For a group of guys who began their musical careers playing in an elementary school gym in Malibu, Calif., Lifehouse has certainly seen some progress for its efforts.
All of the band members except the drummer began playing together when they were 15 years old. The search for the right drummer took a little longer, but they finally found the right person in Rick Woolstenhulme.
The band released its debut album, No Name Face, in October. Since then, it has been on the road for four months. Two of those months have been spent touring with Pearl Jam, performing on a side stage. They have also spent some time doing radio shows around the United States.
Lifehouse is now touring with Matchbox Twenty on the "Mad Season 2001 Tour," which began last week in Minneapolis, Minn. The tour will last three months and hit cities such as Washinton D.C., Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Albuquerque.
Lifehouse signed onto the tour partly through the help of its manager and partly through Matchbox Twenty members, who listened to Lifehouse's music and liked what they heard. Members of Lifehouse are excited as well as tense about the upcoming tour.
"We're kind of nervous," singer Jason Wade said in a press release. "They are going to be the biggest shows that we have ever played. We are nervous and excited."
The music on No Name Face is very mellow and soothing in some ways. The guitar work is acoustic, Wade has a deep, melodic voice, the lyrics are thoughtful and the music is beautifully simple. Either way, it is hard not to find something to appreciate in Lifehouse's music.
When Lifehouse completes the Matchbox tour, it will head to Europe and Japan to do some public relations work for the CD, which has not yet been released in either place.
Although the tour is a great opportunity, hard times will come along the way. When Wade was asked what the hardest part of being on tour would be for him, he said, "Being away from home so much. You are gone a lot, and you are changing and at home everyone is staying in the same routine."
Wade said it is also the best part of touring.
"You are getting to travel and experience," he said. "The ultimate goal is to have people respond to your music."
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Lifehouse opens for Matchbox Twenty and Everclear at Tingley Coliseum tonight at 7 p.m. For ticket information, call 883-7800 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.
