Taylor Hicks ~~ "Bulletproof" Hits Its Mark!

Taylor Hicks returned to a dark Highline stage in New York City last Sunday Night and slammed into his encore, the British pop sensation, “Bulletproof.”

WHAT?

“Been there done that messed around
I’m having fun don’t put me down”

As in the British electropop duo, La Roux!

How do you make electro pop from real wood, brass and strings? I don’t know, but Taylor Hicks and his electro-charged band do.

“Bulletproof” took off from the deep beat that grounded the performance throughout. With the rhythm of guitar and tingy keyboard, New York had British pop. With the unmistakable raspy vocals of Taylor Hicks on top, New York had sensation!

An amalgamation of instruments and vocals followed. Taylor delivered the strong and terse no goin’ back message and the band brought the robotic rhythms with relentless power—worthy partners in the synthesizer-inspired sound for the boys from Birmingham—Alabama, that is.

Been there done that messed around,
I'm having fun don't put me down
I'll never let you
sweep me off my feet.

I won't let you in again,
The messages I've tried to send,
My information's just not going in.

Burning bridges shore to shore,
I'll break away from something more
I'm not to not to love
until it's cheap.

This time baby I'll be bulletproof,
This time baby I'll be bulletproof.
This time baby I'll be bulletproof,
This time baby I'll be bulletproof.

“Bulletproof” is a musical dichotomy—a bare bones instrumentation of rhythms and straight forward delivery along side an emotional message of losing at love. The harsh words and relentless beat put up that hard shield we think we can build around us when love has gone wrong too many times.

It belies what we always know—we are vulnerable.

Even though, we profoundly deny it…

“This time, Baby, I’ll be bulletproof.”

The free wheeling musicality of the sax solo takes this “Bulletproof”in a different direction. It is like a chorus that breaks free from the cadence to drive the message home another way.

I won't let you turn around
And tell me now I'm much too proud
To walk away from something
when it's dead.

Do do do your dirty words
Come out to play when you are heard
There's certain things
that should be left unsaid.

I was astounded as I watched video from the Highline and remembered the La Roux “Bulletproof” that Taylor had steered us to earlier. He had tweeted that this was his favorite song and blows GaGa out of the water. The La Roux performance was stark, clean, and precise with metallic sounds and emotionless delivery “This time, Baby, I’ll be bulletproof.”

These two performances are different for sure. If La Roux does a cool stainless steel version of
“Bulletproof,” Taylor Hicks gave us one with a slight patina.

“Bulletproof” from the boys from Birmingham—Alabama, that is—made electro pop sound cool and musical—not electronic, but alive like metal gone green. They dragged their British pop through a bit of delta rock with real brass, resonating wood, and whiskey tenor vocals for a new Birmingham sound—England, that is.

Electro pop with a raspy edge.

It worked!

“Bulletproof” is Taylor Hicks gone pop. He never said he couldn’t do it.

He can play across the Pond any day!

