I Alone: Ed Kowalczyk shines solo

Ed Kowalczyk, the former frontman of Live, one of this generation’s most successful alternative rock bands, is reintroducing himself in the truest form.

In the spotlight of his I Alone Acoustic Tour, Ed is giving fans the chance to hear what all his magic sounds like at conception.

“I write all my songs on the acoustic guitar, so this is very natural for me,” Ed says.

Over the past 20 years, the legendary rocker penned the tracks that make up 8 full-length albums that have sold over 20 million copies worldwide.

Ed’s songs have attained gold and platinum status in 9 countries and singles like “Selling the Drama,” “I Alone,” “Lightning Crashes,” “The Dolphin’s Cry,” and “Heaven” have dominated the top 10 charts.

You’ve heard one, if not all these hits, but you haven’t heard them the way Ed is serving them up today.

“The vocals and the lyrics have taken on this visceral quality,” Ed says. “It’s direct communication, right in your face with nothing else around it. Everything is more clear.”

On this special tour Ed is also performing selections from his solo catalog, including a few numbers from his 2013 album, The Flood and the Mercy.

And there it is, Ed’s trademark reference to water.

Fans who have stuck by Ed over the years know that H2O has been his go to metaphor dating back to 1994’s Throwing Copper.

“I joke about being chronically thirsty for 20 years,” he laughs. “But really, in this case, flood is for deep and sudden change, and mercy for the regenerative aspect, a beginning in an end.”

All jokes aside, by 2009, Ed was yearning for something and Live wasn’t quenching that thirst.

“I felt I had been doing the same thing for almost 20 years and I was losing my passion,” Ed admits. “I cherish and value all my years with Live in so many ways, but it was time for a change.”

A messy breakup, a lawsuit and one year later, Ed released his debut solo album, Alive.

The fire, the passion, the drive, it all came rushing back. Ed just had to stand alone to find the spark.

Starting this new chapter, Ed also realized he had never performed a full blown acoustic show. So the man picked up his guitar and gave it a try.

“I felt a renaissance of energy,” Ed remembers.

And that was enough to fuel his I Alone Acoustic Tour.

“I’m really connecting with the old songs, with the core of who I am, but most of all, with the fans in a way I see they’re ready for.”

Ed plays the Ottawa Folk Fest on Saturday, September 13. Click here for festival info and find more of Ed’s tour dates here. For news and updates, follow Ed on twitter and facebook. 

Ed’s latest album The Flood and the Mercy is available on iTunes now. 

Posted by Marc Andrew on Sep 4 2014. Filed under Interviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.