Hinder set to rock the Strand

While you won't read about Hinder in this week's edition of Preview (the show has been sold out for three weeks), I wanted to take time to acknowledge their performance on the blog. The band will take the stage at the Strand Theatre on Sunday before a sold-out crowd.

In a recent interview with Hinder guitarist Mark King, he discussed the band's whirlwind year, No. 1 hit "Lips of an Angel" and life on the road. Here are some excerpts from the interview:

Q: What is it like to achieve so much success so quickly?

KING: We've been working hard at it for a long time. It was pretty slow going but once "Lips of an Angel" hit the airwaves it totally made our career go a lot faster than it did that first year we were touring. We've had some struggles for sure.

Q: With everything changing so fast, how has your life changed?

KING: When we first started we were cruising in an RV. Then we moved up to a 35 foot bus, then a 45 foot bus and now we're in two buses. The crews are getting a lot bigger and we're headlining now. We've opened for Nickelback, Staind, Aerosmith. All that is very surreal for five guys from Oklahoma. Things are very good.

Q: "Lips of an Angel" has been a huge success for you guys. Is the song based on a true story?

KING: Yes. During pre-production Austin was at Cody's house and he was telling the story about his ex-girlfriend calling while his girlfriend was in the other room. He started singing, "honey, why are you calling me so late" and the song just wrote itself.

Q: Who are your musical influences and how have they shaped your sound?

KING: For each of the individual members it would be different, but the five of us agree on the epic bands of the 80s. They really brought back the fun to music and so we all agree on it.

Q: The band bio on your Web site says you guys are bringing back the "decadent days of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll. So, describe life on the road to me.

KING: We just have fun. We've got booze and girls backstage. We're just having fun and we're blessed to play music and to be in a different city nearly every day. A lot of bands are playing video games on the road, but we like to go out and have fun. Why not get a beer and go get some culture in you?

Q: How do you adjust to such a fast-paced lifestyle?

KING: You just get a beer and go out there and have fun. You just roll with everything and every once in a while you sit back and think about what's going on.

A bar worth bellying up to

It's Friday night and maybe you are looking for a bar to chill out at. In case you didn't read about Strange Brew in today's Preview, I'll take a minute to fill you in.

Strange Brew is pretty basic. Pool, darts, 63 beers, surprisingly cheap drinks, good music that's not overwhelmingly loud and friendly people. At 235 Wall Street, it's everything I look for in a Friday night hangout.

So, here are some pictures from last Friday night. For more check out the photo gallery at shreveporttimes.com. Until Monday, have a good weekend and catch tons of beads at Centaur.

(Pictured: Bartender Jay Chapman works Feb. 2 at Strange Brew in Shreveport. Photo by Val Horvath/The Times)

SWF seeking anything ...

Nothing says I love you like a background check.

Maybe that isn't how the phrase goes, but Tuesday night it will be the truth. At 5:30 p.m. young singles from across the area will meet at Nicky's downtown in hopes of finding last-minute love before Valentine's Day. I will be attending for a story, but I'll also be participating.

I can read my date card now, "Bachelor No. 13: No! absolutely no! He spilled salsa down his shirt and then licked it off."

However, I wouldn't take my word for it. I'm cynical. But if you've got $50, that will buy you a background check and the possibility of finding your true love in 5 minutes or less. For more information, contact Vicki Marshall at 676-5801.

The deadline to sign up is this Friday.