The Staind singer will display his solo, acoustic side in a Seattle concert Thursday. Aaron Lewis has done his share of screaming as the mouthpiece for alt-metal act Staind. But the band is best-known for its mellow, introspective side, thanks to hit ballads “It’s Been Awhile” and “Outside.”

The popularity of Staind’s “MTV Unplugged” episode inspired the band to adapt more of its live sets to an acoustic format. And that’s the sort of show fans should expect when Lewis brings his solo tour to Seattle’s Moore Theatre on Sunday. He phoned Tuesday to give us a better idea of what to expect.

Why don’t we start by talking about the format of your show?

Uh, well, the format’s pretty much nonexistent. I have no plan whatsoever when I walk out on stage. I really don’t know what I’m gonna play. It’s very organic and loose like that.

Now is this something you’ve done before?

This is what I used to do before I met the guys in the band. I’ve been playing shows like this since I was like 17.

Is there a different kind of feeling you get versus when you have the guys with you?

I think the different feeling comes from the crowd. You could hear a pin drop in the theater while I’m playing a song. And then at the end of the song it’s explosive, the crowd reaction. Not that we don’t get that reaction from the band, but just the sheer contrast of going (from) absolute silence when I’m playing. Sometimes that’s spooky.

I don’t think I like one more than the other or anything like that. They definitely both hold a place in my heart. But again, this is coming back to my roots. This is coming back full circle to my first true love in music. You know, I didn’t own an electric guitar until (Staind’s 2003 album) “14 Shades of Gray.”

You’re also working on a solo album and trying out songs that aren’t even fully written.

Yeah, I tend to do that. I don’t really know what’s my reasoning behind it; maybe just to kind of feel them out a little bit, to see if they’re worthy of finishing songs or not.

Do you play songs that are fully written that might appear on your solo album?

There’s a song called “Angel” that I play once in a while that’s kind of … a work in progress. And then there’s a song “Sleeping at the Wheel” that’s kind of a work in progress. There’s a couple of others, but I haven’t played them yet.

Are they similar or totally different from what you’ve done with Staind?

I think they’re kind of different. There’s a song that I have for the solo project that’s called “Massachusetts” that’s more reminiscent of James Taylor than it is anything else. I love James Taylor. I always have. And he lives, like, 20 minutes from me, which is really cool. I have yet to meet him, but I would love to.

Will you adjust what gets on the album based on crowd response?

Honestly, if I asked everybody that is involved in what I do, the majority of them would tell me not to play those songs, because they’re not released yet.

With all the bootlegging and everything.

With all the bootlegging, all the Internet stuff where people can sit in the crowd and record a song with their phone and throw it right up on YouTube or whatever. I guess there is a little bit of a risk. … There’s some people that could argue, “What if that was the song that would get people to buy the record?”

Are you writing material for Staind as well?

Absolutely. We are writing material, and we go into the studio at the end of October.

no cheap recording or youtube video will ever keep me from buying a record.

Thats crazy he didn't even own an electric until 14 Shades of Grey!!!! That's fucking nuts.

I hope we get to hear even more new stuff this time around. He said he hasn't played it YET... that means it could happen!

Thanks as always Lisa. Especially since this article is from the future! haha

This message has been edited. Last edited by: hbp0819,

hahahaha! i just caught that!

Thanks for the article Lisa!

Aaron is one best writer and singer of our generation and is very underrated except by his fans i watched Staind for the first time in seattle i think it was 98 they opened the show and set the bar so high all the rest of the band had to chase it and failed. Since that day i have been an addicted to Staind and Aaron Lewis i am going to the show on sunday and i cant wait i have never missed a show in seattle and never will

o man..I cant wait to hear "Massachusetts"..sounds like it could be the new state anthem..that is so badass

I have a membership for season one...havent been to log in or use it ...any who question for ya..Prices for tickets for Aarons solo show...Cheaper if in the fan club? any perks?...

quote:

Originally posted by MidniteSmkrr:
sounds like it could be the new state anthem..that is so badass

unless of course it's a song where he's dissing the state haha that would prob piss some people off tho

quote:

Originally posted by Candice:

quote:

Originally posted by MidniteSmkrr:
sounds like it could be the new state anthem..that is so badass

unless of course it's a song where he's dissing the state haha that would prob piss some people off tho

LOL You know he wouldn't do that!

he lives in springfield..he would never do that..I have lived there all my life and I moved away about a year ago..When this song come sout..I may just have to move back!!