Toledo, Ohio (Hollywood Casino), March 30, 2013 Options

[dangum]

Ed Kowalczyk will be perfoming a free show at the Hollywood Casino on March 30, 2013.

Saturday, March 30th ★ 9PM
Join Ed Kowalczyk formerly of Live in the H Lounge. Ed Kowalczyk had worldwide success in the 90s with four top 10 singles and selling over 20 million albums with the band Live. Hear your favorite alternative rock hits from the 90s including “Lightning Crashes,” “Selling the Drama,” “All Over You” and “I Alone” in the H Lounge. Also, catch new releases from Ed Kowalczyk’s newest album “Alive” featuring the single “Grace”.

No ticket necessary. Standing room only. Must be 21.

http://www.hollywoodcasinotoledo.com/Enter.../Special/Events

[Hoodstock]

Anybody going to this?

I think I might make the drive. I'm guessing it's acoustic but am hoping it would be full band.

Edit:

I tried contacting the casino in regards to what type of show. I was told to call back tomorrow when the marketing department is working.

This post has been edited by Hoodstock: Mar 11 2013, 7:18 pm

[dangum]

I think it's a full band show. The previous night's show in Columbus (also at a Hollywood Casino) is a full band gig.

[Hoodstock]

I think it's a full band show. The previous night's show in Columbus (also at a Hollywood Casino) is a full band gig.

I saw that but I'm not going to assume - I'll find out.

[SJN1279]

I saw that but I'm not going to assume - I'll find out.

Fri Mar 29th, 2013 Hollywood Casino Columbus OH ED KOWALCZYK (FULL ROCK BAND) FREE

Sat Mar 30th, 2013 Hollywood Casino Toledo OH ED KOWALCZYK (FULL ROCK BAND) FREE

http://edkowalczyk.com/tour-dates

[SJN1279]

107.7 The Wolf Country
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IN CONCERT
Rocker to sing solo, Live songs at casino on March 30
Written by Vicki L. Kroll | | news@toledofreepress.com

Ed Kowalczyk, former frontman of the alternative band Live, was a South by Southwest virgin.

“Very excited to be at my first SXSW! It’s been such a blast so far,” he wrote from Austin, Texas, in an email interview with Toledo Free Press. “Couldn’t imagine a more perfect way to introduce I Alone Acoustic. Such an eclectic and international gathering here in Austin; it’s going to be great.”

The singer-songwriter played songs from Live and his solo career at the annual event.

“I love my acoustic shows mostly for the intimacy and the rawness of the environment and production,” he wrote. “It takes a lot more to pull off a 90-minute set with just a mic and an acoustic guitar than with a band, so it’s very gratifying when it happens!

“Toledo will be my full band though; we’re gonna rock!”

Kowalczyk will play a free show at 9 p.m. March 30 in the Hollywood Casino Toledo H Lounge.

“I play lots of songs from my work in Live, including all the ‘hits’ — ‘Lightning Crashes,’ ‘I Alone,’ ‘The Dolphin’s Cry,’ etc.”

That set list may include cuts from his 2012 EP “The Garden.”

Kowalczyk

The title track packs a powerful chorus: “Take my hand like you did on the night you disappeared/ I found you sleeping in the garden I had sown/ For your love, for your love, I would die 10,000 times/ Just to take that pain and turn it into light/ Just to take that pain and turn it into love.”

“The basic lyrical idea behind ‘The Garden’ is that it’s always easier to find and follow the road traveled, and harder to find and follow the one that is less traveled but leads to greater reward,” Kowalczyk wrote.

“I didn’t intend it consciously, but a lot of fans have said it recalls Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. I like that interpretation.”

The spirited musician gained a reputation by penning dynamic, mystical songs for Live. The group’s 1994 disc, “Throwing Copper,” launched the quartet thanks to “I Alone,” “All Over You,” “Selling the Drama” and “Lightning Crashes.”

In 2009, the band went on hiatus, Kowalczyk recorded a solo disc titled “Alive” and the three other Live members formed The Gracious Few with a couple of friends from Candlebox. The break became permanent — until 2011 when the three Live members reformed with a new lead singer.

Kowalczyk is working on a new disc and wrote that he hopes it will be out this fall.

“I may include at least one track [from ‘The Garden’] on the LP, but in any event, there will be 10 brand new tracks,” he wrote.

“A good song is one that touches the soul. Period. Most people don’t even know they have a soul, or they do and just forget like we all do sometimes,” Kowalczyk wrote. “Then a great song comes along and blows open their heart and mind and points to a deeper reality.”

[Hoodstock]

This is a newer venue and I've never been to it. Ohio just legalized gambling and the casino just opened less than a year ago. Here's their press shot of the H Lounge, where Ed is doing the performance.



