Taylor Hicks ~~ Biography: The Journey, Touring in the Blood

After closing night in Cleveland, Hicks went back to what he had done for a long time—touring and performing with a full band. He put together what he dubbed a “kick ass” band and took off on a "Kick Ass" Summer Tour in 2010, which kicked off July 25th with a sold out opening at the Highline Ballroom on New York City’s trendy Westside. On his third tour bus, Hicks and a band from down home played in over 25 cities from New England to California to Florida for the next three months. He hand delivered more copies of The Distance, signing the album and posing for pictures with fans waiting in long lines after each concert.

Hicks proved his talent once again for putting together top musicians who meld to give an energetic and eclectic performance: Brandon Peeples on bass guitar, Leif Bondarenko, on drums, Jeff Lopez on saxophone, Sam Gunderson on guitar, Matt Kimbrel on percussions, and Brian Less, longtime band mate and his Musical Director, on keyboards. The 2010 band has continued to appear with Hicks into 2011 except for Matt Kimbrell, whose untimely death shortly after the Epcot Center shows in October, 2010, shocked and saddened Hicks and his fellow band mates.

August, 2010, brought a special solo appearance by Hicks to honor movie legend, Clint Eastwood, at the Museum of Tolerance International Film Festival in Los Angeles. At the request made personally by Mr. Eastwood, Hicks performed “Gran Torino,” the title song from the classic 1970’s film that Eastwood produced and starred in set in a troubled Detroit. Before a house of film dignitaries, Hicks performed the song that Eastwood also wrote. The performance has only been seen outside the event in a snippet of one of his "Riding Shotgun with Taylor Hicks" episodes.

Jam Cruise 9, a floating musical extravaganza with jamband artists extraordinaire, rang in 2011. Hicks sat in with and received high acclaim for his performances on vocals and the harmonica with Galactic, Robert Randolph, Funky Big Sam, Mardi Gras Band, Anders Osborne, and many others. He also hosted the Jam Cruise version of The Gong Show. It was not his first foray into the jamband scene. He had sailed years before as a guest and young musician schooled in the music that celebrates funk and improvisation. He had headed a jamband cover band in college.

The musician/actor also ventured into TV appearing last fall on "Don’t Forget the Lyrics," and related his own haunting tale on "Celebrity Ghost Stories" on Biography Channel. Most recently, power sliding onto the stage, he made a surprise appearance on NBC’s Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, singing a musical parody with Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon and the legendary Roots of young Rebecca Black’s "Friday." It was an instant internet sensation going viral and global, scoring almost a million and a half views on YouTube in a few hours after the show. Most frequently described as "EPIC" and "hilarious," it was touted as the new classic Friday/weekend/partyin’ song. It continues to grow global popularity as a viral phenomenon on internet sites.

Hicks added "restaurateur" to his plate in 2011 opening Ore Bar and Grill, a neighborhood restaurant in the Crestline area of Birmingham. He and investors purchased The Open Door, an historic place where he appeared as a young musician. Ore is named after Birmingham’s past strongly connected to iron ore.

The songwriter and platinum recording artist has headed back to the recording studio with an undisclosed producer for a new album expected out in late fall, 2011. He has described it as "country soul."

"I came from the roadhouse...that’s the kind of feeling I’m giving to my next album."

Hicks continues to tour with concerts and charity appearances scheduled from New England to the Northwest. Touring, song writing and recording remain the roots and core of this American Idol, Broadway star, platinum recording artist, songwriter, restaurateur, and working musician.

He sums it up colloquially in his Twitter profile as:

"Ice Cream Pimp-Artist-Hippie-Author-Restaurateur-Genuine Smart Ass"

And tweets, again colloquially, about his life after filming the Fallon "Friday" experience:

"The shit that I enjoy doing everyday. Wow...what a life. Thanks everyone."

~~

Tomorrow: The final chapter: “Leave Me With the Music.” The final word is always about the music…and a photo finish that says it all.

Taylor Hicks~~Biography: The Journey, The Distance

Before closing on Broadway in “Grease,” Taylor Hicks announced a cutting edge deal where he would join the Broadway Across America National Tour of “Grease” continuing the signature role of Teen Angel. He would also perform a song from his album at the end of the stage show. “Grease,” with Hicks performing “Beauty School Dropout” in the show-stopping cameo appearance, opened in Providence, RI on December 2, 2008, for an 18-month swing around the country.

