Cole and L.D. Miller, finalists on NBC’s America’s Got Talent, hope to appear in a “welcome home” concert with The Clayton Miller Band Saturday night on a downtown Lafayette street.

But first, the band members must win over city officials before the street party may proceed. On Monday evening, that didn’t seem likely — though the city offered use of nearby Riehle Plaza instead.

Cole and L.D. Miller have advanced to the finals of the NBC reality show and are expected to compete for the $1 million prize Aug. 16 and 17, according to their mother, Tammy Miller.

On Monday, Tammy Miller said details about the Lafayette concert are not complete, but that the band will probably “play one of our regular shows.” The concert, if approved, would be free.

NBC is hoping to film the Lafayette concert in preparation for the America’s Got Talent finals. And the network is scheduled to film the band for three days in and around the Lafayette area, according to the boys’ uncle, Kevin VanGorder, owner of the Java Roaster in downtown Lafayette.

“I just thought, wouldn’t it be cool for Lafayette to have a welcome home party for the band and have it filmed for the show?” VanGorder said. “It will be like a little block party.”

VanGorder filed a request Monday morning with the Lafayette clerk’s office. He requested Third Street between Main and Columbia streets be closed to traffic between 4 p.m. and midnight Saturday for the concert. The earlier time for the street closure is for concert set-up. The Java Roaster is on that block.

VanGorder said he had approval and support from businesses on the Third Street block that would be affected by the concert.

However, Cindy Murray, Lafayette city clerk and president of the city’s board of works, said the request won’t be on this morning’s board of works agenda because it was filed too late. The filing deadline, Murray said, is Thursday before the weekly Tuesday meeting. And she said the board would hesitate before shutting off a street on such short notice.

“We’ve offered him Riehle Plaza, which is much safer,” Murray said. Riehle Plaza is a block away at Second and Main streets.

“There would be no road closure and there would be more parking, and the other businesses wouldn’t be put out by a road closing,” Murray said. “Besides, Riehle Plaza is perfect. The electricity is there, the ambiance. That’s where we are.”

But VanGorder said he does not have vendors or other amenities for the plaza, and that he is reluctant to have the concert there. VanGorder said he is considering pleading his case before the board this morning if board members agree to hear him.

Cole, 21, and L.D. Miller, 12, were the first semifinalists to make it to the finals of America’s Got Talent after competing July 12 on NBC. Since then, the show has been selecting more finalists in preparation for the final showdown. Cole sang and played acoustic guitar as L.D. played harmonica on the Bill Withers song, “Use Me,” to qualify for the finals.

Tammy Miller said the entire band will play at the Saturday concert, if it is approved. The set list hasn’t been approved yet either, she said, adding, “The boys usually procrastinate. They’ll make up the set list at the last minute.”

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