The Los Angeles-based alt-rock trio Tonic — singer/guitarists Emerson Hart and Jeff Russo, and bassist Dan Lavery — return to Charleston this Friday behind a recent studio album titled Head On Straight, produced by Bob Rock (Metallica, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith). Tonic first gained notoriety in 1996 and ’97 with their major label debut, Lemon Parade, which featured the hit songs “Open Up Your Eyes” and “If You Could Only See.” The band’s 1999 follow-up, Sugar, included the rock radio singles “Knock Down Walls” and “You Wanted More.”
It’s been years since the release of the platinum-selling Sugar. In that time, the band has toured extensively, while “trying to keep relationships back home from unraveling.” Not surprisingly, those intense experiences found their way into the band’s new music.
“The album reflects how the band felt when making the record,” says Russo. “It was inspired by our personal lives as well as how making and touring behind the last two albums affected us. “This is definitely the most personal and focused album we’ve ever made,” admits Hart. “I took a lot of time writing the lyrics. It’s a real album, and a lot deeper lyrically than a lot of music out there today.”
The gig is Fri. Aug. 7 at 9 p.m. at the Windjammer. Tickets are $25 (day of show) and $20 (adv.). Local songwriter/guitarist Chis Holly opens at 9 p.m. Call (843) 886-8596 or visit the-windjammer.com for more info.
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