Ventura, CA, May 30, 2008 Options

[SJN1279]

Live will be play the 1200 seat Ventura theatre on May 30th. Ticketmaster says May 3rd, but the venues website says May 30th. Tickets are on sale today via ticketmaster. They will be between 35-50 dollars.



http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/09004092...1&minorcatid=60

[crazy1]

Live Prepares to Rock the Majestic Ventura Theater
Return to Black Mountain
By Michelle Drown
Thursday, May 29, 2008

Fourteen years after the release of Throwing Copper, the eight-time platinum record that put Live on the rock ’n’ roll map, the Billboard chart-topping band is still making dynamic, provocative music. And with all the original members onboard — singer/guitarist Ed Kowalczyk, bassist Patrick Dahlheimer, guitarist Chad Taylor, and drummer Chad Gracey — Live emerged from the studio not so long ago with its seventh full-length CD — Songs from Black Mountain — a lyrically poetic and musically creative achievement.

The album, which spawned the hit singles “The River” and “Mystery” (heard by millions when the band performed live with Chris Daughtry on American Idol’s season five finale), also has significant local ties; it was named for Black Mountain in Ojai, where Kowalczyk has been living since the early 2000s, and it was recorded right here at Santa Barbara Sound Design.

Since the record’s release in the spring of 2006, the guys have been touring relentlessly, not only in the U.S. but also Europe, South Africa, and Australia. But this Friday, May 30, Live will perform for fans, friends, and neighbors at the Majestic Ventura Theatre.

In a brief email interview Kowalczyk revealed why he likes living here, where he finds inspiration, and how cool it was to meet Nelson Mandela.

You’re currently living in Ojai. What do you enjoy most about returning home after touring? I have to say it’s the good ole peace and quiet of the Ojai Valley that I enjoy most, especially after touring.

What drew you to record Songs from Black Mountain at Santa Barbara Sound Design? Lots of reasons. First of all, it’s really close to Ojai, which allowed me to go home a lot during the recording. Followed closely by the beach, the nightlife, and oh yeah, the studio was really cool too!

What’s your favorite song, lyric, or riff on the Songs from Black Mountain album? My favorite song is “Mystery.”

How did you get involved in Will.I.Am’s video that went along with Senator Obama’s “Yes We Can” speech? It was one of those happy accidents, really. I got an email from a friend who works with Will and she asked if I was supporting Obama — I am — and if I would like to come down to L.A. and make a guest appearance in the song/video he was making. I’m so happy I did, it turned out so well and has been a real thrill watching it and, of course, Obama succeed!

What music are you currently listening to? I am listening to lots of old gospel and blues music these days. My current fave is Blind Willie Johnson. [I have to give] thanks to our guitarist, Chad Taylor for turning me onto him!

Much of Black Mountain was clearly inspired by where you live and your family. With all the touring you’ve been doing, where do you find inspiration for new songs? I’ve never had trouble finding inspiration for new songs, no matter what I’m doing. Life is full of inspiration, far more than I’ll ever get to write about.

How would you say your music has evolved from Mental Jewelry to Songs from Black Mountain? I like to think it’s completely different and completely the same. Different because I’m 36 now and have grown in lots of ways musically, personally, etcetera, but the same because the essence or core of the music is a timeless feeling of peace and strength that doesn’t change.

How has your creative process changed now that the band members are all living in different states? I’ve always been the main songwriter in the band, so the process hasn’t changed a whole lot.

What is your favorite/most memorable story from the road? Meeting Nelson Mandela last year in South Africa as part of the 46664 Concert, followed closely by my performance with Will.I.Am last month in Philadelphia at a Barack Obama rally. [That was] amazing!

4•1•1
Live will perform Friday, May 30, at the Majestic Ventura Theater (26 S. Chestnut St., Ventura) at 7 p.m. For ticket information, call 653-0721 or visit venturatheater.net.
http://www.independent.com/news/2008/may/2...-theater/?print

[crazy1]

Locey: Live will bring serious chops to its serious rock Friday
By Bill Locey
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Locey: Singer's musical journey continues at Zoey's in Ventura
The thinking man's headbangers in Live aren't sure whether to call their show Friday at The Majestic Ventura Theatre a debut or not. It's possible that they played there before, and it's possible that they haven't. Whatever they decide, they'll be selling a new CD, "Radiant Sea: A Collection of Bootleg Rarities and Two New Songs."

All the way from York, Pa., Live dispenses decibels that can reach cat-scaring intensity, but there's more going on than the typical fist-in-the-air hard rock scenario. Frontman Ed Kowalcyzk, who sings and writes and doesn't look a day over 9,050, seems to be having a blast with his boyhood musical mates as they lead their audience on a search for truth, justice and understanding.

It's been blue skies and green lights since the band's second album, "Throwing Copper" (1994), sold more than 7 million copies. Now Live drives around and plays emotional shows for fans and their "cool uncles," performing hits like "Selling the Drama," "Lightning Crashes" and "I Alone."

The K-Man took time out to talk. He has obviously been interviewed before.

Hey, Ed, ever been to the Ventura Theatre?

We were trying to figure that out. If we had, it was so long ago that none of us can quite remember it.

So, closing in on 20 years with the band think you might stick with it?

It's looking that way. We started the band when we were 13 years old, so it has been like a family. It comes down to the fact that we really enjoy making music together. I think the day we don't enjoy it anymore, we don't do it, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen anytime soon.

