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STAIND FRONTMAN MAKES OWN MARK Aaron Lewis brings classic country sound to Harrah’s in Pa.
Aaron Lewis always has separated his life with Staind from his life as a solo artist. In the band, he’s the frontman of a rock group. Solo, he’s country. It’s solo time again and unlike his last such tour, he comes to Harrah’s Philadelphia Saturday night with a band behind him, not just lugging his acoustic guitar. “Now that I have a record out and a second about to be delivered, it’s time to start playing the way they sound on the record,” he said in a phone interview. “I always felt odd having a record out and never playing the way they sounded.” The acoustic route came long before Lewis recorded any of these songs. He added other instruments little by little, including a Dobro, a pedal steel guitar, designed to enhance the country flavor. The upcoming album leans more to traditional country than the previous one, Lewis said. Think George Jones country. “My inspiration is not new country. It’s Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash, stuff my grandfather listened to. That is the country soaked into my whole being. It’s intertwined into all my childhood memories,” he said. In addition to original music, fans can look for two country covers over a 90-minute show. In 2011, Lewis released “Town Line,” a country EP. Lewis will release his first full solo album, “The Road,” in September. Its debut single, “Endless Summer,” has made the country charts. When you front a popular rock group, it’s difficult to change directions as a solo artist, especially in another genre, Lewis said. But he’s adamant about this element of his career. “I leave so many songs on the table that people really want to hear,” he said. “I’m choosing not to play them in fa-
Aaron Lewis will play songs from his first full solo album, ‘The Road,’ at his Harrah’s Philadelphia show on Saturday. PHOTO PROVIDED vor of the new country stuff. I’m committed to country. It’s tough if you don’t want to hear the new material.” In a 15-year career, Lewis has enjoyed Top 10 and No. 1 hits. “I can play an entire set of big radio songs and get a huge response, but it’s not serving the purpose of what it is I do now,” he said. “I want to break into and be embraced by the country genre.” The response has been great so far. “We play huge country festivals outside, and it’s crazy when I play them,” he
said. “It’s a natural crossover without me even knowing it.” He hopes the country music establishment accepts him as one of its own. “I want to get the industry to dismiss thoughts to whether I’m committed to country or just dipping my toes in the water to see how cold it is. I try not to care, but I do. I want to get recognized,” he said. To those fans who don’t want Aaron Lewis, country star, fear not. “I will be back with an acoustic and with Staind. Those two facets aren’t going anywhere.”
IF YOU GO Aaron Lewis plays Saturday night at Harrah’s Event Center, 777 Harrah’s Blvd., in Chester, Pa. Show time is 9 p.m. Tickets are $39 to $59, and can be purchased at the box office or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com or calling (800) 745-3000.
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