For the music lovers filling tour venues to see the boys from Birmingham across the U.S. this summer, “Bulletproof” is a stunning surprise that brings new sounds and excitement to the stage—a setlist keeper!

~~~

“Bulletproof” and “Indiscriminate Act of Kindness” are musical opposites. Yet, my response to both was almost identical. I was blown away!

Taylor continues to grow in his own musicality. “Grease” and “Bulletproof” are proof of that. He is comfortable with who he is; he is a risk taker. He grows and evolves from those risks.

While Taylor makes every song his own by “taylorizing” it, I think “Bulletproof” actually goes the other direction. Taylor makes it uniquely his, yet he embraces the pop sound and takes his vocals and band in that direction for a breakout performance.

You might say he spreads his wings and flies a little left of the sun.

Therein lies the creativity of the true artist.

We are reminded again that there is nothing Taylor Hicks can’t do musically. He obviously believes that, and it has gotten him right where he wants to be—on the road, in a gigantic tour bus, making music with his friends, and entertaining people!

And taking risks.

“Bulletproof” by Taylor Hicks at Highline Ballroom, 7.25.10, posted by TaylorHicksNews.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgpP3y42PqY

Taylor Hicks ~~ Meet the Boys in the Band!

Taylor Hicks and the "kick ass" band rocked out hot and humid on the plaza this morning on Fox and Friends from New York City previewing their upcoming National Tour with “Love the One You’re With!”

This was the first look at the band that will join him for the next few weeks from Maine to California—Brian Less, Brandon Peeples, Jeff Lopez, Sam Gunderson, Leif Bondarenko, and Matt Kimbrell.

Taylor surrounds himself with the very best musicians whether in the recording studio or on stage. From rehearsals last week, he tweeted:

“The band is sounding pretty good.” And “This is some serious music. Yall ready?”

They all love to play music. It shows. This morning they lived up to Taylor’s description of playing some pretty good serious music!

Yall ready? Meet the boys in the band:

Brian Less ~ Musical Director and Keyboards
“Brian Less is from Memphis and since his nickname has always been "Little Memphis," the group came up with the name Little Memphis Blues Orchestra while brainstorming for a new name. Brian plays piano and organ for the group and shares in vocals for the group. Brian also worked on Taylor's Under the Radar CD and was a member of The Taylor Hicks Band pre-American Idol. He is quick witted, sarcastic, and incredibly funny.

Brian started playing at a very early age, taking piano lessons and developing his love of music. We are thrilled that the Original Little Memphis has brought his stellar talent to Taylor's Tour.”

Brian toured with Taylor in 2007 and appeared at most of the Shadow Tour concerts in 2009-2010. He and Taylor are long time friends and musical allies.

Brandon Peeples ~ Bass
Brandon is a 27 year old musician from Birmingham, Alabama. He was a member of the Sweetwater Road Band .

“I have supported Willie Nelson, John Fogarty, The Little River Band, Silverchair, Randall Bramlett, Jimmy Hall, Jeff Carlise, Derek St. Holmes, Taylor Hicks, and many other artists.” He lists eclectic music interests on his MySpace: Jazz, rock, funk, country…

Read more: http://www.myspace.com/brandonpeeples#ixzz0tWJmOCun

Sam Gunderson ~Guitar
Sam Gunderson is a long time member of Taylor’s musical entourage, including the AI Shadow Tour in 2006. He also did very fine vocals with the Little Memphis Blue Orchestra.

“Music is it for me. The older I get, the less apologetic I feel. Now, it’s just about laying whatever I got to give out there. …I have been blessed to work with musicians that have come into my life and changed it forever. They have taught me so much about music and life, within a simple moment of time. In their honor, I've found a new responsibility, one that finally makes sense to me. If music is the universal language, I hope that the way I speak it would make all who has come before me proud; and make my friends and family smile. For these are some of the greatest pleasures in life. As of right now I am happy to be the guitar player and musical director of the Erin Mitchell Band, and just recently produced her self titled CD. I am looking forward to the future and whatever it may bring.” (From Sam’s FaceBook)

That future brings a 2010 road tour with Taylor Hicks!

Jeff Lopez ~ Sax
Jeff Lopez—solo baritone sax performance for the Foo Fighter's My Grammy Moment Contest.

