Sugar Ray And Orgy To Mount College Tour
Contrasting pop rock groups Sugar Ray and Orgy will join forces for a month-long tour of U.S. college campuses starting in April.
The tour will include appearances at 16 colleges across the country,
kicking off on April 2 with a show at the University of California at
San Diego, and winding up May 7 at the University of Maryland in College Park, Md.
The seemingly odd combination of the bands' differing looks and styles
won't deter the goth-meets-glam members of Los Angeles' Orgy from giving fans their usual intense show.
Orgy shows -- unlike those of some other industrial bands -- don't rely on the use of sequencers or taped backing tracks, according to guitarist Ryan Shuck.
"When I go see a show, I still want to see a live performance," Shuck said. "I can buy a tape anywhere. I mean, we f--- up. We make mistakes."
Orgy, known for their hammering, screeching songs and a radio-hit cover of New Order's
(RealAudio excerpt), also eschew the use of traditional keyboards and effects on their debut album, Candyass. Shuck views their trademark sound as coming from the interplay between his new-wave-based guitar playing and bandmate Amir Derakh's guitar synthesizer.
Sugar Ray, on the other hand, have built their reputation on a clean-cut image and such breezy, tropical-island pop tracks as their breakthrough hit
(RealAudio excerpt).
Onstage, they try to just have fun, according to singer Mark McGrath. "I think people are sometimes put off by a band that admits they're here for a good time, that want to drink some beers," McGrath said.
McGrath had to put off some of the fun recently after developing a sore throat, forcing the cancellation of a pair of Canadian appearances, an Atlantic Records spokesperson said. The band was scheduled to tape a television program in Jasper, Alberta, on Saturday and play a show in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Sunday. McGrath also missed Sugar Ray's Monday-night gig in Portland, Ore.
In addition to playing the college tour, Sugar Ray will open three Rolling Stones shows in April. The outing begins April 16 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and concludes with two shows at the San Jose Arena in San Jose, Calif., on April 19 and 20.
With another tropical-themed radio hit on the charts -- the single "Every Morning" (RealAudio excerpt) -- the members of Sugar Ray said they understand why some people might dislike their sunny vibe.
"Even before 'Fly,' there was something about our band that just irks
people," drummer Stan Frazier said. "A lot of it has to do with [McGrath].
He's funny onstage, he picks on people, but then he'll go home with
their girlfriends."
"I'm very hate-able," McGrath explained.
Sugar Ray/Orgy Tour Dates:
April 2; San Diego, Calif.; University of California at San Diego
April 3; Bakersfield, Calif.; California State University
April 5; Corvallis, Ore.; Oregon State University
April 7; Reno, Nev.; University of Nevada
April 8; San Luis Obispo, Calif.; Cal Poly State University
April 11; Las Cruces, N.M.; New Mexico State University
April 14; Brookings, S.D.; South Dakota State University
April 17; Washington, Pa.; Washington and Jefferson College
April 21; Detroit, Mich.; Wayne State University
April 23; Potsdam, N.Y.; Clarkson University
April 24; Baltimore, Md.; University of Maryland
April 25; Morgantown, W.Va.; West Virginia University
April 26; Williamsburg, Va.; William and Mary College
May 1; Amherst, N.Y.; Baird Point
May 2; Syracuse, N.Y.; Syracuse University
May 6; Athens, Ohio; Ohio University
May 7; College Park, Md.; University of Maryland
