On the heels of a successful 2016 tour to celebrate their classic Circle Slide album, Grammy® nominated and Dove Award winning alternative music legends The Choir will usher in 2017 with another album-honoring tour. The focus of the band’s attention this time will be performing their best-selling 1989 release, Wide Eyed Wonder, in its entirety, alongside other favorite songs, both new and old, from the band. The album will also see a re-mastered reissue of the project on vinyl and CD. And, in what may seem like a dream to longtime fans, Wide Eyed Wonder’s bass player, Robin Spurs, will reunite with the band for the tour.
Says the band’s Steve Hindalong, “It was a special season when we recorded Wide Eyed Wonder. My daughter Emily was born prior to the recording and she just turned 28, so I know exactly how long ago it was! And it was the Robin Spurs era. She brought an energy that was wonderful and spirited. It’s gonna be so fun to rekindle our friendship and chemistry out on the ol’ road. Feels like a fine time to rewind the clock to 1989.”
“Wow. What a unique opportunity to be able to revisit an era that was a true gift,” Spurs weighed in. “The Choir is one of those rare, favorite bands that I was blessed to be a part of, even if for just 2½ years. I am humbled and honored to be invited to join Steve, Derri, and Dan on the road once again for the upcoming Wide Eyed Wonder Tour…part deux!”
Wide Eyed Wonder is often cited as the most commercial album of the band’s career, while still maintaining their signature sonic experimentation. Songs such as “Someone To Hold On To”, “To Cover You” and “When She Sees Me” showcased the band’s more straightforward rock writing, while “Robin Had A Dream” and “Car, Etc.” continued to showcase the band’s penchant for experimental composition. The title track, “Wide Eyed Wonder” and “To Bid Farewell,” showcase a more sentimental side, albeit grounded in the band’s trademark lyrical honesty.
Band member Dan Michaels adds, “The Choir continues to move forward through creating new music and releasing indie albums. But we recognize the indelible mark that our classic albums like Circle Slide, Chase The Kangaroo and Wide Eyed Wonder placed upon the hearts of individuals. I’m excited about the future and proud to celebrate the past in this fashion.”
On January 31, The Choir launched a new PledgeMusic campaign to fan-fund a new studio album plus a re-mastering and re-issuing of Wide Eyed Wonder on vinyl and CD. Fans can currently pre-order the albums in digital, CD, and vinyl format on The Choir’s campaign page. The leaders in direct-to-fan platforms, PledgeMusic allows artists to get more personal with their fans, offering pledgers updates straight from the band and items not available anywhere else.
Pledgers who pre-order the album will receive the AccessPass which will give them early access to a digital download of the full album; plus exclusive updates, behind-the-scenes content, and sneak peeks into the recording process available only through PledgeMusic. Fans will also be able to pledge on special merchandise and one-of-a-kind experiences. These include the opportunity to play on the band’s new studio album, acoustic personalized videos, signed acoustic guitars with hand-written lyrics, and others.
More information on the campaign is at pledgemusic.com/thechoir.
ABOUT THE CHOIR
The Choir is a Los Angeles and Nashville-based alternative rock band consisting of lead singer/guitarist Derri Daugherty, drummer/lyricist Steve Hindalong, sax & lyricon player Dan Michaels, and bassist Tim Chandler. Marc Byrd from Hammock regularly appears on the bands project in a co-producer role in addition to guitar. The Choir is presently featuring Robin Spurs on the Wide Eyed Wonder tour. The group has recorded 14 studio albums, 3 EPs, 3 live albums and a live DVD. Their 2001 album Flap Your Wings was nominated for a Grammy® and their 1996 album Free Flying Soul won a Dove Award. Their music has been featured in TV, film and advertisement including the Amazon original series Red Oaks. TheChoir.net
ABOUT PLEDGEMUSIC
PledgeMusic is a global next generation direct-to-fan platform dedicated to empowering labels and artists to build communities, fund and pre-sell recordings, and provide unique experiences and exclusives throughout the entire music production and promotion lifecycle. PledgeMusic was named as one of The World’s Top 10 Most Innovative Companies of 2015 in Music for “Helping artists and fans get what they want.” – Fast Company
WIDE EYED WONDER Tour Dates
(more dates to be announced in the coming weeks)
March
17 – Lexington, KY
18 – Columbus, OH
19 – Akron, OH
21 – Franklin, IN
22 – St Louis, MO
23 – Moline, IL
24 – St Paul, MN
25 – Aurora, IL
26 – Livonia, MI
27 – Lockport, NY
25 – Owego, NY
29 – E. Brunswick Township, NJ
30 – Vienna, VA
April
20 – Spring TX
22 – Tulsa, OK
25 – Denver, CO
27 – Phoenix, AZ
28 – San Diego, CA
29 – Costa Mesa, CA
30 – Fresno, CA