NASHVILLE |FROM: MARCEE RONDAN/KRISTINE ASHTON/MITCH SCHNEIDER
STAIND’S
“SO FAR AWAY”
SPENDS SIX WEEKS AT #1 ON THE MODERN ROCK CHART;
BAND CONTINUES TO TOUR NORTH AMERICA
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS
SEVENDUST AND LO-PRO
“So Far Away”–the second single from STAIND’s critically acclaimed 14 SHADES OF GREY album (Elektra)–marks only the second song in 2003 to remain in the #1 position on the Billboard Modern Rock chart for six consecutive weeks.
The song–which also topped the Active Rock chart (where’s it’s been #1 for 12 weeks) and the Mainstream rock chart–has been singled out as a standout track from the album. In a 10/3/2003 live review of the band’s NYC show, the New York Times’ Kelefa Sanneh called the track “one of the best new songs,” adding that it “evoke[s] a sense of contentment that was convincing precisely because it seemed so precarious: ‘These are my words I’ve never said before/I think I’m doing O.K.’.” The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Tom Moon cited the song in an early album review: “The best tracks, such as the churning ‘So Far Away’…draw their power from an incessant drum pulse and aggressive, nonstop guitar drilling.”
Meanwhile, STAIND continue to bring their live performances to audiences across America, this time with special guests Sevendust and Lo-Pro. Some recent reviews of STAIND’s live show:
“The power of Staind’s dejected attitude and angst-filled music spawned with the ambiance of The Tabernacle and became its own pulsing, sweating, screaming entity…Staind’s musical solidarity and powerful stage presence took hold of the crowd and shaped it into its own musical instrument.”
–Jonathan Quigley, Emory Wheel, October 10, 2003
“Staind oozed passion, playing a mix of recent and older material…Thousands of audience members, dozens with raised lighters, gleefully intoned every lyric. Although their acoustically-driven numbers struck an emotional chord, the band appeared most content while dispensing an unrelenting tornado of reverb.”
–James Schneider, 34th Street Magazine, October 2, 2003
STAIND guitarist Mike Mushok described openers Sevendust to the Associated Press “as one of the hardest-working groups he knows, often playing eight or nine days in a row.” He added, “They’re a band that deserves a lot more attention than they get; they write great songs and they put on an amazing live show.” Sevendust’s fourth release Seasons hit stores October 7 and follows the band’s three consecutive Gold-certified albums. Seasons’ first single “Enemy” was the #1 Most Added song at Rock and Alternative radio in its first week of release.
Lo-Pro is the first band signed to AARON LEWIS’ new 413 Records imprint (which he formed in conjunction with Geffen Records President Jordan Schur). The Southern California-based group’s self-titled debut album was released September 30. “I was really picky about what I brought to the table as my first band, and I found exactly what I wanted with Lo-Pro,” said Lewis, who runs 413 with help from STAIND guitarist Mike Mushok. “I was handed a demo that Pete and Neil made in Pete’s bedroom on a computer, and it sounded better than most of the finished product being played on the radio.”
With chart-topping international success, multi-platinum album sales and critical accolades, STAIND–singer AARON LEWIS, guitarist MIKE MUSHOK, bassist JOHNNY APRIL and drummer JON WYSOCKI–are leaving an indelible mark on the contemporary music scene. 14 SHADES OF GREY (Flip/Elektra)–the band’s fourth album–was released May 20 and entered the Billboard “Pop Album Chart” at #1. The band’s last album, the quintuple-platinum BREAK THE CYCLE(Flip/Elektra), became a certified global smash, fueled by the moody, introspective singles “It’s Been Awhile,” “Fade,” “For You” and “Epiphany.” Writing in the Los Angeles Times (5/18/03) about 14 SHADES OF GREY, Robert Hilburn described STAIND as “a connection you feel in the purity and conviction of Aaron Lewis’ voice as well as in themes that examine matters of youthful self-esteem in ways that are both sympathetic and vulnerable.” STAIND’s intensity was also displayed on their 2002 gold-certified DVD MTV Unplugged.
The tour dates are as follows:
DATE CITY VENUE
Fri 10/31 Dallas, TX KEGL Event
Sat 11/01 New Orleans, LA N.O. City Park/Voodoo Festival
Sun 11/02 Austin, TX Waterloo Park
Tue 11/04 Phoenix, AZ Mesa Amphitheatre
Wed 11/05 Los Angeles, CA Wiltern
Wed 11/06 Los Angeles, CA Wiltern
Sat 11/08 Sacramento, CA Memorial Auditorium
Sun 11/09 San Jose, CA San Jose Event Center Arena
Tue 11/11 Spokane, WA Spokane Convention Center
Wed 11/12 Boise, ID Bank of America Center
Thu 11/13 Salt Lake City, UT Saltair Pavilion
Sat 11/15 Rapid City SD Rushmore Plaza
Mon 11/17 Fargo ND Fargo Civic Memorial Auditorium
Tue 11/18 St. Paul MN Roy Wilkins Auditorium
Thu 11/20 Chicago, IL Aragon Ballroom
Fri 11/21 Detroit, MI State Theatre
Sat 11/22 Pittsburgh, PA AJ Palumbo Center
*Mon 11/24 Orlando, FL Hard Rock Café
*Re-scheduled date.
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