“Jeff grew up in the small town of Gloucester, Virginia. His grandfather, who played sax professionally, was his first inspiration musically. At the age of five, his grandfather taught him how to play organ. By elementary school, Jeff seriously started playing the alto sax, and at 13 had his first professional gig. Jeff toured the nation recently with Taylor Hicks during the promotional run for Taylor’s debut album. He also did a few U.S. and world tours with the legendary Dennis Edwards and The Temptations Review. Jeff is currently blowing away audiences with The Little Memphis Blues Orchestra (formerly The Taylor Hicks Band), The Erin Mitchell Band, and a variety of other artists in the southeast region of the U.S.” (Jeff’s FaceBook)

Jeff played sax for the memorable performance of Taylor Hicks on Rehearsals’ dot com “Hollywood Nights,” 2007.

Leif Bondarenko ~ Drums
Embracing the Man in Black
A local drummer abandons his instrument to sing Johnny Cash.
By Ed Reynolds June 24, 2010

“As Birmingham's premier drummer and "gun for hire," Leif Bondarenko has played thousands of gigs with dozens of bands in a career that spans four decades.

“Bondarenko first achieved renown 30 years ago as drummer for local legends Jim Bob and the Leisure Suits. By the mid-1980s, he had formed the critically acclaimed Primitons with Leisure Suits bandmate Mats (pronounced "Mots") Roden. He worked regularly with the late blues vocalist Topper Price throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, building a résumé that includes drumming for Wet Willie's Jimmy Hall, Charles Neville, and Rick Danko of The Band. He'll soon be touring with Taylor Hicks.

“While still earning a living playing for a number of local bands, six months ago Bondarenko stepped out from behind the drum kit and strapped on an acoustic guitar to tackle the role of lead singer for his Johnny Cash tribute band, Cash Back. His vocals are eerily close to those of the Man in Black, and the ease with which he fronts the band will surprise those who know Bondarenko only as a drummer…”

http://www.bwcitypaper.com/Articles-i-2010-06-24-236484.113121_Embracing_the_Man_in_Black.html


Matt Kimbrell ~ Percussion
Matt Kimbrell brings 28 years of experience to the drum chair. Matt didn't learn his techniques overnight - his father: pianist, vocalist and arranger, Henry Kimbrell, gave Matt his first paying gig at the age of 12. Matt hasn't left the stage or studio since. He fronted a couple of successful indie-rock bands in the 70s and 80s, Jim Bob and The Leisure Suits and The Ho-Ho Men. The Ho-Ho Men matured into Mambo Combo, a band that enjoyed 10 years of success in and around Birmingham during the late 80s and into the 90s. During that time Matt was a sideman in several new-wave, pop, roots, and party bands. These bands included: Tim Lee, The Sugar La-La's, Bud Green and The Hurlers. Working with these bands, Matt has played in every state in the union and Canada.

Matt has been involved with the band Levee Breaker for about a year and half and proven to be more than a reliable time-keeper for the band. Not only is he said to have the best meter in Birmingham, but he also has a terrific sense of melody and the ability to play great parts. Because Matt listens to great music, Matt plays great music. In a blues context, Matt's strength lies in his ability to lay down a danceable shuffle. Matt versatility as a player allow him to do brush work on the jazzier side of the 'Breakers material and rock solid playing on the R&B side.

Catch them all on the road…wherever you are!

The Taylor Hicks Summer Tour is coming to you…


**Thanks to caryl1 for photo via twitpic from the Plaza at FOXNews!

Summer Tour Schedule:
July 25~Highline Ballroom, New York City, NY, 8:00 p.m.
http://highlineballroom.com/bio.php?id=1568

July 27~Jonathan’s Ogunquit, Ogunquit, ME, 8:00 p.m.
http://tickets.jonathansrestaurant.com/ordertickets.asp?p=98

July 29~The Birchmere, Alexandria, VA, 7:30 p.m.
http://www.ticketmaster.com/search?tm_link=tm_header_search&q=Taylor+Hicks&search.x=27&search.y=14

July 30~Crocodile Rock Café, Allentown, PA, 7:00 p.m.
https://www.crocodilerockcafe.com/ticket_order.asp?ID=2335

July 31~Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ, 8:30 p.m.
http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=2497655&pl=

August 3~Ram’s Head On Stage w/Javier, ANNAPOLIS, MD, 8:00 p.m.
http://tickets.ramsheadonstage.com/ordertickets.asp?p=1779&backurl=%2Fdefault%2Easp%3FSearchMonth%3D8%2F28%2F2010%26monthsubmit%3Dx%26SearchText%3D%26Go%2Ex%3D%26Go%2Ey%3D%26pg%3D1%23abc

August 6~Fat Fish Blue, Cleveland, OH, 9:00 p.m.
http://public.eventbooking.com/publicity_display.asp?ReturnTo=public_calendar.asp&pwl=3AE.55C39D50&EventSourceID=40807007&Month=8&Year=2010

August 7~Veterans’ Park, Bay City, MI, 7:00 p.m.
http://www.ticketfusion.com/store/one/index.html?store_id=3173&page_type=sched

August 9~Reggie’s Rock Club, Chicago, IL, 9:00 p.m.
http://www.reggieslive.com/rockclub/index.shtml#x20100809210000

August 10~Sangamon Auditorium, Springfield, IL, 7:30 p.m.
http://www.uis.edu/sangamonauditorium/onstage/TaylorHicks.htm

August 11~Dakota Jazz Club, Minneapolis, MN, 7:00 p.m.
http://sa1.seatadvisor.com/sabo/servlets/TicketRequest;jsessionid=59317AAC37B38F17484A60BB66CE233D?eventId=302125&presenter=DAKOTA&venue=&event=

