Streak of bad luck won't keep Royal Bliss from playing Tucson
By: Becca Lesser for the Wildcat in Arizona
There isn't much that will keep Royal Bliss from rockin', but that's not to say the band hasn't experienced their fair share of misfortune.
First, there was lead singer Neal Middleton's fall from a 35-foot balcony. Then, drummer Jake Smith flipped his car, and guitarist Chris Harding was left with his face split open and jaw wired shut after a skiing accident.
At the point when most bands would have called it quits, Royal Bliss soldiered on.
"We just kept playing through all that, and we were in the studio. We just kept dealing with the pain and pushing through it," said Middleton. When Royal Bliss takes the stage at the Rialto Theater on Monday night, fans can expect to hear the influence of these hardships in the band's newer songs.
"For us, all those things just made us stronger, made us a better band, and gave us more material," said Middleton. "In the beginning, when we started off, we were all eighteen or nineteen -high schoolers - just having fun. Partying, girls, sex, drugs, and rock and roll. It was all just about having a good time. As you get a little bit older and hit more serious things, you change your whole vibe and mentality," he said. "We went from being a bar band to just more serious (music). Music helped us relax. It was like our therapy. We never really sat down and focused or thought about a direction or a sound that we wanted to sound like. It was kind of just an evolution over the time of each record."
For Royal Bliss, that meant a little less of the hardcore rock they have become known for. Instead, the band's most recent album, Life In-Between, boasts a bit more variety.
"We have those hard rockin' songs on the album, and then you also have the acoustics that are kind of mellow, like 'By & By' and 'I Don't Mind,' which almost have, like, a love-song feel to it," said Middleton.
These mellowed out songs are what allow Royal Bliss to mesh so well with their fellow bands on tour, Jet Black Stare and Candlebox.
"Candlebox is a band that … can play any one of our songs," said Middleton. "Jet Black Stare has the mellower stuff, and the melodic rock and roll. We've played with them three times and I think every show we've gotten the comment that 'Wow, you guys fit perfect together.'"
The band, which has toured with Maroon 5, Kid Rock and Buckcherry, promises a strong set for concert-goers on Monday night.
"They're gonna see a good rock show! A lot of bands get up there and pretend, and go through the motions. A lot of bands can't even play their instruments because they rely on computers. With us, we just absolutely love it. You can tell we are having a good time up there. Same with Candlebox and Jet Black Stare - you can just tell that there is a passion and we absolutely love the audience."
Buckcherry and Royal Bliss announce Midwest and East Coast concert dates:
May 12 Eagles Ballroom, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
May 13 State Theater, Detroit, Michigan
May 17 ROCK ON THE RANGE, Columbus, Ohio
May 19 Stabler Arena, Bethlemhem, Pennsylvania
May 22 Mid Hudson Civic Center, Poughkeepsie, New York
May 23 House Of Blues, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Find Royal Bliss on Cage Rattle.
WE DID NOTHING WRONG (acoustic) LIVE ON 95 WIIL ROCK!
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