Oshkosh, WI - Waterfest, June 28, 2012 - (Leach Amphitheater) Options

[dangum]

Another date just appeared on Pollstar.

Waterfest
June 28, 2012
Oshkosh, WI
Leach Amphitheater

6pm - 11pm

Lineup
Ed Kowalczyk
Greg Waters & The Broad Street Boogie
Gazettiers

$8 - $15

http://www.waterfest.org/
http://www.leachamphitheater.com/display_e...th=6&cYear=2012

[SJN1279]

New article for tonights show:

http://www.postcrescent.com/article/201206...and-new-journey

[dangum]

Here's the article Nick linked (for archival purposes)

A new path: Former Live frontman Ed Kowalczyk arrives at Waterfest on a brand new journey
1:02 PM, Jun 27, 2012

The voice of Ed Kowalczyk was a quintessential piece of ’90s rock.

The former lead singer of alternative rock outfit Live sang hits such as “Lightning Crashes,” “I Alone” and “All Over You” with a special intensity that became a trademark of Kowalczyk and the band. Eighteen years after the release of the multi-platinum album “Throwing Copper,” Kowalczyk finds himself on a different trail in his musical journey, away from his former band mates.

In 2010, Kowalczyk released his solo effort, “Alive,” embarking on a personal “renaissance” as an artist. He was away from the influential band members that helped him sell millions of records. He was getting more comfortable with his acoustic guitar. He was sensing the end of an era with his previous band and he was reconnecting with music.

And though Kowalczyk’s new album isn’t that far off from the Live sound that earned him notoriety, he believes the experiment has helped him grow as an artist. Even so, Kowalczyk still realizes and embraces his past and will be singing his new songs and old hits when he performs at Waterfest in Oshkosh tonight.

“For this show,” Kowalczyk said, “I really try to make people get the full experience of the past, the present and the future — all the hits of my work in Live as a writer and my new stuff.”

The band Kowalczyk recorded “Alive” with will accompany him on the Leach Amphitheater stage tonight for a full-fledged rock show, giving a nod to the ’90s while embracing a new journey.

It sounds like the split with Live was ugly, but can you tell me why it was in your best interest to depart from the band?

Three or four years ago, I came to sort of an end-of-chapter moment in my life just as a creative person, as an artist, as everything. I looked around and just felt like I wasn’t really inspired. It really freaked me out. I felt like I had a malaise about music going on. I was doing (music) the same way for so long; what would happen if I grabbed an acoustic guitar and played in clubs and got reconnected with the fans and reconnected with my lyrics the way I really needed to? So I started there and it snowballed into writing the record “Alive,” playing it and going to Austin for the first time to make a record. It just kind of snowballed into a new renaissance for me as an artist and a creative person. From my perspective, this has been a time of growth as an artist and not a break or anything that had negativity attached to it. I can’t speak for what has been other people’s perspectives of it, but for me as an artist, it’s really the time of my life.

You were in Live for more than 20 years. Is it hard for you to make music without those same band members?

I celebrate those years and that foundation in my life that’s really important to me, but again, as an artist, I think the most dangerous thing that can happen is you get into a routine. … For me as a songwriter it’s really all about staying challenged and staying inspired. That was really just a natural progression. Of course I look back on all my experiences with a smile because it made me who I am.

Many of your lyrics had spiritual undertones while you were in Live, but on “Alive” you incorporate that spirituality even more. Why take an even greater leap for this album?

I’ve always sort of put that spirituality first in my music. That’s who I am as a person. My life’s task has always been one of seeking the truth and putting it out there. I just happen to be a singer and a songwriter who has notoriety and people pick it up and bring it into their lives. … The solo record was just more of an extension of my spirituality. Of course, as a Christian, the metaphors and the imagery are likened to that, but I try to take from the pages of the U2 handbook of keeping it universally minded. I always felt like with U2, I got a powerful faith feeling from them in terms of spirituality, but they always kept the door open for any and everybody of any faith or no faith or whatever. I try to do that with “Alive” and I’ve always tried to do that with music.

Tell me how the “Alive” album was born.

It was born mostly how all my songs are, which is me and an acoustic guitar wherever I am, usually at home. The initial ideas will come in the morning in sweatpants and lots of coffee while I’m walking around my house (laughs). At that point I’m just coming up with the best lyrics and melodies I can. The big difference here, of course, is going down to Austin, Texas, meeting up with what was going to be my band — I didn’t know it yet — but I just got blessed with this incredible group of guys around me.

You worked with Chris Daughtry on the song “Drink (Everlasting Love)” on your new album. How did you end up writing a song together?

I heard about him just like everybody else did on the show. Then somebody called and said, “Hey, this guy is a big fan of yours and he did Live’s (version of) ‘I Walk the Line’ (on ‘American Idol’).” There’s been some controversy over that, but all that stuff rolled off me. It didn’t matter to me if he did our version and didn’t say it was us or whatever. I didn’t care. It’s hard enough to be a musician to get out there and get a break. It’s like more power to him. So I met him in that spirit and he was really cool. Actually we had met years and years before at a show, but he had lots of hair, so I was like, “Dude, I don’t remember you at all” (laughs). But we hit it off right away and just stayed friends over the years. … We had worked on a song I had pretty much finished called “Drink (Everlasting Love).” He was working on his new record and I was working on that one at the time. … We ended up finishing (“Drink”) and kind of arranging it together, so that was fun. Now every couple months we’ll share a vocal care tip with each other. Like if we find a new spray or new supplement, we’ll be like, hey man, how are the chords holding up? Try this.

What has been the response from Live fans to your music? Have they accepted you with open arms?

Absolutely. I’ve been in like seven new markets for the solo record. I’ve been all over the world. The response to my single “Grace” in Australia, it was a Top 10 hit, not that I look at charts all that often, but it probably was my biggest hit since “The Dolphin’s Cry” in 2000, so it’s been an incredible open arms experience for me.

I know you’re involved with multiple charitable causes. What projects are you focusing on right now?

The main charity that I work with is an organization called World Vision and they do incredible work, a lot of it through sponsorships. … I’m also trying to raise about $15,000 to dig a well in rural Zambia. I also have a super single of my song “Grace,” and all the proceeds have gone toward that well project as well. It’s just been great to be able to do that work. … Rock and roll music is so much bigger than just the songs, and that’s a great feeling.

— Mike Thiel: 920-993-1000, ext. 526, or mthiel@postcrescent.com.
Follow him on Twitter: @foxcitieshub

[OutToDry]

Here's the article Nick linked (for archival purposes)

the answers to the Live questions sounds like a tape recorder again. Same answers, like read from an book.