Concert Reports
Lonestar
09/06/2012, Chumash Casino Resort
Reunited with original lead singer Richie McDonald, the multi-platinum country music quartet Lonestar has released a new single, The Countdown, and has embarked on an extensive anniversary tour, which lit up the Chumash Casino Resort on September 6th, in one of the group’s only California tour stops this year.
All Photos: Gary Lambert/ www.LambertsPhotography.com
Please Visit: www.LonestarNow.com
LONESTAR is back–and shining.
The multi-platinum country quartet has released their new single, “The Countdown,” currently spinning nationwide at country radio. The melodically sparkling and lyrically urgent track is available for purchase now on all digital retailers and will be featured on LONESTAR’s forthcoming yet-to-be-titled album due out this fall on their own 4 STAR RECORDS, in partnership with The Orchard. Download “The Countdown” now HERE
2012 marks a big year personally and professionally for LONESTAR–MICHAEL BRITT, lead guitar & backing vocals; RICHIE McDONALD, lead vocals & piano; KEECH RAINWATER, drums; and DEAN SAMS, keyboards and backing vocals–as they celebrate their 20th anniversary as a band and the return of revered original vocalist RICHIE McDONALD.
Of being back together in the studio working on the new album, McDONALD told the Dunkirk Observer (Dunkirk, NY), “The music is still country no matter how you look at it but there are some songs that have more country elements to them. We kind of mixed it up. It’s always good to give the fans a little bit of everything.” He went on to say, “The music feels like us more than it ever has in our 20 year career. We think it’s the best album we’ve ever made.” (7/9/12)
SAMS explained the inspiration for “The Countdown” to The Villager (Cattaraugus County, NY), “It’s a great up-tempo song that talks about this guy trying to get home to the girl he loves. It’s about all the miles, all the red lights, all the cities (along the way) just to get to her. Although ‘Countdown’ is one of the most driving songs done by Lonestar as a band, it is a very passionate love song.” (7/5/12)
LONESTAR is currently on a national headlining tour performing the new music for their fans, including “The Countdown,” “Pretty Good Day,” and “I Miss When.” Carly Weber of The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, IA) attended a recent show and noted, “…the catchy ‘[It’s a] Pretty Good Day [to be Me]’ is certainly a potential hit. The new songs fully energized the band, suggesting that the group is excited about the fresh material.” (7/5/12).
About LONESTAR:
Known both for their strong country roots as well as their multi-genre crossover appeal that’s led to a history of success on the pop/rock charts, LONESTAR has only their own career records to break. To date, the band has RIAA certified sales in excess of 10 million album units since their national launch in 1995. The Texas-bred band has had an impressive list of hit singles on the country charts, including ten #1’s as well as nine Top 40 songs on the pop charts. Signature songs in the mid-90’s included early #1 hits such as “No News,” and “Come Cryin’ To Me.” Their 1999 album release, Lonely Grill, produced Lonestar’s biggest crossover smash to date, the ballad “Amazed,” which spent eight weeks at the #1 spot on the country charts as well as reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The dual win made them the first country act since Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton’s “Islands In the Stream” in 1983 to accomplish this career milestone. Three more singles from the band (“Smile,” “What About Now,” and “Tell Her”) followed to #1 as the Lonely Grill album was certified multi-platinum. LONESTAR dealt listeners a follow-up platinum hand with the release of their I’m Already There album (2001) with the title track lead-off single spending six weeks at #1 as the album was on the way to platinum certification. In addition to garnering music accolades, LONESTAR has been oft-lauded for their continuous outreach in the arena of humanitarian goodwill. The band was recognized by The Academy of Country Music with the coveted Home Depot Humanitarian Award in 2003 for their continued commitment to help build the dreams of those in need—this in recognition to the group’s single handed dedication to the building of a playground for children in tornado ravaged Jackson, Tennessee. America’s military forces have been a major focus for concert and fund raising efforts by the band as has St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, to mention only a few of their ongoing humanitarian interests.
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