After scoring an MTV hit a few years back with its soulful ballad "Once Upon A Time," the Detroit-based Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise has finally returned with its second effort, "Time To Discover."

Following the release of its first album in 1996, the Blackwater Surprise spent much of its time on the road -- although frontman Robert Bradley did make a guest appearance on Kid Rock's "Devil Without A Cause" LP, as did several other members of the band, including guitarist Mike Nehra and bassist Andrew Nehra.

Kid Rock repaid the favor by guesting on a pair of tracks from "Time To Discover," both the first single, "Higher," and another song, "Tramp 2 ," a cut he actually produced for the Blackwater Surprise after hearing an early demo version.

In a recent interview with MTV News, Robert Bradley and Andrew Nehra talked about the group's association with Kid Rock, a fellow Detroit resident whom the band has known and performed with since the early '90s.

"I met him about a year after I met these guys," Bradley said, "and, you know, he was always a nice guy. We used to go over to his house, go to the bar together, whatever. He wasn't who he is [now], he wasn't famous. He had a little following in Michigan, and we would do some shows together, two or three songs, back in '93, '94, '95 and all that."

We were like, 'Cool, just come on in one day and we'll do it.' So that's what we did. He willingly wanted to contribute, and we accepted it. And if it didn't feel right, it wouldn't have been on the record. It's not on 'cause he's Kid Rock. He's a friend first and foremost."

"Yeah, he would have done it [anyway] if his record wouldn't have sold like it did," Bradley added. "He was still gonna do it. We're still friends, we still hang out together. I saw him the other night at one of the local bars [in Detroit]." [RealAudio]

Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise is currently promoting both "Higher" and another new track, titled "Baby," as the first radio singles from "Time To Discover," and Tuesday night the band will launch a tour to support the record in New York City.

Dates where you can catch Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise in April and May:

  • 4/18 - New York, NY @ Shine
  • 4/19 - Boston, MA @ Karma Lounge
  • 4/20 - Boston, MA @ Karma Lounge
  • 4/21 - Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre Of Living Arts
  • 4/22 - New York, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom
  • 4/27 - Indianapolis, IN @ The Vogue
  • 4/28 - Chicago, IL @ House Of Blues
  • 4/29 - Boulder, CO @ Boulder Theater - KBCO Radio Show
  • 5/3 - West Palm Beach, FL @ SunFest
  • 5/4 - St. Louis, MO @ St. Louis University
  • 5/5 - Atlanta, GA @ Music Midtown Festival
  • 5/6 - Roanoke, VA @ Elmwood Park
  • 5/7 - Nashville, TN @ River Stages
  • 5/20 - Ferndale, MI @ Magic Bag