Rock band Sister Hazel having fun with success in nation circles - Gainesville sun

published: Saturday, April 30, 2016 at 6:36 p.m. remaining Modified: Saturday, April 30, 2016 at 6:36 p.m.

here's a 20-plus-yr-ancient rock band regular for its Southern rock harmonies and eager pop sensibilities. The platinum-promoting neighborhood is aware of what the correct of a pop chart looks like, and rock lovers comply with them from gig to gig.

but on Saturday evening, moments earlier than the curtain opened, a few of these loyal fanatics — known as Hazelnuts — had been worried. There become lots chatter. Had their liked rock band basically long past nation?

inside minutes, these concerned about a rustic-fried Hazel were passionately singing along to the more moderen material from "Lighter in the dark," a CD that has been making waves in nation circles however, honestly, still appears like Sister Hazel.

during some of the more country-leaning songs, longtime fanatics waved their palms, sang the new choruses and, well, spilled beer. the brand new cloth become now not "too nation" for Hazelnuts to swallow.

"I believe that it had a rustic think to it from time to time, but i used to be capable of definitely get pleasure from it because it changed into nevertheless the same Sister Hazel," mentioned Ocala Hazelnut Melissa Hager at the reveal. "It had the same first-rate harmonies, excellent lyrics and the equal signature sound that we have come to like."

Therein lies Sister Hazel's recipe for durability. The band has no longer had a monster hit when you consider that 1997's "involved in You." however the identical lineup has persevered to pack venues and even cruise ships. They are no longer on a huge label, however their impartial studio albums earn colossal numbers on online charts.

They appeared on NBC's "nowadays" demonstrate in February. recently, "serious about You" turned into listed at No. 9 on Billboard's foremost of All Time grownup Pop Songs. The band also become named one of the proper one hundred Most Influential impartial Performers of the final 15 years by way of Performing Songwriter journal.

"Lighter at the hours of darkness," although, has been somewhat of a online game changer. released in February, the disc debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard suitable country Album charts. It also reached No. 3 on the Billboard folk Album charts and No. 12 on the Billboard accurate Rock Albums charts.

The band found a cushty landing vicinity within the fingers of the nation market, nevertheless it has no longer made a linear shift into nation track, referred to lead singer, Gainesville resident and soccer dad Ken Block.

"in case you seem lower back at our historical statistics, we definitely had loads of huge harmonies, we advised studies and we used distinct instrumentation," he pointed out. "all over our career, there were at all times color instruments on our information, together with acoustic guitars, electric powered guitars, slide guitars and banjos."

Block spoke about the "inventive democracy" they applied to writing songs for this album; it allowed for each member to put their personal unique handprint on each and every track.

"There are a few first-time pursuits on this list, including (guitarist) Ryan Newell and (bassist) Jett Beres singing lead on a couple of distinctive songs. it's new for us," introduced Drew Copeland, rhythm guitarist, singer and fellow Gainesville dad.

The track "Karaoke track" aspects guest vocalist Darius Rucker, an old pal and lead singer for Hootie & the Blowfish who found considerable success as a solo nation artist. And while the music puts a bit of saloon in Sister Hazel, it is not new to Hazelnuts.

counting on your standpoint, there are many pop/rock aspects on this nation album or many country aspects during this pop/rock album.

"I even have at all times had crisis when people inquire from me concerning the category of track that we play as a result of there's a little rock in there, a little Southern rock, a little nation and a few folks and pop elements as well," Block observed. "We've all the time just referred to as it Florida song, with influences from all of the artists that we grew up taking note of."

indeed, tune crosses many bridges, which changed into much more evident Saturday when streams of purple easy began to light up the stage. The band then performed a stirring rendition of "purple Rain" in an emotional tribute to the late Prince. the crowd went loopy and even served as backup singers, handiest pausing to soak up Dave LaGrande's electrifying tenor sax solo and to look if Ryan Newell's fingers would capture hearth all through his sizzling performance on electric guitar.

To be sure, a large a part of Sister Hazel's success is their relationship with the lovers. they are interactive on and off stage and understand many, if now not most, of the Hazelnuts by way of name.

"They join with everyone, but it is for the betterment of their enthusiasts," spoke of Gainesville Hazelnut Stefanie Hamblen. "They in fact inspire people to now not only participate in issues in an effort to assist their community but they desire us all to work on ourselves, to become a better grownup."

Named for Gainesville's Hazel Williams, an recommend for the terrible and hungry, Sister Hazel also is mission minded. They helped sponsor a terrible village in Honduras, as an instance, and proceed to lift funds to assist melanoma patients with Lyrics for life events.

"We just have a deep appreciation for everything that Gainesville has executed for us, and how it has shaped us as artists, parents and, with a bit of luck, as group-minded ambassadors for this enviornment," Block noted.

And whereas the band's new video for "That type of fascinating" is now making the rounds on CMT, individuals are seeing that a further Gainesville concert within the next few months.

"You just by no means be aware of when we're going to show up," Copeland spoke of.