Grammy-award-winning band Maroon 5 is taking a break from working on their new album and will bring their “Back to School” tour to Bucknell University’s Sojka Pavilion on Saturday at 7 p.m.
The band, which consists of vocalist Adam Levine, keyboardist Jesse Carmichael, guitarist James Valentine, bassist Mickey Madden and drummer Matt Flynn, have sold over 25 million records world wide since their debut. They have either won or have been nominated for six Grammy Awards.
Their first album, “Songs about Jane,” was released in 2002 and included hit singles “Harder to Breathe,” “This Love,” “She Will Be Loved,” and “Sunday Morning.”
In 2007, they released their sophomore effort, “It Won’t Be Soon Before Long.” The album featured the number one single “Makes Me Wonder” and the re-release included a duet version of “If I Never See Your Face Again” with Rihanna.
For the “Back to School” tour, the band wanted to return to its beginning. “In the early days, we were in a van and traveled across the country. Back then we did a lot of college shows and it’s like a return to our roots,” said Carmichael.
“The college shows are our favorite shows to play. The kids are just so excited in general, it might be something about how they are out on their own. They really get fired up,” he said.
Rural areas such as the Central Susquehanna Valley are also high on the band’s list. “People in big cities tend to be a bit more jaded. Sometimes we can feel a little more genuine enthusiasm in the rural areas” and “people aren’t as caught up in the ‘too cool for school’ attitude,” said Carmichael.
In conjunction with the “Back to School” tour, Maroon 5 is giving away $15,000 to a college student. To enter, college students are instructed to record themselves singing along to a Maroon 5 song. The band will pick a winner based on energy and enthusiasm. Entries can be submitted at http://www.twitvid.com/maroon5.
The contest is the band’s way of giving back to their fans. “It’s important to us to encourage creativity and to provide some sort of financial reward,” said Carmichael.
The current tour is the band’s refreshing break from the studio. They have been working with producer Robert John “Mutt” Lange at his studio in Switzerland and will return to the studio for an additional two weeks after the tour.
Lange is one of the most successful producers in rock music history and has worked with bands such as Def Leppard, AC/DC and Nickelback.
Working on the new album at Lange’s studio in Switzerland has allowed the band to bond and create music without distractions. Their constant togetherness throughout the past 15 years has strengthened their friendships and honed their musical skills.
Levine, Carmichael and Valentine share the songwriting responsibilities but Maroon 5 has always been open to collaborations. A song on the new album will showcase a collaboration with Natalie Maines of Dixie Chicks fame.
According to Carmichael, the song that was recorded with Maines has a more organic and country feel but it is still pop.
The sound of the new music will return to Maroon 5’s roots but with a twist. “[The new album] definitely sounds like us but it’s like an evolution of us. In a way it’s a return to what we did on our first album,” he said.
“What’s going to happen is the people who love us will love us even more. The people who are on the fence about us will love us and the people who don’t like us will be on the fence,” said Carmichael.
Saturday’s concert will also feature special guest Guster, an alternative rock band that is known for its live performances. Fitz and the Tantrums will open up the show at 7 p.m.
Tickets for the concert are $40 per person, and are available in advance from the Bucknell University campus box office in the Weis Center and the Bookstore in the Elaine Langone Center weekdays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., by calling 570-577-1000 or online at www.bucknell.edu/Boxoffice.xml. Doors open at 6 p.m.
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Maroon 5 goes ‘Back to School’ in concert
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