August 12~The Annex, Madison, WI 8:00 p.m.
http://www.intheannex.com/shows/

August 14~Knuckleheads Saloon, Kansas City, MO , 8:00 p.m.
https://www.etix.com/ticket/servlet/onlineSale?action=selectPerformance&displayType=list&cobrand=knuckleheadskc&performance_id=1288100

August 16~The Grove, Lincoln NE 7:00 p.m.
http://www.grovelincoln.com/

August 19~Mesa Theatre, Grand Junction, CO 8:00 p.m.
http://www.mesatheater.com/events.php?ID=532 Tickets on sale July 23rd.

August 21~Aquarius Pavilion, Laughlin, NV, 8:00 p.m.
http://www.theaquarius.com/ENTERTAINMENT_TaylorHicks.asp

August 22~Anthology Supper Club, San Diego, CA,
http://www.anthologysd.com/index.html

August 24~Downtown Brewing Company, San Luis Obispo, CA 7:00 – Unconfirmed
http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=2639105&REFERRAL_ID=tmfeed&crosssite=TM_US:1092763:337533

August 25~The Rrazz Room at Hotel Nikko, San Francisco, CA, 7:30 p.m.
http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=2489715&REFERRAL_ID=tmfeed&crosssite=TM_US:1092763:341720

August 26~Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino, Coarsegold, CA
http://www.chukchansigold.com/PromotionsEvents/Concerts/ Tickets not yet available.

August 28~ Armed Forces Appreciation Day, American Idols for our American Heroes, “Bull Rigdon” Fairgrounds, Fort Walton, FL
Contact information: 850-244-8191.

September 18~Paramount Theatre, Rutland, VT, 8:00 p.m. – Unconfirmed
http://www.paramountvt.org/shows_details.php?show_id=80

September 26~SOS Children’s Villages Concert w/Matt Cusson, Kimmel Center, Philadelphia, PA, 8:00 p.m.
http://www.kimmelcenter.org/events/index.php?id=3814

October 9 – 10 ~CONFIRMED ~Epcot Center “Eat to the Beat Concert Series, Orlando, FL, 5:15, 6:30, 7:45 p.m.
http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2010/04/eat-to-the-beat-concert-series-lineup-at-epcot-international-food-wine-festival/

Resources and research by Mouser on Connections and Facebook. For more information on the Summer Tour Band visit: http://taylorconnections.com/topic/3552118/1/#new

Taylor Hicks ~~ Happy Touring--then and now!

They all do it…tour.

Taylor Hicks once told an interviewer that all the great bands have toured. It’s connecting with the ones who put you where you are.

According to some industry experts, touring is where it’s at—live music, ticket sales, and merch. Yet, there is a lot of controversy about the workings of the industry and who is at fault when very few artists can sell out arenas or stadiums these days.

This is not about such serious matters.

This is just a little fun comparing and contrasting “then and now”—Taylor’s first solo tour in 2007 and his upcoming tour starting Sunday.

The 2007 Modern Whomp Solo Tour began in Jacksonville, FL on February 24th in the same theatre where Elvis began his first National tour. It was sold out.

Taylor’s last performance in 2007 was in Pearl River, MS, on November 1. “Forever Man” was his encore for that final show.

The Taylor Hicks Summer Tour 2010 begins Sunday in New York City at The Highline Ballroom, an historic live music venue in the trendy meat-packing East Side. And then, he is looking at about five weeks of a rather tight schedule of concerts.

In 2007, he traveled for nine months on a very tight schedule of shows with long stretches without a break.

He was sick. We learned that some of his best performances were when it was well known that he was quite ill. He confided to the audience in Vicksburg, MS, that someone had told him that when he got into the music business, he got into the germ business. Doctors do make bus calls and hotel calls.

Fans worried, but nothing slowed him down as he took his tour to 100 cities from coast to coast.

We wish him good health for the Summer Tour 2010!

Venues in 2007 were an eclectic mix of historic theatres, auditoriums and hip clubs like The
House of Blues. There were many places like the beautiful Alabama Theatre in Birmingham, AL in the 1,000 to 3,000 seat capacity.

Taylor’s 2007 tour was the 27th largest grossing tour of ALL the tours that year—not bad for his first solo outing!

The venues in 2010 are also an eclectic mix of clubs, theatres, casinos, and picturesque live music venues. They are a snapshot of America from the beautiful gardens around Jonathan’s in Ogunquit, ME, to hip urban rock rooms like Reggie’s in Chicago, to the Gold Rush country of the Chukchansi Resort & Casino in Coasegold, CA.

Variety will be rampant in 2010!

The road band in 2007 was a tight group of phenomenal musicians led by Musical Director Loren Gold. They were as good as it gets—then.

What we know about this tour’s band is that some of the members have been with Taylor before. Musical Director and keyboardist, Brian Less was with The Taylor Hicks Band “back when” and traveled with the 2007 tour. The rest of the band is officially a secret until Sunday morning when they perform live from New York for Fox and Friends on FOX News!

