Power balladeers Boston are gearing up for another tour this year, and auditions have begun with new singer, 43 year old Tommy DeCarlo.
Never heard of him? That's because until a chance discovery through the internet, DeCarlo was a credit manager at Home Depot in Charlotte, North Carolina.DeCarlo had simply put up a version of himself singing Boston songs in tribute to original lead singer Brad Delp, who committed suicide last year on his MySpace page, when a fan suggested he send it to the band's management.
He said, "I never could have dreamed this, that first gig is going to be something."
Boston guitarist Tom Scholtz said "During rehearsals, it can get downright eerie, I forget it's not Brad. It makes me feel like someone was at work up there."
He added, "My wife was at her computer playing our tunes, and I asked her whether it was us playing live. She said, 'It's some guy in North Carolina singing your songs.' I said, 'I know Brad's voice, and that's Brad.' She turned it up, and only when I heard the backing track did I know it wasn't us."
The band will embark on their first American tour since the death of Delp later this year.
Tour dates for Boston are:
JUNE
6 - Marina Park, Thunder Bay, Ontario
13 - Grand Casino, Hinckley, MN
15 - DTE Amphitheater, Detroit, MI
19 - River Place, Baton Rouge, LA
20 - Grand Casino Coushatta, Kinder, LA
21 - Verizon Amphitheater, San Antonio, TX
22 - Woodlands, Houston, TX
24 - Nokia Live Theater, Grand Prairie, TX
25 - Zoo Amphitheatre, Oklahoma City, OK
27 - Dodge Theater, Phoenix, AZ
28 - Thomas and Mack, Las Vegas, NV
29 - Anselmo Valencia, Tuscon, AZ
JULY
1 - Gibson Amphitheater, Los Angeles, CA
3 - San Diego County Fair / Grandstand, Del Mar, CA
4 - Peppermill Hotel Casino (Tuscany Ballroom), Reno, NV
5 - Konocti Harbor Resort and Spa, Kelseyville, CA
8 - The Mountain Winery, Saratoga, CA
17 - Rock Fest, Cadott, WI
18 - Great Jones Fair, Monticello, IA
25 - The Family Arena, St. Louis, MO
26 - Washington County Fair Park (Main Stage), West Bend, WI
AUGUST
1 - Summer Stage, Big Flats, NY
2 - US Cellular Pavilion, Gilford, NH
3 - Tweeter Center, Mansfield, MA
4 - Musikfest, Bethlehem, PA
6 - Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
9 - Events Center at Seneca Allegany, Salamanca, NY
10 - PNC Bank Center, Holmdel, NJ
15 - Tropicana Casino and Resort, Atlantic City, NJ
16 - Carolina Crossroads Amphitheater, Roanoke Rapids, NC
17 - Verizon Amphitheater, Atlanta, GA
