The Choir re-visit Wide-Eyed Wonder
On the heels of a successful 2016 tour to celebrate their classic Circle Slide album and recent European shows, alternative music legends The Choir will usher in 2017 with another album-honoring tour. This time the focus of the band’s attention will be performing their best-selling 1989 release, Wide-Eyed Wonder, in its entirety, alongside other favorite songs, new and old, from the band. The album will also see a re-mastered reissue of the project on vinyl and CD. And in what may seem like a dream to longtime fans of the band, Wide-Eyed Wonder’s bass player, Robin Spurs, will reunite with the band for the tour.
Says the band’s Steve Hindalong, “It was a special season when we recorded Wide-Eyed Wonder. My daughter Emily was born prior to the recording and she just turned 28, so I know exactly how long ago it was! And it was the Robin Spurs era. She brought an energy that was wonderful and spirited. It’s gonna be so fun to rekindle our friendship and chemistry out on the road. Feels like a fine time to rewind the clock to 1989.”
The album still ranks as one of the band’s best-selling projects, supported at the time by an innovative video compilation, and the most aggressive touring of the band’s career, which included a 40+ date national tour opening for then-labelmate Russ Taff. Two music videos and a short documentary on the band were released alongside the album. The clip for “Someone To Hold On To” as well as the documentary portion were directed by Linda Myers-Krikorian, then wife of avant grade rocker Tonio K. A video for “Robin Had A Dream” was produced by the late Mark Heard, who also produced two songs on the album, the title track and the George Harrison song, “Behind That Locked Door.”
Wide-Eyed Wonder is often cited as the most commercial album of the band’s career, while still maintaining their signature sonic experimentation. Songs such as “Someone To Hold On To”, “To Cover You” and “When She Sees Me” showcased the band’s more straightforward rock writing, while “Robin Had A Dream” and “Car, Etc.” continued to showcase the band’s penchant for experimental composition. The title track, “Wide-Eyed Wonder” and “To Bid Farewell,” showcase a more sentimental side, albeit grounded in the band’s trademark lyrical honesty.
Adds band member Dan Michaels, “The Choir continues to move forward through creating and releasing new music such as 2015’s Shadow Weaver as well as solo projects by Hindalong and Daugherty. But we recognize the indelible mark that our classic albums like Circle Slide, Chase The Kangaroo and Wide-Eyed Wonder placed upon the hearts of individuals. I’m excited about the future and proud to celebrate the past in this fashion and especially thrilled to reunite with Robin for WEW 2017.”
Watch for The Choir’s Wide-Eyed Wonder 2017 tour coming March, April and May 2017.