Much of the music in 2007 was from Taylor’s first post-Idol album, “Taylor Hicks” which had been certified platinum in January before the opening of the tour. However, he also covered great artists like Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, and The Beatles.

Taylor’s first live concert DVD, “Whomp at the Warfield,” captured the music as he performed at the historic Warfield Theatre in San Francisco during the West Coast leg of the tour. It’s available on Amazon. Eric Clapton’s “Badge” and Taylor’s own song, “The Fall” are opposites on the musical stage. They are worth the price of this DVD.

If Taylor repeats any songs from 2007, may they be “Badge” and “The Fall!”

The music for 2010 is a well kept secret, at least until Sunday when you can bet there will be tweeting from NYC with the setlist! Every concert will be a little different, though. The setlist will be tweaked and a “surprise” here and there is a good bet.

The 2007 merch was varied from t-shirts to coffee mugs to refrigerator magnets. Taylor kidded the audience in Birmingham, “I never thought I’d have my own refrigerator magnet!”

Recently, Taylor tweeted the merch promo: @TaylorRHicks “Tour merch is going to be Great!! Excited for you to see it!”

There was no Twitter on Tour One. Fans stayed connected on fansite message boards and with, what is now, “simple” cellphones.

On Tour Two, fans will be tightly “in tow” with Twitter. Yesterday, Taylor tweeted from the airport, in the “twair,” and last night, a twitpic from the Widespread Panic concert at Radio City Music Hall in NYC. The new smart phone can snap and send my pictures to Twitter easier than I could call my friends in 2007.

It is a new, connected touring world!

Give yourself a summer treat and go to all the shows you can. They will be different. They will be entertaining. During his early times on the “chitlin’ circuit” in the South, for Taylor it was either “entertain or go home.”

He learned well. Taylor Hicks will entertain!

The 2007 Modern Whomp Solo Tour will be hard to surpass. I’m betting on Taylor Hicks to do just that with new music, old passion, and renewed enthusiasm for touring!

On that Opening Night in Jacksonville three years ago, some of us sent a message that included this:

“We celebrate your success tonight! Thank you for remaining true to your dreams and for sharing this amazing journey with the Soul Patrol!

Safe travels.

We have miles to go…”

To Taylor now, Congratulations on another Opening Night—your second in New York City!

Best wishes for a successful, safe and healthy 2010 Tour!

We still have miles to go…

Happy touring, Taylor!!!


For Complete Schedule and more information visit:
http://taylorconnections.com/forum/1573907/

Catch the first “preview” of Summer Tour 2010 with Taylor and the band on Fox and Friends Sunday Morning, at 9:50 a.m. EST.

Photo by san: Taylor in Atlanta, March, 2007.

Taylor Hicks ~~ "Can't it be about the MUSIC"

From Taylor Hicks on twitter this week:

“@TaylorRHicks: This is some serious music!!! Yall ready?”

My forty-something niece follows a band. When they appeared for a major New Year’s event, I decided to watch. There are a lot of good bands out there.

I did like their sound. And then came the pyrotechnics. They lost me. Stage pyrotechnics—not New Year's fireworks. I was gone.

I have quoted music blogger, Bob Lefsetz, often because he expresses many of my feelings about music much better than I can. He is SO much “about the MUSIC.”

I know someone else like that.

From yesterday’s blog about Pink’s Plunge:

“If the music is not enough, we're doomed.

“Music when done right is the hottest medium there is. Nothing can compete, not movies or sculpture or television or Facebook. But you've got to respect it, you've got to own the imperfections and build upon them, not get so much plastic surgery that you look like Jocelyn Wildenstein. Yes, that's what today's records are, plastic confections. Built in studios by Pro Tools experts, you can dance to them, but they've got the nutritional value of a Sprite, sweet and sticky, you might like it going down but then you get sick.

"I'm glad Pink wasn't seriously hurt. But come on. Can't it be about the MUSIC!”

Taylor Hicks is all about the music. The most stage effects you might sometimes see is what is fondly called “quirky dancing.”

His upcoming Summer Tour 2010, opening in New York City at the Highline Ballroom July 25, will be about the MUSIC. There’s an idea for a title:

Taylor Hicks About the Music Tour 2010!

It may not have the same ring as “The Bad Ass Tour”!!! But it IS descriptive of what will happen every time he and his musicians light up the stage in over 20 venues this summer and fall.

And I think that’s pretty “bad ass”!

Yall ready?? Here’s the complete “bad ass” schedule:

July 25~Highline Ballroom, New York City, NY, 8:00 p.m.
July 27~Jonathan’s Ogunquit, Ogunquit, ME, 8:00 p.m.
July 29~The Birchmere, Alexandria, VA, 7:30 p.m.
