The Eli Young Band just kicked off the 2014 True Believers Tour with Darius Rucker, and to be out on the road with him at this point in their career means a lot because of their history with him. “Darius was one of the first people to walk up to us after we put out Jet Black and Jealous and say, ‘Hey guys, I’m really diggin’ what you’re doin’, I’m Darius Rucker,’” explains Mike Eli. “It’s like of course, we know who you are. So, it’s one of those things that we’ll never forget that. At that time back in 2008, when we were puttin’ out that record, we mighta needed a little encouragement, and he gave it to us.”
James Young admits they were definitely star struck the first time they met Darius. “I mean, growin’ up in the ‘90s and, you know, Hootie and the Blowfish was kinda the soundtrack to those high school years. And so yah, I would say we were a little star-struck when we first met him and we’ve gotten to know him and he’s just been so nice to us. It’s gonna make for a fun year.”
Jon Jones brings up another interesting point about working with Darius. “I think, more than a lot of other artists, solo artists especially, he understands what we do, cause he spent so many years as a band, and a successful band.”
The new tour will give Eli Young Band a chance to play some of the new music off their forthcoming album, 10,000 Towns, which will feature their #1 hit “Drunk Last Night” and their new single, “Dust.” The album will be released on March 4th.
Eli Young Band also just picked up a nomination for Vocal Group of the Year for the 2014 ACM Awards.
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Eli Young Band – touring with Darius Rucker :42
Mike Eli – “Darius was one of the first people to walk up to us after we put out Jet Black and Jealous and say, ‘Hey guys, I’m really diggin’ what you’re doin’, I’m Darius Rucker.’ It’s like of course, we know who you are. So, it’s one of those things that we’ll never forget that. At that time back in 2008, when we were puttin’ out that record, we mighta needed a little encouragement, and he gave it to us.”
Jon Jones – “That was like one of the highlights of 2008, Mike, what are you talking about?”
James Young – “Yeah, you’re a little star struck too. I mean, growin’ up in the ‘90s and, you know, Hootie and the Blowfish was kinda the soundtrack to those high school years. And so yah, I would say we were a little star-struck when we first met him and we’ve gotten to know him and he’s just been so nice to us. It’s gonna make for a fun year.”
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Eli Young Band – Darius understands group :17
Jon Jones – “I think, more than a lot of other artists, solo artists especially, he understands what we do, cause he spent so many years as a band, and a successful band. He’s one of the people that’s been able to not only do it in multiple genres (Mike – experience both), but yeah, in both situations. So, there’s definitely a different dynamic when it’s a band. So, it’s gonna be cool to share that with him.”