Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, Friday February 1, 2013 Options

[SJN1279]

http://pvconcerthall.com/

Friday, February 01, 2013
Gates 7:00 p.m. | Starts 8:00 p.m.

Ed Kowalczyk "I Alone" Acoustic
Founding Member and Former lead singer of Live
On Sale This Friday, December 7th @ 10AM
via Ticketmaster:
http://www.ticketmaster.com/Ed-Kowalczyk-t...m_homeA_artist2

[dangum]

Interview with Ed Kowalczyk, former lead singer of Live
Former frontman to perform unplugged acoustic show Feb. 1 in Concert Hall
Posted: January 31, 2013 - 7:03pm

By KARA POUND
Compass Correspondent

If you grew-up in the ‘90s, you undoubtedly remember the multi-platinum band Live and bald frontman, Ed Kowalczyk, belting out tunes like “I Alone,” “Lightning Crashes,” “Heaven” and “Selling the Drama.”

Today, Kowalczyk’s on a solo adventure — performing his own original material and songs from the rock band he helped co-found on his “I Alone” acoustic tour.

Feb. 1, Kowalczyk makes his way to the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall for an unplugged, seated show. Compass caught up with the rocker turned intimate soloist to talk about living in the burbs and fan interaction ...

Compass: So what are you up to today?

Ed Kowalczyk: You know, just kind of decompressing a little bit. We had a big weekend and it’s really cold in Connecticut, so we’re staying nice and toasty warm inside as much as possible.

Compass: Where in Connecticut are you right now?

E.K.: I am in a town called Ridgefield, Connecticut. I was in Southern California for about 14 years and I just relocated back here to the good old cold East Coast – about 40 miles from New York City – to be closer to family. I have three kids and one on the way, so now grandma’s getting more grandkid time.

Compass: I (Kara Pound) was born and raised in Ridgefield. I had no idea you lived there.

E.K.: You’re kidding? That’s amazing. (I will not bore you with the next three minutes where all we talk about is the different delicious restaurants in town.)

Compass: So anyway, tell me a bit about what fans can expect from your unplugged acoustic show. Is it a mellower, intimate performance than when you were with Live?

E.K.: I don’t know that it is more mellow. I think it’s different. Of course, it’s mellower because you don’t have the electric guitar or the whole production of drums. But emotionally, the way that we do the songs – I say “we” because I bring my bass player who plays acoustic bass – it really has a lot of impact. We don’t pretty up the rock songs. We bang on the acoustics a little harder and sing that much more with it emotionally and so people leave really impacted from the emotion of it.

Compass: Do you do a lot of fan interaction – not taking requests, but talking in between songs to the audience?

E.K.: Throughout my career and this show, I’ve always aired to the side of less is more with talking. My heroes allowed the music to maintain that mystique by being men of few words. And so I do talk about the songs, but I don’t turn it into storytelling because I don’t feel that that serves the mystique of my music because there are so many interpretations of what that means. Whatever it means to me, I’ll put that in the emotion of the song, but I don’t want to define for other people.

Compass: Do you think people have their own opinion of what rock tunes turn into for an acoustic unplugged show is like?

E.K.: Ya, it’s sort of like when you shave your head for the first time. You don’t know if you have any ugly scars under there. You don’t know if you have a weird bump. This is like shaving the music’s head — for lack of a better analogy. And I shaved this music’s head and it’s got a sweet looking dome underneath it.

Ed Kowalczyk performs Feb. 1 at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. Doors open at 7 p.m. and show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 day of show. Go topvconcerthall.com for more details.

http://staugustine.com/entertainment/arts/...ead-singer-live

[SJN1279]

http://www.guitartrump.com/homebase/ed-kow...-acoustic-tour/

Review: Ed Kowalczyk – I Alone Acoustic Tour
posted Friday, 1:54 pm / No Comments

Ed Kowalczyk, former frontman of the post-grunge powerhouse band Live, possesses one of the most recognizable voices in music. Ed has hit the road with his I Alone solo acoustic tour, which I caught up with on February 1st, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fl.

The venue was Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, an intimate multipurpose performing arts facility with amazing acoustics. Most of the capacity crowd arrived early and were treated to a great set by St. Augustine, FL’s own The Sweetest Punch, a folksy guy/girl duo with some amazing talent.

Ed took the stage about 8:30 illuminated by tea-light candles and surrounded with black draping. He greeted the crowd, accompanied by bassist Chris Heerlein, with an acoustic version of Live’s All Over You, followed by The Distance. The set also included greatest hits like, The Dolphins Cry and I Alone, interspersed with solo material Garden, Angels on a Razor, and The Great Beyond. He even surprised fans with a cover of U2′s, With or Without You.

Ed has joined forces with World Vision, a child sponsorship program, and promoted them heavily toward the end of the show. Many fans accepted his offer of an ”Ed hug” and a CD in front of the stage if they agreed to sponsor a child. Ed followed this heartwarming moment with his hopeful song, Grace, and then ended the show with the exalted, Lightning Crashes, which bled in to a prayerful melody giving thanks to God. He then told the fans he would be happy to meet them after the show by the merchandise table.

The line to meet Ed was filled with just about as many people as attended the show. The fans recognized what a rarity it is to have have someone of Ed’s caliber stay to personally meet each and every fan. The merchandise was rare too, and included signed and numbered, hand written lyrics to I Alone and Lightning Crashes, complete with Ed’s thumbprint.

Ed Kowalczyk is an incredibly talented musician with an almost mystical songwriting ability. His lyrics are literally poetry set to music. The newer material stays true to his musical roots, but gives the listener a glimpse of his softer side. The I Alone acoustic show was a fantastic mix of old and new music played in an intimate setting that engaged each listener. You can find out where you can catch Ed on tour now at his official website.