July 30~Crocodile Rock Café, Allentown, PA, 7:00 p.m.
July 31~Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ, 8:30 p.m.
**August 3~Ram’s Head On Stage, ANNAPOLIS, MD, 8:00 p.m.
August 6~Fat Fish Blue, Cleveland, OH, 9:00 p.m.
August 7~Veterans’ Park, Bay City, MI, 7:00 p.m.
August 9~Reggie’s Rock Club, Chicago, IL, 9:00 p.m.
August 10~Sangamon Auditorium, Springfield, IL, 7:30 p.m.
**August 11~Dakota Jazz Club, Minneapolis, MN, 7:00 p.m.
August 12~The Annex, Madison, WI 8:00 p.m.
August 16~The Grove, Lincoln NE 7:00 p.m.
**August 19~Mesa Theatre, Grand Junction, CO 8:00 p.m.
August 21~Aquarius Pavilion, Laughlin, NV, 8:00 p.m.
**August 22~Anthology Supper Club, San Diego, CA, -Unconfirmed
**August 24~Downtown Brewing Company, San Luis Obispo, CA, 7:00 p.m. -Unconfirmed
August 25~The Rrazz Room at Hotel Nikko, San Francisco, CA, 7:30 p.m.
August 26~Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino, Coarsegold, CA
September 18~Paramount Theatre, Rutland, VT, 8:00 p.m. -Unconfirmed
September 26~SOS Children’s Villages Concert w/Matt Cusson, Kimmel Center, Philadelphia, PA, 8:00 p.m.
**November 6 & 7~Epcot Center “Eat to the Beat Concert Series, Orlando, FL, 5:15, 6:30, 7:45 p.m.

**New and rescheduled shows.
"Unconfirmed" concerts are not posted on taylorhicks.ning.com

@Taylorhicksteam on Twitter Tour Schedule with ticket links:

http://twitpic.com/265f3n

For more tour and venue information:

http://taylorconnections.com/forum/1573907/


Quoted: Bob Lefsetz, “Pink’s Plunge” 7/16/10 http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/

Photo by San: Taylor Hicks and Josh Smith, Biloxi, MS, 2007's "bad ass" tour

Taylor Hicks ~~ Tales of the Tour Bus

Home with the sweet smell of success.

Taylor Hicks tweeted this week:

“Picked out the tour bus today!”

This is the third one.

The first, a shiny burgundy, maroon, and gray Prevost, joined the Modern Whomp Solo Tour in Tennessee, several days after Taylor’s opening night in Jacksonville, Florida, February 21, 2007.

The tour bus is the elusive golden ring.

In his autobiography, “Heart Full of Soul,” Taylor tells about his days with the jam band, Passing Through, and its brief encounter with the country singer, Doug Supernaw, who jumped up on stage to join the young unknowns. Afterwards they were invited onto his tour bus.

“Supernaw invited our band to come have a beer in his giant, gorgeous tour bus. It was bigger than our homes, and nicer too. He then insisted that he wanted to see how we traveled, so we introduced him to the full glory of our little old Chevy conversion van. He stretched out on the tiny back bench and said, ‘You know what—this is nice.’ We said, ‘No, this is a piece of shit. Your tour bus, that’s nice.”

The tour bus is on Taylor’s list of “you know you’re famous if…”

Taylor talked to hometown reporter, Mary Colurso, just days before his 2007 tour rolled into Birmingham, AL:

“Which events, post- "Idol," have been the most memorable and exciting? We asked Hicks to name the top five moments in his “you know you're famous if ...’ category. Here's what he said:

1. "Riding in the tour bus and getting on the Jersey turnpike, with a full moon over New York City. This happened on the "Idol" tour, when it first started coming into New York City. You make a little circle, right under the tunnel, and come out in this brand-new tour bus. And I was in the passenger seat; I wasn't driving. It was one of those moments when you know you've moved on to a different level in your career."

When Taylor returned to the Big Apple in 2007 on his own tour bus for a concert at the Beacon Theatre, he told a writer that they actually stayed on the bus.

“Just like a real rock band.”

Parked just down the street and around the corner from the Alabama Theatre in Birmingham, the beautiful Prevost was a dream come true in Taylor’s home town. Ms. Colruso got a rare tour of his new home and wrote about a stunning interior in burgundy, grays, browns, and immaculate white.

“Cushy, silver-gray tour bus is Taylor-made for Hicks. When Taylor Hicks curls up at night, he's nestled in the middle bunk, driver's side, of a 2007 Prevost XLII.”

Taylor was clear about the kind of tour bus he runs:

“The first thing Hicks wants everyone to know is that he keeps ‘a sane bus.’ Not a crazy bus, with groupies and binges and wild excesses. Eight working musicians abide on the Prevost - that's Hicks and seven band members - as well as tour assistant Bill Williams, a pal of Hicks' from Birmingham.

“Crew members ride on a similar bus, decked out in blue and silver, usually parked right next to Hicks' Prevost. The convoy also includes an 18-wheeler, with a red Peterbilt cab and a white cargo trailer that contains the heavy-duty tour gear.”

But I thought the most stunning part of her interview was not the detailed description of this cushy ride, but Taylor’s reflections on riding next to the driver:

