+LIVE+ hits SA for reunion tour
IT WAS great for The Police. Even The Spice Girls listened to what their fans want, what they really really want. Even if it was shortlived. However, the +LIVE+ Reunion Tour might just be the most exciting reunion in modern music history.
The +LIVE+ Reunion Tour has two stops over three nights in South Africa.
On November 7, the tour stops at the Grand West Casino in Cape Town, before heading to the Sun Arena, Time Square, Menlyn Maine in Pretoria on November 10 and 11.
The Sweet Resistance, a band from the Mother City, will be the opening act.
This tour is a big deal in rock circles, because it means the impossible has now become possible. When some of the most beloved bands in the world call it quits, it breaks the hearts of fans.
When vocalist and guitarist Ed Kowalczyk toured South Africa as a hugely successful solo act a couple of years ago, it was clear that people loved him. But they also had questions about when he would reunite with his brothers in music.
For this worldwide reunion tour, Kowalczyk is joined by the original +LIVE+ band members: Chad Taylor (guitar, backing vocals), Patrick Dahlheimer(bass) and Chad Gracey (drums, percussion).
This reunion is particularly significant this year, because 2017 is the 25th anniversary of their prolific debut album, Mental Jewelry.
Of course, people will be looking forward to cuts from the seminal Throwing Copper album in the performance but the sheer fact that the first Pretoria show was sold out so quickly and they had to add another date for Pretoria proves that there is a strong following that is eager to see the boys bounce back.
In a Question and Answer, published exclusively by Tonight last year, +LIVE+ explained what it felt like to be back together again.
Ed Kowalczyk said: “After a pretty long break, it was exciting to find that we all felt, in a sense, like we were starting over again ... albeit with this amazing foundation and fanbase all over the world that we have established.
“You could say we took the long road home, but it feels good to be back.”
To that, Chad Taylor added: “Ed, Chad, Patrick and I are no different than your average family. We might get divided or argue fiercely, but thankfully, time and the grand gesture of forgiveness helps to heal old wounds.
“We’ve worked hard to restore the tenets of faith and trust that bonded us in the beginning. It’s doesn’t hurt that our fans offered so much encouragement!”
Patrick Dahlheimer also said: “+LIVE+ needs no better reason to reform than to spread some light in this time of confusion and unease.”
Finally, Chad Gracey said: “One word: ‘friendship’.
“We lost our way with that a bit but are now back to being friends and respect each other again. That’s what counts.” – Tonight Reporter
Be at the +LIVE+ Reunion Tour in Cape Town on November 7 and Pretoria on November 10 and 11. Tickets at Computicket.