Cleveland, Ohio, February 16, 2013 Options

[SJN1279]

Ed Kowalczyk is bringing his "I Alone" Acoustic tour to Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday February 16, 2013. Tickets are going on sale Wednesday December 12th:
http://www.houseofblues.com/tickets/eventd...p?eventid=78487

[dangum]

Magazine article interview with Ed.

Issue Date: February 2013

Honest Rock

Former Live frontman and vocal powerhouse Ed Kowalczyk visits the House of Blues Cambridge Room this month for a stripped-down acoustic show.
Barry Goodrich

Unplugged but still uncompromised, Ed Kowalczyk has returned to his roots. For more than a decade Kowalczyk fronted Live, arguably one of the most successful alternative rock bands of the '90s. The group's sophomore effort Throwing Copper generated the chart-topping hits "Selling the Drama," "Lightning Crashes" and "I Alone," and the band went on to release nine discs and sell more than 20 million albums highlighted by Kowalcyzk's intense vocals and poetic lyrics. But in 2009, Kowalczyk tired of the rock star lifestyle and started a solo career, allowing him to return to writing raw, emotional songs. His latest solo effort, an EP titled The Garden, features five new songs and five remixes, including a version of John Lennon's "Mind Games." He brings his I Alone acoustic tour to the House of Blues Cambridge Room Feb. 16.

CM: Your acoustic talents are featured on the new tour. How big of a change is this from performing with Live?

EK: I've always written songs on acoustic guitar and on this tour I'm performing songs from every era of my career as a songwriter and performer. I kind of go everywhere. The overwhelming comment I have been getting is that the songs are really intense in ways people never thought about before. People are walking away surprised that these stripped-down rock songs don't lose anything. They're used to me being visceral, and I still do that with the acoustic versions.

CM: In the past you've played to huge crowds. How have you adapted to headlining smaller clubs?

EK: The first thing I ever did when I went solo was an acoustic performance, and I immediately fell in love with it. I reconnected with the songs and the fans and now when I perform I get a lot of emotional feedback. I'm playing where fans really want to hear me, and there are a lot of sweet listening rooms that have a certain intrigue and charm. I couldn't have scripted it this way. ... It has become the love of my life now.

CM: How was it to team up with [producer] Jamie Candiloro, who has worked with R.E.M., Willie Nelson and the Eagles?

EK: I love him. We're like two mad scientists in the studio. Jamie has both a technical side and a creative side, which is rare.

CM: Will there ever be a Live reunion?

EK: There is a lot of tugging and pulling that go on when a band becomes successful. For me, it was time to unplug from the old way and plug in to a new way. It was time to open the shades and open the windows. My door is always open to get together with the original band.

CM: What is the essence of a great song?

EK: It's still a mystery to me. It definitely has something to do with a lyric that connects to a place where people are more the same than they are different — songs that go to a deeper place. I go there with a certain amount of earnestness and honesty.

Link to article

[SJN1279]

The show is sold out(and no mention of Live in the billing)

http://www.houseofblues.com/tickets/eventd...p?eventid=78487

[jecclr2003]

My wife and I had the pleasure of going to this show at the House of Blues in the "Cambridge Room". It's a small venue only able to hold about 400 people, but it was packed TIGHT.

We were right upfront on the rail and loved the entire show.

Ed came out right at 9 with his bassist, Chris. He helped quite a bit on backing vocals for a few songs.

The set list was the same from the other recent shows. Mostly Live tracks with a few solo. 3 of them being new songs from his upcoming full album.

Seven
All the I Wanted
Angels on a Razor

All 3 sound great, although he did forget the first verse to Angels.


Ed sounded amazing throughout. VERY strong voice.

The room loved what was going on and responded LOUDLY. Seriously, I've been in large venues that didn't respond this strongly. Lots of times where the entire crowd was singing along almost drowning Ed out.



Overall I was floored by the performance top to bottom.

After the show, there was a little confusion as Ed said he would come back out and mingle a bit. After about 20 mins, Ed came back out to talk with the fans that hung around.

My wife got star struck by Ed. But, seemed to be a very down to earth guy, very friendly.

I managed to snag the set list and a guitar pick. We had him sign the setlist and get a picture with him. For me, it fulfilled a 15 year dream of meeting one of my favorite musicians and it was not disappointing.


I can't say enough about how good of a show this was. Passionate performance in a small, intimate setting.

Here's a link to the finale of Lightning Crashes...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxAxMd7s-Go


I give it out of 5.

[dangum]

Sounds like a great show! Thanks for posting a review.

[SJN1279]

Sounds like a great show! Thanks for posting a review.

Sounds like a great show and great time. Glad you enjoyed it!

[dangum]

The Great Beyond
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEcu4PHPnwg