“As Hicks moves through the bus, proudly pointing to its accoutrements, it's easy to see that he regards this upscale vehicle as a status symbol - a sign that he's truly arrived in the music business.

"My favorite seat is the one next to the driver," he says. "I spent my life as a musician driving myself from show to show, dreaming about riding in the front seat of a tour bus. In the middle of the night, I get up and sit here, or I stand here, looking out. It's beautiful at night."

The tour buses were parked next to a plethora of famous, historic, hip, and eclectic venues from coast to coast in 2007. They almost blocked traffic on the narrow streets of the French Quarter in New Orleans conspicuously parked directly in front of the House of Blues. But no place was more symbolic than its stay along side the “exquisite” Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN, March, 2007. There’s a story behind this one. Read Taylor’s autobiography, “Heart Full of Soul,” and this tour stop has a new and deep meaning.

“…I turned off Broadway and walked up the hill to the historic and still exquisite Ryman Auditorium, the mother church of country music and the longtime site of the Grand Old Opry a few blocks away, and then for a long time I walked in circles around the place.”

It was a cold, dark time for the young and struggling Taylor Hicks.

Sweet Karma in Nashville:

The second tour bus in 2007 was Kid Rock’s old tour bus. I recall a comment, something about “the tales it could tell…” It served the last leg of the tour that ended November 1, 2007, at Pearl River in Philadelphia, MS.

Congratulations, Taylor, on Number Three! May there be many more Prevosts in your future.

It’s home and success…

on a bus!

A very luxurious one.



Whatever we call it…

The dates keep coming and more are promised for the Taylor Hicks Summer Tour, 2010. Chicago is SOLD OUT~best buy your tickets now!

July 24~Ram’s Head Live, Baltimore, MD
http://tickets.ramsheadlive.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=281

July 25~Highline Ballroom, New York City, NY, 7:00 p.m.
http://highlineballroom.com/bio.php?id=1568

July 27~Jonathan’s Ogunquit, Ogunquit, ME, 8:00 p.m.
http://tickets.jonathansrestaurant.com/

July 29~The Birchmere, Alexandria, VA, 7:30 p.m.
http://www.ticketmaster.com/search?tm_link=tm_header_search&q=Taylor+Hicks&search.x=27&search.y=14

July 30~Crocodile Rock Café, Allentown, PA
http://www.crocodilerockcafe.com/concerts-all.asp

July 31~Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ, 8:30 p.m.
http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=2497655&pl=

August 6~Fat Fish Blue, Cleveland, OH, 9:00 p.m.
http://public.eventbooking.com/publicity_display.asp?ReturnTo=public_calendar.asp&pwl=3AE.55C39D50&EventSourceID=40807007&Month=8&Year=2010

August 7~Veterans’ Park, Bay City, MI, 7:11 p.m.
http://www.ticketfusion.com/store/one/index.html?store_id=3173&page_type=sched

August 9~Reggie’s Rock Club, Chicago, IL, 9:00 p.m. SOLD OUT
http://www.reggieslive.com/rockclub/index.shtml#x20100809210000

August 10~Sangamon Auditorium, Springfield, IL, 7:30 p.m.
http://www.uis.edu/sangamonauditorium/onstage/TaylorHicks.htm

August 12~The Annex, Madison, WI
http://www.intheannex.com/shows/

August 16~The Grove, Lincoln, Nebraska

http://www.grovelincoln.com/

August 21~Aquarius Pavilion, Laughlin, NV, 8:00 p.m.
http://www.theaquarius.com/ENTERTAINMENT_TaylorHicks.asp

August 25~The Rrazz Room at Hotel Nikko, San Francisco, CA, 7:30 p.m.
http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=2489715&REFERRAL_ID=tmfeed&crosssite=TM_US:1092763:341720

September 18~Paramount Theatre, Rutland, VT, 8:00 p.m.
http://www.paramountvt.org/shows_details.php?show_id=80

September 26~SOS Children’s Villages Concert w/Matt Cusson, Kimmel Center, Philadelphia, PA, 8:00 p.m.
http://www.kimmelcenter.org/events/index.php?id=3814

October 9 & 10~Epcot Center “Eat to the Beat Concert Series, Orlando, FL, 5:15, 6:30, 7:45 p.m.
http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2010/04/eat-to-the-beat-concert-series-lineup-at-epcot-international-food-wine-festival/

For compete information about each show and venue, visit our concert forum:

http://taylorconnections.com/forum/1573907/

Blog Sources:
“Heart Full of Soul” by Taylor Hicks, Random House; purchase on Amazon the rest of the story:
http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Full-Soul-Inspirational-Finding/dp/0307382435/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278778891&sr=1-1

The Birmingham News, Date Published: March 09, 2007 “Taylor looks back” By Mary Colurso

The Birmingham News, Date Published: March 10, 2007 “Cushy, silver-gray tour bus is Taylor-made for Hicks” By Mary Colurso

Photo by san: Taylor's tour bus next to the Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, 3.8.07.

Taylor Hicks ~~ SOS ("Save My Body, Save My Soul")

Taylor Hicks sings for the children in this release out today on iTunes and Amazon.

