Time for a second go-round with the new-ish band Love and Theft. Last year, the trio of Stephen Barker Liles, Brian Bandas and Eric Gunderson scored their first Top 10 country hit with the catchy “Runaway.” Their debut CD, World Wide Open , has been well received by fans. The band wrote every song on the album. Even before they had a record deal, they landed a prime spot as the opening act on Taylor Swift’s tour. (Stephen and Taylor reportedly were once an item, but neither has confirmed that they ever knocked boots.)
Anyway, let me not get sidetracked! Back to the music… Love and Theft (affectionately known as LNT amongst their fans) formed back in 2006 when the three members met up in Nashville. All of them had migrated to Music City from points afar (Stephen’s from Florida, Eric’s from North Carolina and Brian hails from Texas) in pursuit of solo recording careers. Coincidentally, all of the guys were born in 1984. (I was in sixth grade. When did I get so freakin’ old?!?) Bandas, Liles and Gunderson started writing songs together and eventually decided to start a band.
The group gets their name from the title of an old Bob Dylan album. Their musical tastes span all genres of music. They cite the Eagles, Elvis, Dylan and the Rolling Stones as influences, as well as Johnny Cash and George Strait. Like the Eagles, Love and Theft has no one lead singer; all three guys trade off the duties, depending upon the song. Gotta give ‘em credit for sticking to their guns; most of the music executives they met with early on told them they’d never make it without a clear-cut, single lead singer.
2009 was a whirlwind year for LNT. They got a record deal with Lyric Street (home to that OTHER male country trio with the initials “RF”… you know who I mean) made their Grand Ole Opry debut, played at the famed Ryman Auditorium and toured with hot hitmaker Jason Aldean
2010 is off to a good start for the guys as well. Earlier this month, they participated in the Nashville Sound & Speed event, where fans of racing and country music got to mingle with NASCAR drivers and hot country artists. I’d guess the guys might have been a tad star-struck… among the other participants were Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Tony Stewart, Michael Waltrip, Kyle Petty, Hank Williams, Jr., Diamond Rio, Josh Turner and too many others to mention. Also, Stephen Baker Liles can pat himself on the back for penning Martina McBride’s latest single, “Wrong Baby Wrong.” Yup, those ASCAP royalty checks are getting fatter and fatter!
So what’s next on the agenda for Love and Theft? How about a tour with Tim McGraw and Lady Antebellum? The Southern Voice tour will run from April through August. The closest it’ll come to us is June 10 in Darien Lake.
The latest song and video from Love and Theft is “Dancing in Circles.” Check it out here today!
Time for a second go-round with the new-ish band Love and Theft. Last year, the trio of Stephen Barker Liles, Brian Bandas and Eric Gunderson scored their first Top 10 country hit with the catchy “Runaway.” Their debut CD, World Wide Open , has been well received by fans. The band wrote every song on the album. Even before they had a record deal, they landed a prime spot as the opening act on Taylor Swift’s tour. (Stephen and Taylor reportedly were once an item, but neither has confirmed that they ever knocked boots.)
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