It’s been 9 years since the rock band Staind has released any sort of album but the guys from Massachusetts are ready to return. And return they are.
Staind is back with the explosive sound that made them so popular in the form of a new live album – Live: It’s Been A While. The live concert that was recorded in their own backyard at the Foxwoods Casino, captures the bands signature sound and energy. The album will be available on May 7th via Yap’em / Alchemy Recordings.
Tickets and information can be found here: STAINDLIVE.COM
The Live: It’s Been Awhile album will be accompanied by The Return Of Staind: A Two Part Global Streaming Series in partnership with Danny Wimmer Presents. The series launches with STAIND’s Live: It’s Been Awhile (From Foxwoods) concert, which streams globally on May 1. The never-before-seen concert celebrates the band’s reunion after a five-year hiatus. STAIND will also be performing their iconic multi-platinum 2001 album Break The Cycle in its entirety for a May 8 streaming event, exactly 20 years after the album’s release. The 20th Anniversary Of Break The Cycle, Performed In Its Entirety takes place at Mill 1 in Open Square in Holyoke, Massachusetts, bringing the band back to their Western Mass roots. Please note, this is a fully virtual event, with no in-person attendance.
When I spoke with guitarist Mike Mushok, he had a glimmer of excitement in his voice and spoke with reverence when we talked about his hometown. Mushok tells me, “We were going back out after a bunch of years and we were doing kind of a home show for us at Foxwoods Casino. We were bringing in a lot more production than we used before. You know, pyro, video and talking to one of our managers was like, why don’t we try to and capture this? This was really the first time doing this, it’s our first shows back and that was really how it got started.”
Mushok continues, “That turned into a DVD, I’m sure if people still even have DVD’s anymore :laughs:. But a digital package of what that show was. It’s gong to be on May 1st, like a pay per view event and you’re going to be able to see that show in its entirety and that’s truly what the album is. It’s a live album of that performance.”
Personally, I think this is the perfect way to comeback, engage fans and remind them of how much energy the band brings in a live setting. Any further recordings will just add to the excitement of the bands return.
We joke about how I could hear the pyrotechnics during songs like ‘Mudshovel’ and how it gave me sort of a KISS Alive II – Detroit Rock City vibe. Mike laughed and said, “Yeah it was cool! Definitely a lot of fun being able to do that.”
We also talked about some of Mike’s favorite guitar players as well as his desert island records. You can hear my entire conversation with Mike Mushok, guitarist for the band Staind, by clicking on the link to your favorite place to listen to podcasts.
-Tommy Marz
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