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[Aitkens]

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Exclusive Blog: Chad Taylor talks The Gracious Few and Live
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Karen Van Hoff

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Chad Taylor, founding member of Live and The Gracious Few, talks about the future of both groups and why this is the best musical year of his life.

It’s been nearly a year since we released The Gracious Few and it feels like it’s time to write and record some new material. We worked on a new song at rehearsals last week – sort of the darker side of the Cure meets Perfect Circle. I want the new TGF material to stretch out beyond the conventional pop arrangements that have dictated the flow of modern music.

I think, with our musicianship, we can allow ourselves to journey through multiple interludes within a single song. In the early days of recording, the song arrangements and lengths, were often dictated by the distribution media. For example, you could barely fit a three-minute song onto one side of a 45rpm. CDs had their limits too but in today’s market, podcasts can stream for hours at a time.

I don’t see why we have to conform a media standard these days. So expect the new recordings to jam out a bit more. I think the days of concept albums have come and gone too. In the late fifties and early sixties, artists would release single after single and only after they achieved several hit songs with they assemble a compilation “album.” The Beatles and a few of their contemporaries began to write songs that were intended to appear in a grouping, just as classical composers had assembles suites of material intended to be performed in order, in concert. Maybe only “Throwing Copper” in my career was thought out well enough to stand up like this? I just don’t think people have the time to dedicate to listening through an albums entirety. Then again, I do.

The Candlebox boys will be playing shows this summer and recording new material. Chad, Patrick and I will journey to Nashville to begin working on new Live material in early July. This is how it works when you have three bands between five guys. I’ve got to admit it feels so incredibly refreshing to always have the possibility of working on something new and diverse in front of me.

Don’t fret – fans of The Gracious Few won’t have to wait too long for a full tour schedule coming in the fall of 2011.

It’s slightly more complicated on the Live side of things, as we’ll have to begin addressing the hole left by our singer’s departure. Most important, we’ll have to begin with fresh creativity – we’re not interested in rehashing the hits of the past. No doubt we’ll want to play the new material in concert and in my opinion the show will need to take its production to another level. It’s a tall order given the high expectations of Live fans.

There are a number who would rather see Live sail off into the sunset without the original lineup in tact. I certainly understand their position and have my own concerns. On the other hand and from a personal level, I need to feel Live once again without the constraints that were placed on it over the last few years. Chad, Patrick and I invested most of our lives to writing, recording and performing the songs of Live. We deserve a chance to reconnect with the fans to say goodbye to the old era and hello to the new.

One thing is certain, 2011 will go down as one of the best musical years in my life and that’s one hell of a statement.

[Sonic Tonic]

"sort of the darker side of the Cure meets Perfect Circle. I want the new TGF material to stretch out beyond the conventional pop arrangements that have dictated the flow of modern music."

I now have shit in my pants

This post has been edited by Sonic Tonic: Jun 8 2011, 12:48 pm

[possum]

I have my doubts about Live moving on without Ed, but then again...can it really be worse then the last 10 years? The guys deserve to carry on as Live, so hopefully they pull it off. Nashville? I wonder what studio they are going to record in?

[deepenoughtodive]

Its hard to tell from the blog...........do y'all think this means they are going to be writing and recording with a new singer?

[+Ed+]

TRIO! TRIO!

[zmanpga]

FUCK YES! sorry )caps) so we move on

[zmanpga]

Its hard to tell from the blog...........do y'all think this means they are going to be writing and recording with a new singer?

my opinion ..yes

[deepenoughtodive]

my opinion ..yes

I really hope they try this. It would be very interesting to see what they could come up with. After hearing TGF, I am sure it will be awesome.

[PillarOfDavidson]

NASHVILLE?!?! HELLS YEAH! Maybe I'll run into them!

[Hoodstock]

Its hard to tell from the blog...........do y'all think this means they are going to be writing and recording with a new singer?

According to Chad ... yes. I'm still waiting for the Churchbox sessions though

[FishOutaWater]

It’s slightly more complicated on the Live side of things, as we’ll have to begin addressing the hole left by our singer’s departure. Most important, we’ll have to begin with fresh creativity – we’re not interested in rehashing the hits of the past. No doubt we’ll want to play the new material in concert and in my opinion the show will need to take its production to another level. It’s a tall order given the high expectations of Live fans.

This is the most exciting and compelling news that I have heard in over a year. I can't wait to see and hear what comes next.

[sh4rpz]

This is the most exciting and compelling news that I have heard in over a year. I can't wait to see and hear what comes next.

Yeah FIshy, me too.

Having been listening to LIVE's catalog a lot lately, and I think I'd like to hear the boys rock out as LIVE again, even with someone new joining as lead singer.

What brought us to this site was indeed the 4 of them, but beyond the friendships and memories for me, it's always been about the music - in the albums we buy and listen to and the shows we've been to.

The energy and spiritual feelings at a LIVE show is unique. Maybe a lot of it had to do with Ed, and hey, even tho he turned out to be an a-hole, I'm sorry they need to move on without him - but LIVE is about the music and the show and it's great that CCP have that to hold on to, to take LIVE to this new era.

I can't wait.

[FishOutaWater]

Yeah FIshy, me too.

Having been listening to LIVE's catalog a lot lately, and I think I'd like to hear the boys rock out as LIVE again, even with someone new joining as lead singer.

What brought us to this site was indeed the 4 of them, but beyond the friendships and memories for me, it's always been about the music - in the albums we buy and listen to and the shows we've been to.

The energy and spiritual feelings at a LIVE show is unique. Maybe a lot of it had to do with Ed, and hey, even tho he turned out to be an a-hole, I'm sorry they need to move on without him - but LIVE is about the music and the show and it's great that CCP have that to hold on to, to take LIVE to this new era.

I can't wait.

I came to Live because of Ed. I stayed because of Chad, Chad and Patrick.

That has to do particularly with personal interactions with each of them. And an unexpected appreciation for their musicianship, passion, candor and integrity.

If they own the name Live and want to make a future for Live in some other form, one that they will try hard with all their might to make worthy of the high expectations and passion of Live fans, and true to their fidelity to what Live was and the fans of Live - then I am in! I am in firends! Bring it! I'm ready. I want it.

This post has been edited by FishOutaWater: Jun 8 2011, 2:34 pm

[OutToDry]

[zmanpga]

I came to Live because of Ed. I stayed because of Chad, Chad and Patrick.

That has to do particularly with personal interactions with each of them. And an unexpected appreciation for their musicianship, passion, candor and integrity.

If they own the name Live and want to make a future for Live in some other form, one that they will try hard with all their might to make worthy of the high expectations and passion of Live fans, and true to their fidelity to what Live was and the fans of Live - then I am in! I am in firends! Bring it! I'm ready. I want it.

My thoughts EXACTLY Fish!!

This post has been edited by zmanpga: Jun 8 2011, 2:38 pm