This is a web page with a few videos of shows here:

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuHI...DbScraYaf-6dAOS

It really does look like a corner lounge at a casino.

This post has been edited by Hoodstock: Mar 21 2013, 9:14 pm

[Hoodstock]

Review: As a long time Live fan it just seemed weird when Ed came out with the new backing band and started singing All Over You. After they played the first solo song, The Great Beyond, it didn't seem to be that much of a big deal to me afterwards. I don't think it really mattered at all to the casual people who were there. People were there to hear Ed sing Live songs.

The space he had was at capacity and overflow ran into the casino area. I'd say there were about 350 - 400 people there just for the show, and quiet a few others that stopped behind the crowd occasionally just to check out what was going on or to listen to a song. You could see and hear the show through a majority of the casino.

I thought Ed played most of the songs that people came to hear while sprinkling in enough of the solo stuff to get his new album sold. It was better than the last Live show I saw during the SFBM tour. A big part of that was the song selection which (for the most part) was good. No later Live stuff in the set.

You can tell that Ed has been playing for a while with his "Texas" band because they work well together on stage. The band doesn't play every note exactly as Live would, but honestly that's something only a few actual people would even notice.

A few interesting show notes:

- Ed's came out to sing but the mic was not on the stand when he came out. He had to use the mic of the bass player until the second refrain of All Over You when the roadie ran it out and gave it to him. He was smiling and seemed pretty professional about it.

- By the end of the third song Ed had noticed that a lot of people were looking up over the stage (which is in the middle of the casino). There were three large screens above the band. The two outside screens read "Ed Kowalczyk: Formerly of Live". The middle screen had the Ohio State v. Wichita State NCAA tournament game on. Being in Ohio I think he understood there wasn't much he could do about it. After he noticed it he subtly pointed it out to the bass player and laughed it off. Occasionally he checked out the score and time after songs. About half way through the show the game was over and the casino switched to an elevated camera view of the stage.

- Ed promoted his table with his EP, but I got there before the show and the EP was not available. This was his last US tour date and I assume his EP supply for the tour had sold out. He did have numerous other things though.

- About forty minutes after the show Ed came out and signed autographs and took pictures with everyone who waited around to see him. He was talkative and really kind to everyone.

From what I recall I believe the show had the exact same set list as the Columbus show:

01. All Over You 4:24
02. The Great Beyond 3:41
03. The Distance 6:00
04. Selling The Drama 4:27
05. Drink (Everlasting Love) 3:15
06. Zion 5:06
07. The Dolphin's Cry 5:49
08. I'm The Proof 4:29
09. The Beauty Of Grey 6:18
10. Heaven 4:55
11. Grace 3:38
12. I Alone 6:10
13. ~ Encore ~ 3:31
14. Lakini's Juice 6:00
15. The Garden 4:34
16. Lightning Crashes 6:26

I'm not a fan of what Ed did to the band, but I'm not part of the band and not really basing my opinions of the music on the internal stuff. A ton of bands have split, evolved, or reformed. I think Ed's happy with what he's doing and I'm sure the rest of Live will find plenty of enjoyment and success without him. Some people want to hear the lead singer of old split up bands, some people would prefer the rest of the band, and others would be happy with both.

Overall, had a great time at the show and Ed put on a really good show. The crowd was into it and everyone was having fun. Ed delivered what the people came to hear (with the exception of a few comments that I overhead after the show of people hoping to hear a specific song that they liked that wasn't on the set list). I'd have no problem seeing another solo tour show with the full band.

[Live4Life]

I'm not a fan of what Ed did to the band, but I'm not part of the band

Best thing you said. Wish more people thought like this.
I'm really surprised hoody. This is your review?
See, in a way this is why i liked you someone out of the whole clan.
You can say what needs to be said in a more respectful, decent kind of way. Thanks for the review. I thought it was fantastic.

[Hoodstock]

Never have had an issue with Ed.

My issue is with the people on this board that have constantly gone out of their way to promote everything Ed does while constantly looking for negatives to bash everything CCP does.

Instead of coexisting with everyone else they have destroyed the board.

[Live4Life]

Agreed.

[SinfulEyes]

Agreed.

Whom do you think Hoodie is alluding to?

[Hoodstock]

The Great Beyond and Zion are really good concert songs!

[live2cd]

Going into Ed's show in Columbus, I thought "Zion" was the best of his solo material -- having never heard any of it beforehand.

[Hoodstock]

I was informed that my review was posted by someone in the Ed Kowalczyk Appreciation Society facebook group.

My comments are intended for this site only - I do not approve of them being re-posted in a "group" that I do not care to join! If someone wants to read my review they can come here.