Preview: NEEDTOBREATHE
Marymoor Park, Redmond, WA
09.01.16
Closing out the 2016 Marymoor Park Concert series is the Tour De Compadres, featuring NEEDTOBREATHE and Mat Kearney. NEEDTOBREATHE have been a constant force in the pop/rock scene since arriving on the scene in 2005. Five full-length studio albums and multiple headlining tours have yielded them immense cross-genre success.
Comprised of brothers Bo and Bear Rinehart, Seth Bolt, and Josh Lovelace, NEEDTOBREATHE is known for passionate live performances that evoke their deep faith and southern rock roots. Over time, their sound has evolved to include more modern sonic themes, including synthesizers, electronic beats, and computerized modulations. In support of their sixth studio album, Hard Love, the guys from Seneca, SC will bring their boundless energy, hard driving arrangements, and unmistakable energy to Marymoor Park where the crowd will surely stay on their feet.
I had the pleasure of speaking with Josh Lovelace, keyboardist for NEEDTOBREATHE. However, due to the harsh reality and unexpected pitfalls of technology, my interview was eaten by my computer. But never fear, I remembered the highlights. At the beginning of the conversation, he was waking up in Missoula, MT getting ready for a day that would culminate with a performance at baseball stadium. “I may try and hit a few out of the park,” he said, when I asked him what he would do to get ready for the show. One of the deeper topics we discussed was the advice he would give to other musicians that have faith as one of their themes and also want the cross-over success of his band; honesty was his answer. Keeping true to themselves, keeping their nose down, doing the work, and producing music they are proud of is the key. Lovelace acknowledged that their sound has always been a product of the moment and that, even though the sound changes, the heart of the music doesn’t. In that regard, I agreed. As always, we asked the desert island question: choose one album, book, and movie to save if he were stranded in the middle of the sea. Lovelace would keep any Pete Seeger album, Waiting For Guffman (Movie), and Walden (Book).
Mat Kearney’s laid back pop/rock has loomed over the music scene since he broke out with “Nothing Left To Lose.” His music gradually evolved from simple contemporary acoustic rock to mixing electronic beats and hip-hop into some of his offerings. Kearney’s songs have been featured in many popular TV shows over the years, so if you have been a fan of any relatively successful sit-com or drama, you know Kearney’s voice.
Rounding out the crew of compadres are Christian singer/songwriter John Mark McMillan and Midwestern blues/rock ensemble Welshly Arms.
Tickets are available for the last Marymoor Concert here.
Preview by Phillip Johnson
