Screams of "I love you" came from an audience of about 300 people as David Archuleta took the stage at The Swamp Restaurant Monday afternoon.
Archuleta, the 18-year-old American Idol Season 7 runner-up, performed "Crush" and "A Little Too Not Over You" as part of KISS 105.3's concert series.
KISS 105.3 chose The Swamp because it is a traditional Gainesville restaurant and a staple in the city, said KISS employee Christian Chase.
Archuleta was scheduled to sing on the front porch of the University Avenue restaurant, but because of the rain it was moved to the second story's back porch.
"I love the rain," Archuleta said. "But if you are in it too long you can get sick and that gets risky, especially if you have to sing."
In the front row, Kelly Peterson, 13, sang every word to his single "Crush."
"I love him," she said.
Kelly said she skipped school and her orthodontist appointment to attend the concert.
Archuleta also posed for pictures, signed autographs and answered questions from the audience. Because many of the songs on his CD are about love, one of the audience members asked Archuleta if he has ever been in love himself.
"I don't think I've ever been in love before, but I have loved a lot of people," he said. "I still need to mature. A lot of my friends think they are in love, and I don't want to make the same mistakes as them. I am still waiting for that special person."
Two women trekked from Orlando to see Archuleta perform.
Mirta Vila, 48, and Sheryl Radford, 45, said they met on fansofdavid.com last year and have been best friends since.
They traveled together to Tampa to see Archuleta when he performed in the American Idol tour during the summer, and will be at a meet-and-greet tomorrow with Archuleta in Daytona.
"I'm not a teenager and I'm not a groupie, but if I had no children or responsibilities, I would be following him around everywhere," Vila said, wearing her David Archuleta sweater.
Radford said that Archuleta is the Tim Tebow of Music.
"Not only is he good at his craft, he is also a great role model and a good kid," Radford said.