He performs the emotional SOS ("Save My Body, Save My Soul”), composed by Genevieve Rose for SOS Children’s Villages whose mission is to support homeless and abandoned children.

The passion and urgency of the message is unmistakable in his voice.

“SOS save my body, save my soul,
SOS I have no where I can go”

Taylor gives a soulful voice to the mission of the global organization with over 2,000 facilities benefiting over 1 million people.

“We build families for children in need, we help them shape their own futures and we share in the development of their communities.”

Taylor will also perform for the Around the World Kickoff Concert for SOS Childrens’ Villages, along with Matt Cusson September 26, at Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia, PA.

“SOS Children's Villages was founded in 1949 to provide families and homes for orphaned and abandoned children. There are over 456 villages in 132 countries around the world. Please join us as we travel Around the World to raise funds for this important mission with a concert featuring Taylor Hicks and Matt Cusson.”

http://www.kimmelcenter.org/events/?id=3814%22target=%22#B1AFC7.

Early on, Taylor challenged us when he said, “Together, we can make a difference.”

He’s keeping his part of the challenge.

Purchase SOS ("Save My Body, Save My Soul”) at iTunes or Amazon…

http://www.amazon.com/Save-My-Body-Soul/dp/B003UQIDV4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1278248278&sr=8-1

Attend SOS Children’s Villages concerts…

Spread the message.

Together, we DO make a difference.



@TaylorRHicks on Twitter today: “Glad everyone likes The SOS song!..What a great organization!”

SOS Children’s Villages: http://www.sos-childrensvillages.org/Pages/default.aspx

Taylor Hicks ~ Be the change you wish to see...

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Mahatma Gandhi

Genevieve Rose and Taylor Hicks are doing just that.

It’s a narrative that you are compelled to reread. Genevieve Rose had fallen on hard times. During that time she discovered others who were worse off—the children. When she had the wherewithal, she decided to change things.

She found SOS Children’s Villages.

I don’t want to tell you her whole story. I want you to read it, if you haven't. I will tell you that she wrote a song and was looking for a singer who had heart and soul.

She found Taylor Hicks.

Together, they are teaming up to make a difference to children around the world! Taylor had previously announced that he would be doing a benefit concert for the Kickoff of the Worldwide campaign for SOS Children’s Villages. He first appeared on Mother’s Day along side Angelina Jolie as a spokesperson for the worldwide children’s organization. Originally scheduled for June in Philadelphia at the Kimmel Center, it was rescheduled for September 26, 2010.

We were delighted to read Ms. Rose’s story of their mutual efforts to change the world of homeless and abandoned children through music.

This is about a song, the children, and a hot air balloon.

Yes, a hot air balloon. You might see Taylor Hicks in one.

If you thought Taylor would slow down after “Grease” to settle somewhere and write and record music, he says he will. That’s just not all the story. He obviously has plans to use the name and fame for good. He has said so many times, “I am blessed.” Now, around the world, he will be sharing his blessings, talent, and compassion for others.

“Be the change….”

Genevieve and Taylor are splendid examples of what Gandhi had in mind. And it doesn’t have to be on a world stage. The change can be in our own backyard—our own little world. Change starts in the heart and soul.

Our inspiration is right in front of us.

Taylor is about more than the music.

Although, the music is pretty good too!

Please read Genevieve’s story and Taylor’s plans for helping the children.

Attend these concerts wherever in the world you are.

“Additional concerts are being planned to benefit SOS Children’s Villages organization, beginning with The South Rocks for SOS in Birmingham, AL, in September.

“Taylor has just been so generous, donating his time and talent like this,” Rose says.

“Singing for the Children”
Brenda Lange is an independent writer and editor (www.brendalange.com)

http://www.buckslivingmag.com/2010/06/singing-for-the-children/

Around the World Kickoff Concert for SOS Children’s Villages
Saturday, September 26 at 8pm Kimmel Center, Philadelphia, PA
Taylor Hicks and Matt Cusson
Tickets can be purchased online at www.kimmelcenter.org or by calling Ticket Philadelphia at (215) 893-1999 or in person at the Kimmel Center Box Office, 300 South Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19102.

Be part of the change… “Save My Body, Save My Soul” reportedly will be out on iTunes soon.

Buy it for the children!

~~

Have a safe and happy Fourth of July Weekend!

Count your blessings!

Fly the flag!

Photo credit: Taylor Hicks on FaceBook--PSA shoot for AL tourism on the Gulf Coast