For Lonestar, the show must go on - with Gracin
Thursday, December 7, 2006 – Lonestar went forward with their show in corpus Christi, texas, but the lead singer didn't look a lot like Richie McDonald. In fact, it sure looked a lot like Josh Gracin.
McDonald decided to have surgery to repair a disc problem in his back, but needed more time for recovery than anticipated. When Lonestar's first dates were at hand, the band found a temporary replacement in friend and fellow musician Gracin.
"We had a couple of shows coming up, and Josh was on the bill with us," explains Lonestar's Dean Sams, "and when we told him about our situation, he said, ‘Hey, I've been a Lonestar fan since I was a kid! I could fill in for Richie on the shows we have together.'"
"The first thing I said was, ‘That'd be great,' and then I said, ‘okay, let's not bring up that kid thing again,'" he laughed.
Gracin and Lonestar practiced for about 90 minutes and then played a fundraiser in Corpus Christi for the South Texas Academic Rising Stars. "Some of the songs Josh wanted to sing are songs we haven't played in awhile, so it was really fun to mix it up," said guitarist Keech Rainwater.
"We had a blast and raised some money for a good cause at the same," allowed guitarist Michael Britt.
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CD reviews
Never Enders
For a band with as much success, Lonestar has never made it feel easy. There was a spurt at the end of the last century where they rattled off five Number Ones in a row - trademark songs like "Amazed," "What About Now" and "I'm Already There." Beyond that golden streak, there's a story of four different record labels, a Richie McDonald solo departure in 2007 and a whole lot of swings and misses. Part of their problem is one of identity, torn between wanting »»» |
Life As We Know It
With the release of its new album, Lonestar celebrates 20 years as a band. The band also welcomed original vocalist Richie McDonald back to the fold for its first full-length album in three years, and they released it through their own label. All of this is great news for fans of the band that since 1995 has sales in excess of 10 million album units and charted 18 Top 10 songs, including 9 number 1s.
Lonestar has clearly found a formula for its music that reaches mainstream country and pop music »»» |
Party Heard Around The World
After so many years, most band's develop a sound that when you hear it, you say - "Ah, some REO Speedwagon" or "Swell, some Bee Gees." But when a band, known for a particular sound and a lead singer's voice, in particular, when that lead singer quits and the band presses on with a new singer, sometimes the transition simply doesn't work. Such is the case with Lonestar. This is a band that in recent years was pegged as a milquetoast, "sippy-cup country" »»» |
Editorial: Walking the talk –
When names like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Waylon and the Hag are invoked, you're talking hard core country. These are the touchstones of country , the guys who made country music what it was and still is (or maybe can be). When these folks would sing about being down-and-out and the rough-and-tumble, they knew of what they were singing about. Fast forward a few years to the country singers of today. »»»
Concert Review: Rising Appalachia buck the mainsteam, and that's fine with them –
Rising Appalachia would not be accused of being in the musical mainstream. Not too many bands who combine folk and Appalachian sounds with new world music could possibly be.
And that suits the sister-led duo of Chloe Smith and Leah Song just fine. In fact, at one point, Chloe made it clear she did not embrace radio play as a sign of success... »»»
Concert Review: Bingham plays with something to prove –
Ryan Bingham mainly focused on songs from his sixth album "American Love Song," for this lively show. Backed by a supportive band that also included two female backup singers and a fiddler, Bingham's eclectic setlist touched upon country, singer/songwriter folk, rock and blues.
Bingham reached for lively country sounds early on, with... »»»
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Play the Hits
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