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Country trio Love and Theft becomes tour favorite
By JOHN BENSON
High-profile tours with screaming fans are nothing new to the members of Nashville-based act Love and Theft. Even though the group is opening for Tim McGraw’s current tour, which rolls through Northeast Ohio for a Thursday show at Blossom Music Center, the trio learned early on how to deal with the frenzy of celebrity. Specifically, this trial-by-fire training came on its first major outing supporting a then up-and-coming singer named Taylor Swift.
“The 2008 Taylor Swift tour was really cool because we just played acoustically,” said Love and Theft singer Stephen Barker Liles, calling from Charlotte, N.C. “That was a totally different crowd. Most of those fans were under 21, and I remember we announced we were going to sign after the first show. When we walked down to the lobby, we just got mobbed. It was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is wild.’ We weren’t really prepared. We didn’t have music or anything. We weren’t expecting any of that. So that was exciting. And when we toured with Jason Aldean, that was cool and he has great fans. So all those different things have been good.”
Formed in 2006, Love and Theft released its debut effort, “World Wide Open,” nearly a year ago. So far, it’s scored a top 10 hit with lead single “Runaway,” while the follow-up “Dancing in Circles” was top 25. If there’s been any downside to Love and Theft’s short career it’s the fact the band has watched both of its labels – first Carolwood Records and then Lyric Street Records – fold over the last 12 months.
While some artists would feel jinxed by the turn of events, Liles sounds genuinely optimistic about the group’s future, with a new CD due out in late 2010 or early 2011. In the meantime, the threesome is focusing on the McGraw tour by showcasing its sound, which Liles describes as progressive country, if there is such a thing.
“It’s like more rockier,” Liles said. “Think edgy country, like an Eagles vibe. We all three sing lead, and a lot of the songs are three-part harmony. So I mean it’s Southern country rock with just real loud, in-your-face harmonies. It’s Crosby, Stills and Nash, I guess, the country version but more aggressive.”
Even though Love and Theft is still in the opening slot, Liles promises country music lovers would be best served by taking in their set.
“Please come out early, you’re going to have a good ole time,” Liles said. “We’ll play some ‘Runaway’ and ‘Dancing in Circles,’ and it’ll be high energy. Also, it’ll give everyone an early start on their first drink, unless it’s a dry county. It’s not a dry county, is it?”
Quite the opposite.
“Then we’re all good,” Liles said. “So I guarantee you that they won’t be disappointed if they get there early.”
As for his first drink of the night, what does Liles prefer?
“I usually wait until after the show, but my drink is vodka, water and lime,” Liles said. “And sometimes I’ll throw a splash of pineapple to cut it a little bit. You don’t get hungover if you drink vodka and water. Or very rarely will you. It’s like you’re hydrating the whole time, it’s like what a great idea. It’s genius.”