There's a great line in your biography about how you — and all of us — are really 10,000 years old.
I think I said that mainly because I felt that when you are born in this world, you get a fresh start, but at the same time, you get a lot of information that takes a long time to develop. It's part of your culture and upbringing, and that's good and bad. As much as you benefit from it, it's also a limitation as to how you view the world. I've always been into meditation, trying to break those boundaries and experience things that are creative and fresh. I think that's one of the reasons I enjoy what I do as a musician. It's all about pushing your boundaries and experiencing new things.

You guys have been touted as the new U2 — U3 even — but also get written up in headbanger rags like Kerrang!. What do you suppose Live's particular niche is?
I think what's unique about Live, and why our fans are still interested, is the lyrics. From the beginning, it's been about trying to find the core of who I was and having music in my life to assist me in that search. The idea was that music could entertain, but also cause you to think and feel more deeply about the world you live in.

When you first got started in all this, what was the dream compared with the present reality?

Oh, it's exceeded everything I dared imagine. When you start out — especially as young as we were — the dreams were bigger than the reality for a while, but that was the whole power of it. Even though we didn't know what we were doing, we had something special, and if we could just keep mining it, we'd be all right. We've been gone all over the world, had some hits and still play fun shows to lots of people, so it's working.

Who goes to a Live show?
There were moments in the '90s when you could peg our fan base: college-age kids and the MTV demographic. As we grew up, we started seeing those people growing up with us, but we were also seeing older people — I like to call them the "cool uncle" or "cool big brother" fans — who had probably never seen a video of Live on MTV. We're 36 years old, so sometimes when we play and the fans are 20 years old, we wonder how they found out about us. I think the Internet changed that a lot.

So your new CD is some sort of bootleg?
It was really off the cuff. We decided to take it on tour and sell it, bringing back our label we had when we were little kids. It's kind of a hodgepodge — songs from the cutting-room floor, B-sides and songs thrown together on the road. It was for the fans, and not really "Hey, this is our next album," but more of a grab bag.

Any advice for the next generation?
Stay true to what you're doing; find the part of you that's original, and don't take "no" for an answer. I think the temptations are greater than ever for artists to compromise to get a deal or on the radio. But now, as things are changing in the music industry, I think there are a lot more opportunities and reasons to stay true to what you're doing. If it's a bit left of center, stay left of center because nobody really knows where everything is heading.

— E-mail music writer Bill Locey at blocey@pacbell.net.

http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008...ling-the-drama/

[SJN1279]

Thanks for the articles. I just wish they'd ask about the new CD/DVD combo and new songs, but oh well.

[ShadowStormEK]

Is anyone going to this one?

If you do....please take pics!!!!

[jaybb]

Show was really good. Similar setlist to what they've been playing. Opened with Simple Creed, ended on Lightning Crashes at the encore (no Dance with You or WD). Ed totally forgot the lyrics to PoD during the first verse. The opening to Sophia was incredible, much better than the intro they did at the Vegas show.

[SJN1279]

Show was really good. Similar setlist to what they've been playing. Opened with Simple Creed, ended on Lightning Crashes at the encore (no Dance with You or WD). Ed totally forgot the lyrics to PoD during the first verse. The opening to Sophia was incredible, much better than the intro they did at the Vegas show.

How was the crowd in size and energy?

[jaybb]

Crowd size was decent, but nowhere near sold out. They didn't even open the top balcony. However the downstairs areas were pretty crowded. 700-900, maybe?

[SJN1279]

Crowd size was decent, but nowhere near sold out. They didn't even open the top balcony. However the downstairs areas were pretty crowded. 700-900, maybe?

Are concerts suffering in general due to gas and economy? Seems that Live has been selling less than usual this May. Are other bands/events feeling the heat as well?

[jaybb]

Ehh, Ventura is a small town and they advertised the show to start at 7pm (LIVE wasn't until 9:15 in actuality). So I think a lot of people that would have wanted to come from LA, San Fernando Valley and Santa Barbara were turned off to going, since they would have probably had to leave work early to make the show.

[Existentialist]

Either that or people actually heard SFBM.

[SinfulEyes]

Either that or people actually heard SFBM.

Don't you love how Nick tries to find excuses for Live?

[SJN1279]

Don't you love how Nick tries to find excuses for Live?

They sold out shows in March, but have struggled in May. I do think that some of it has to do with the recession and high gas prices, because people are being careful with money right now. However, a brief hiatus after this summer and returning later in 2009 with a new album, would definitely help sales.

I also think this summer tour will do pretty well.

[SinfulEyes]

They sold out shows in March, but have struggled in May. I do think that some of it has to do with the recession and high gas prices, because people are being careful with money right now. However, a brief hiatus after this summer and returning later in 2009 with a new album, would definitely help sales.

I also think this summer tour will do pretty well.

[Existentialist]

I didn't realize the economy went south and gas prices went up 250% just in the last two months. What a dramatic change. That is surely the reason why Live can't sell tickets in May but could in March.

I was under the impression that gas prices have been prohibitive for a few years and that the economy, which is not in a recession, has been approaching a recession for even longer. I entertained the idea that it's because Live has played the same markets pretty much exclusively for the last two years and have delivered the same exact show at all of them, but that's obviously wrong. I also thought it could be exacerbated by the fact that they haven't written a good album in a decade and that their recent albums were not only bad but shockingly gay and embarrassing, but clearly that's not the case.

Good call!

This post has been edited by Existentialist: May 31 2008, 7:19 pm