtime mini-concert/cellphone-camera frenzy on Friday. Hundreds bobbed their heads and snapped photos of the "American Idol" contestant as he scatted and beat-boxed his way through a hip-hop/reggae/techtronica set with local band — and Lewis' good friends — AriSawkaDoria.

He sang two of the songs he's performed on "American Idol" — songs by Jamiroquai and Keane — which have convinced the show judges and fans alike that he's both current and talented.

Then Lewis teamed up with Seattle's old-school local rapper, Sir Mix-A-Lot, singing "Baby Got Back."

"The people on that show can singggggg. And that's it," Sir Mix-A-Lot said. "But this cat's got real talent!"

The public buzz is to continue for the rest of the day and evening, as Lewis heads to Bothell for a parade in his honor.

Life now for Lewis, one of only three remaining "Idol" contestants, is crazy, highly controlled and jampacked. But he's having a blast, he said in an interview at a Seattle TV station Friday morning.

"I tell people I have the hardest easiest job in the world," said Lewis, being trailed on a whirlwind day by an "Idol" camera crew. The crew was here to shoot "hometown" footage to air on next week's "Idol" shows.

Flying in Thursday night from Los Angeles to Seattle via private jet, then jamming with friends until the wee hours Friday morning, Lewis arrived at the KCPQ/Fox studios just after 8 a.m. in a stretch limo, escorted by two Bothell police cars. Some two dozen fans, spanning three generations, high-fived their favorite beat-boxer and waved signs: "Shake 'N Blake," "Good Luck Blake," "I cannot fake my love for Blake."

In an interview, Lewis said: "California is awesome, but Seattle is home." "It's cool and comforting to have so much support ... I'm single and ready to mingle."

He sang a song by alternative rock band 311, beat-boxed and posed over and over for photos.

And, without predicting his own chances, he announced who he thinks should win "American Idol":

"Jordin's my pick for Idol. Her and Gina [Glocksen] have been two of my favorites." Since auditioning for "Idol" last fall and making it through the auditions and into the Hollywood rounds, Lewis' goals have been to make it into the Top 10 and then, into the Top 4.

Some friends have said they'd prefer if Lewis didn't win — more creative freedom rather than being "owned" by Fox.

"It is what it is," Lewis said about his future, which will at the very least include a national "American Idols" tour. All Top 10 "Idol" contestants are part of the tour. The other two contestants in the running alongside Lewis are Jordin Sparks and Melinda Doolittle. The winner will be announced on the May 23 show.

In person, Lewis, 25, comes across much as he does on TV: low-key, nice, obliging. (Expect to hear assorted Blake Lewis beat-boxing promotional spots on your favorite radio stations until kingdom come.) Two stations snagged such promos Friday morning, and Lewis was scheduled to do more radio interviews before some "family time," a taping at the Space Needle and a 12:15 p.m. free miniconcert at Westlake Mall.

At 3:30 p.m., Lewis is headed to Bothell — from Seattle via Kenmore Air — for a hometown parade starting at Kaysner Way, traveling down Main Street and ending at Main and State Route 527.

At 4 p.m., there's another miniconcert at the park at Bothell Landing, 9919 N.E. 180th St.

At 7:05 p.m., Lewis will sing the national anthem at the Mariners-Yankees game.

And he said he planned to go to the Blue Scholars hip-hop show at the Showbox Friday night.

Some other revelations from Friday morning: He swears he's gained 10 pounds from eating so much pizza; a typical "Idol" day can start at 6:45 a.m.; he'd love to get an album deal (obviously), do movies, host and perform on "Saturday Night Live." And he's addicted to live music shows, which means while in L.A. he's broken the "Idol" curfew by going to catch two or three shows each week.

"I'm not 12. I don't need to be baby-sat," he said. "It's my inspiration — live music. If I can't soak up that energy, I would be a boring person."

Florangela Davila: 206-464-2916 or fdavila@seattletimes.com