LONESTAR
Richie McDonald lead vocals, pianoMichael Britt lead guitar, backing vocalsKeech Rainwater drumsDean Sams keyboards, acoustic guitar, backing vocalsIts just a small warehouse space, hidden by a nondescript exterior somewhere in Nashville. Inside youll see mismatched chairs and rugs scattered around the cement floor. Little lights string across the high, black ceiling. This is The Band Cave, home away from home for all four members of Lonestar. For more than 20 years theyve logged countless miles touring throughout the world, released several Platinum-selling albums and ten No. 1 singles, earned ACM and CMA awards and inspired rave reviews as far away as London, where The Guardian proclaimed them exemplars of countrys greatest strength: picture-painting, story-based, tear-your-heart-out lyrics that are the most direct and lucid in popular music.Yet all roads lead back to The Band Cave, where lead singer/guitarist Richie McDonald, lead guitarist/singer Michael Britt, keyboardist/guitarist/singer Dean Sams and drummer Keech Rainwater wrote and rehearsed songs for their tenth album, Never Enders, each one crafted impeccably yet as raw and soulful as all four members Texas honky-tonk roots.Lonestar has always set the bar high, but Never Enders exceeds expectations. Its always a challenge, says Richie as they gather one quiet morning at The Band Cave. But when were writing, we always try to stay true to how weve done it in the past sonically and lyrically, while still looking to take what we do to new levels.The exhilarating affirmations of the title track Never Enders, the haunting reflection on time lost in My Own Hometown, the emotional honesty of Us, their playful, grin- teasing riff on modern love in I Want a Love and their tribute to all the gorgeous lady bartenders theyve known on Boomerang each song on Never Enders mixes artful craft and the poetry of plain speech, each melody rings clear and all of it reminds us of how emotionally powerful country music can be.There are stories behind every song on Never Enders the TV commercial that inspired the title and concept of Ive Been Wrong Before, the last-minute scramble that perfectly filled a sudden gap in the album with the up-tempo rocker Twice and so on.But the real story here is the band itself. More than 20 years after they began their journey, they inspire reviews that are somehow raves and warm congratulations at the same time. (Example: One recent performance motivated examiner.com to thank them for a top-notch concert and a night of country music to remember.) Most important, the Lonestar saga continues with a new generation inheriting the love for the group passed down from its original fans. Richie chuckles and shares a story with Dean, Michael and Keech. A few weeks ago, this little boy, 8 years old, came up to me and asks, Do you sing that song Amazed? I said, I do. He said, Well, thats why Im here. I said, Oh, you came to hear that song? He goes, No, my mom and dad got married to that song and then they had me. Thats why Im here.The laughter confirms the key to Lonestars magic: In the love that binds them to their fans, in the music that makes them as fresh and vital as any other band in county music, they are and will always be true believers ... truth seekers... story tellers ... Never Enders.Known for merging their country roots with strong melodies and rich vocals, Lonestar, comprised of Richie McDonald (lead vocals), Michael Britt (lead guitar & backing vocals), Keech Rainwater (drums), and Dean Sams (keyboards & backing vocals), has amassed RIAA-certified sales in excess of ten million album units since their national launch in 1995, and achieved ten #1 country hits including "No News," "Come Crying To Me," and their crossover smash "Amazed" (which was also #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, the first record since 1983's "Islands in the Stream", to top both charts). The band's awards include a 1999 ACM Single of The Year for "Amazed" (the song also won the Song of the Year award), and the 2001 CMA Vocal Group of the Year. With over a 100 dates worldwide per year, they are celebrating over 20 years together. Lonestar's highly anticipated CD, Never Enders, features ten new original Lonestar songs that bring the band's trademark sound into the contemporary arena.
at Rams Head on Stage
33 West Street
Annapolis, United States
Orignal From: LONESTAR
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