Saturday, Aug. 27 at 8 p.m.—RUTLAND—Academy of Country Music nominee Aaron Lewis will appear at the Paramount Theatre in Rutland on Saturday, Aug. 27 at 8 p.m. Appearing as frontman with the group Staind, he made an indelible mark on hard rock. The group has sold 13 million albums worldwide, yielding four consecutive Top 3 debuts on the Billboard Top 200 as well as numerous radio hits. Their single “It’s Been Awhile” also remains the most-played rock song of the decade. His first full-length album, “The Road,” is bringing him back to the first style of music he’d heard: country.
People magazine’s Chuck Arnold said, “He proves to be a natural on nostalgic ballads like ‘The Story Never Ends’,” while the Associated Press’ Michael McCall wrote, “He injects a flavor of his own into a polished, commercial country sound in a way that could win over country fans who’ve never heard of Staind.”
The Grammy Award-nominated, multi-platinum singer, songwriter, and guitarist tells one story after another. Echoing traditional country, some of those tales are hilarious and heartwarming, while others are pensive and personal. Nevertheless, they’re all equally powerful, vibrant, and unforgettable.
Lewis began working on what would become “The Road” in the fall of 2011. The album’s 10 songs unfold with a classic grit and an invigorating energy all directly from Lewis’s heart and soul. The first single, “Endless Summer,” recalls an idyllic day in the sun with his daughters. A bluesy guitar twang bends into a shimmering refrain about “another day in paradise” that’s both infectious and inimitable.
Then there’s “Forever,” a true product of “The Road” itself. It captures the longing and loneliness of life on the tour bus, while reflecting on the immortality of true love. “Doubt can set in on the road,” he reveals. “Conversations from home aren’t always warm and fuzzy. However, things change when you get back.”
On the other end of the spectrum, his sense of humor shines through on the propulsive highway anthem “State Lines” and swaggering old school good-time of “Party in Hell.” Lewis personally penned all of the songs on The Road but “Grandaddy’s Gun.”
In many ways, “The Road” brings things full circle for Lewis. Now, he’s carrying on a tradition of storytelling and songwriting himself. “I’m really hoping the songs speak for themselves,” he concluded.
Tickets are $46. Call 802-775-0903 or Visit paramountvt.org.
Photo Courtesy of Paramount Theatre
AARON LEWIS