In the recording studio of renowned producer, Simon Climie, in France, the final production was completed on Hicks’ third post-Idol album. The Distance was released on his own recording label, Modern Whomp Records, March 10, 2009, as Hicks toured the West Coast in “Grease.” Again, Hicks had put together an outstanding group of musicians including Paul McCartney’s drummer, Abe Laborial, Jr., Eric Clapton’s bass man, Nathan East, and Grammy nominated guitarist, Doyle Bramhill, bringing a swamp rock sound.

The Distance captured an eclectic mix of soul, pop, and country rock. The first single released in January, 2009, “What’s Right if Right,” was a soulful jazz sound and lyrics vowing lasting love. In his first music video, Hicks walked the snowy streets of Chicago stopping in a retro fitted diner to sing “What’s Right is Right” in the slick, iconic film produced by highly acclaimed New York videographer, Jake Davis.

The second release from The Distance, “Seven Mile Breakdown,” infused delta blues vibes with country overlay that rocked with undeniable Southern roots. Oregon filmmaker, Spence Nicholson, produced the music video in which Hicks jumped into the sporty classic red and white Steinray convertible and cruised the California hills for a raucous “Seven Mile Breakdown.” It took the music video charts by storm at AOL and MuVids and stayed on top for months.

“Seven Mile Breakdown” brought an invitation back to the American Idol stage in 2010 where Hicks brought a new Idol persona with swagger, guitar, and harmonica in hand. A show-stopping performance brought a standing ovation from a new Idol audience and all the judges, including the reluctant, Simon Cowell. Hicks acknowledged the standing Cowell with a broad smile and commented to Ryan Seacrest after the bow:

“Look…the standing O.”

Hicks continued the national tour with “Grease” including a show in Ottawa, Canada, where Prime Minister Steven Harper and his young daughter attended the show and met with the Teen Angel afterwards. The tour also stopped in Washington, D.C. at the historic National Theatre just down the street from the White House. Hicks and entourage of friends and “Grease” cast mates made a Sunday morning tour of the Nation’s House as the city was blanketed in one of the worst snow storms of the century.

Besides playing Teen Angel and singing an encore on the “Grease” stage, Hicks brought The Distance music to his own after-show Shadow Concerts in many cities. He introduced a well-received acoustic concert at High Noon Tavern in Madison, Wisconsin, in December, 2009. His music stood the test of bare bones, stripped away production in the “unplugged” tradition. Acoustic performances, which previously were mostly limited to the encore, became a well-attended concert experience.

The “Grease” tour traveled to almost 50 cities for almost 500 shows in its 18 months on the road. Hicks became the face of “Grease” meeting with local media and promoting Broadway theatre as the “road show” played to many sold out houses in an uncertain economy. Hicks also “hand delivered” copies of The Distance after every show signing the album and posing with theatre goers for pictures. His take on his Broadway theatre experience always started with,

“Never in a million years…”

The “Grease” tour ended in Cleveland, OH in May, 2010, only weeks before the June debut two years before when he had first stepped onto the Broadway stage as the harp wielding Teen Angel wearing rhinestones. He was credited in an article by the New York Post with a significant impact on the box office—a $150,000 increase a week in the house receipts while appearing in the Tony nominated musical at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on Broadway.

“Hello…is this thing on?”

During his run with "Grease" Hicks embraced new social media outlets joining the Twitter community and chatting with fans live on UStream. He continues to interact with fans, other musicians and players in the business on twitter @TaylorRHicks and other social media sites at Facebook and MySpace. His own interactive website at http://www.taylorhicks.com/ offers all the latest on appearances and happenings.

“Riding Shotgun with Taylor Hicks”—Taylor Hicks TV on YouTube connected with followers for a glimpse behind the scenes shot by an unknown “sidekick” of the travels and offstage life of this working musician who frequently tweets: “In the twair.” The weekly episodes continue to engage followers in the ride-along adventures.

