The return of Hootie

While the grunge scene was taking over in the ‘90s Charlston, South Carolina-based Hootie & The Blowfish kept with what they did best—rocking out soulful melodic songs -- a formula that works for them today. They will take to the Little River Casino stage on July 18 with 22 years together with the original lineup still intact.
A grueling tour schedule this summer to collect school supplies and keep connected with fans has kept the rock and roll’s golfing band off the course a little more than the band is accustomed to. The group has played The Kingsley Club, Traverse City Country Club and Bay Harbor during previous visits to Northern Michigan.
“We carry our clubs with us all the time on the tour bus,” said drummer Jim Sonefeld. “Darius continues his reign as the best golfer in the band, but it can get competitive on the course from time to time.”

GET ON THE BUS
Five years ago Hootie & The Blowfish started collecting school supplies during their annual concert in their adopted hometown of Charleston, South Carolina. Fans were asked to bring school supplies and put them on a school bus. A 55-seat bus was filled from top to bottom. The band has since added other communities to their “school supplies tour.”
“When we talked to teachers what we learned is that what they need most is supplies,” said Darius Rucker, lead singer. “Kids are our best resource and our best investment for the future. We need to make sure that all kids have the proper tools and supplies.”
Sonefeld is quick to add:
“What we were finding out is that teachers typically take money out of their own paychecks to buy the supplies for their students,” said Sonefeld. “What we are doing is collecting these supplies and then distributing them back to the schools in the area where we collect the supplies to those schools most in need.”
Will there be a school bus at the show in Manistee?
“No. Only because there are a lot of logostics to this and our management team takes on so many communities. Maybe the next time we come through. We have 25 stops this tour already,” said Rucker. “But FYE stores are collecting money for this program on our behalf. Also anyone can head to their local schools and bring them supplies.”

BREAKING IN
As for their music, Hootie & The Blowfish has sold more than 30 million albums. They formed in 1986 at the University of South Carolina. They played dive bars and frat houses before breaking on to the national scene in 1993 with their release of the debut album “Crack Rear View” (the album is nearing 17 million copies sold).
Their soulful sound and hit songs “Hold My Hand,” “Let Her Cry,” “Only Want To Be With You,” and “Time” kept the band at the top of the charts for most of 1994 and had critics wondering if a black vocalist could make it in a white band.
Jim Sonefeld responded to the Rolling Stone magazine question this way: “Everyone says we’re one black guy in an all-white band, but that’s not true -- we’re actually three white guys in an all-black band.”
Hootie proved they were more than just one-album wonders with their sophomore release “Fairweather Johnson,” featuring the hit “Be The One,” that has sold over three million copies.

A FORMULA THAT WORKS
Being in a rock and roll band is a lot like being married today -- more than half don’t last, but Hootie & The Blowfish have found a formula that works and founding members vocalist Darius Rucker, guitarist Mark Bryan and bassist Dean Felber along with Sonefeld have kept it together for 22 years.
“We have a lot in common even outside of the music, with sports, golf and our families,” said Soni. “Success has helped us where sometimes success has torn other bands apart. We appreciate this career we have and we love making music. I think also we know that not many people make a living playing music, so we know we have a good thing.”
The group also has musical projects outside of the band. Rucker is releasing a solo country album this year and Sonefeld is releasing his first solo project.
As for a future Hootie & The Blowfish CD (the last studio release was in 2005 “Looking For Lucky” that did well on the Adult Contemporary charts), there is talk of 2009 for a new release.
“We have so many ideas as a band and individually. I guess the last couple of years has been a focus on the solo stuff,” said Rucker. “When we went in to record ‘Looking For Lucky’ we had 45 songs to consider. So I think we should have something for 2009.”
In the meantime, Rucker and Sonefeld said they are looking forward to returning to Northern Michigan (Sonefeld has several relatives in the area, he was born in Lansing). As for playing golf, they do have a day off before the show and will be close to Crystal Downs, one of the top golf courses in the world. The band isn’t commenting on if or where they might play.
Hootie & The Blowfish performs at the Little River Casino Resort in Manistee on Friday July 18. Tickets are selling quickly and may be purchased online at lillterivercasinos.com or by calling the box office at 800-585-3737.


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