Hicks has always been involved in the community and stepped up in 2010 for his home state when the catastrophic Gulf Coast oil spill threatened to destroy Alabama’s tourism industry. He offered immediately to do whatever he could to help alleviate the impact of the disaster on his state and the Gulf Coast. He filmed a PSA for the Alabama Department of Tourism and appeared in a free concert at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum for Gulf Coast aid and awareness. He spoke out on MSNBC with Chris Jensen and wrote on Larry King’s Blog calling for continued media coverage until a resolution was reached. With family living there and playing gigs along the Coast, Hicks called this a cause "close to my heart."

Giving back to the community has always been on Hicks’ radar. In 2010 alone, he performed ten concerts for good causes. They included performances for Children’s Cancer Research Foundation in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Dream Foundation Gala in Laguna Nigel, CA, for charities such as Wounded Warriors and the Susan G. Komen Foundation. More recently, in April, 2011, he appeared in San Marcos, TX, for the Ride2Recovery event for recovering soldiers.

Hicks has long honored and recognized the country's service men and women beginning at his debut American Idol appearance at Salt Lake City in 2006 dedicating "Do I Make You Proud" to the troops. He continued that in The Distance album when he recorded “19,” the story of a fallen American hero. It is always on his concert setlist and he thanks the troops for what they do and suggests that everyone thank our brave military men and women whenever they see them. It is an emotional touchstone of every concert and always receives a standing ovation.

Tomorrow: “Taylor Hicks ~ Biography: The Journey -Touring in the Blood” Touring, jamming, and powersliding!

Taylor Hicks ~~ "I Live on a Battlefield"

Talk about a dark horse coming on strong!

The visual imagery conjured up by the lyrics of “I Live on a Battlefield” is stunning. But this track from The Distance, by Taylor Hicks, was not a first favorite.

On first listen, “I Live on a Battlefield” has a dark, morose feel from the first dreary drum rolls. Notes are bent all out of shape with “waaaaaahs” from nowhere. It’s a fierce lament of doom, desolation, and devastation…a scene of a vast field strewn with junk…a battlefield with sharp, jagged pieces of bygone love. It’s not the usual image of lost love in musical poetry. It is a dark scene.

“My new home is a shattered field…with tears and muddy waters and yes and bits of a broken heart…all around there is desolation, scenes of a devastation of a love been torn apart…

“I live on a battlefield, waaaaaaaaah…live on a battlefield, waaaaaahh.”

The mental pictures of this piece were so striking that they obscured the musical nuances. Like a shadowy dream you can barely remember but can’t put out of your mind, my first impression of this song was all a blur—a field strewn with debris not distinguishable, but sharp, jagged, and hurtful. I couldn’t get beyond it.

Then I saw Taylor Hicks perform the song and started listening to the sounds and not just the lyrics. The music began to grow on me. Taylor does amazing things with his voice—screams and cries, bending notes that tear through the darkness.

Suddenly, this was the song playing over and over in my head!

“I Live on a Battlefield” is a sensory experience. There is a building rhythm and intensity. After lyrics paint the painful images of destroyed love, suddenly the music takes over and takes off with guns blazing. An angry guitar sends pieces of broken heart flying and a pounding piano beat breaks through the smoke and rubble and you feel things coming together. The music fights back—a rocking band in the middle of the battlefield damning the doom. And if the hearts don’t mend, you forget to care. It is rabid revenge in a war of love.

What is touted as the traditional blues song on the album is what sounds like blues lyrics wrapped up in bent out of shape rock vibes! “Battlefield” struggles from cries of devastation to pounding rhythms and sounds that hang together, even if the hearts don’t!

“I Live on a Battlefield” is a dark delight that wends its way into the mind. It is not a song of the heart but of the senses. The sensual assault of the music and Taylor’s powerful vocals bring this song off a dark battlefield and onto a favorites’ playlist!

If you don’t like “I Live on a Battlefield,” give it a few more turns. Taylor Hicks knew what he was doing with this one.

This dark horse is on the track to stay!

“I Live on a Battlefield” is from Taylor’s album, The Distance, out now on Modern Whomp Records.

The music video for the current single release, “Seven Mile Breakdown,” from The Distance is No. 1 on AOL's “Most Viewed” music video list!

Click on our widget above to watch “Seven Mile Breakdown” on AOL.

Photo courtesy of Gabe Ulloa and Spence Nicholson Productions