After spending the summer opening for some of the biggest names in rock music, Virgin Records rock-quintet Saving Abel have announced that they will open for the biggest names in politics, playing at the first Obama / McCain Presidential debate on September 26, 2008 at the University of Mississippi.
The free show which begins at 12:00pm also includes Paul Thorn, Josh Kelley and the North Mississippi Allstars. Saving Abel will make a pit-stop at the U of M to play the pre-debate show before their gig at Big Spring Jam in Huntsville, AL that evening, part of their current outing with Buckcherry and Shinedown (full schedule below).
“We’re excited to play at the debate and show our support for the election process as we believe that the outcome will truly affect the lives of all Americans,” said frontman Jared Weeks.
Undoubtedly one of the biggest new rock bands of 2008, Saving Abel have been steadily climbing radio and sales charts all year and they show no sign of slowing down anytime soon. Their debut single, the run-away, multi-format, smash-hit “Addicted” has been heard on radio airwaves for 30 weeks and continues to work its way up the charts. It spent 4 weeks at #1 at mainstream rock radio, was #2 for 10 consecutive weeks at active rock radio and peaked at #7 on the alternative chart.
“Addicted” has found a whole new life as Top 40 radio gets hooked, where it is currently #21 on the airplay chart and quickly moving upward. The single impacts that Adult Top 40 format on Sep. 30th. The sultry video for “Addicted” which made its debut on playboy.com is also enjoying multi-format success. The clip has seen airplay on MTV2, Fuse, and Music Choice and was recently added to the play list of MTV’s pop channel MTV Hits.
Saving Abel’s second single is a monster ballad entitled “18 Days” and it is beginning to follow in its predecessor’s footsteps. In a few short weeks of airplay at active rock radio, it is currently ranked #24 and was one of the most added songs at alternative radio last week when it officially impacted at the format.
Saving Abel’s self-titled debut also continues to reach new chart peaks. Since its March 11th release, the album spent 3 consecutive weeks at #1 on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart before debuting on the Billboard 200 in July. The album hit a new high this week at #53 on the chart and has scanned over 160,000 units. “Addicted” has sold over 435,000 digital singles and holds its highest chart position to date this week, jumping from #48 to #38 on the singles chart.
Saving Abel – named after the Biblical sibling of Cain – was formed by Jared Weeks and guitarist Jason Null in 2004 in their hometown of Corinth, Mississippi. Now based in Memphis, Tennessee, the band’s lineup includes guitarist Scott Bartlett, bassist Eric Taylor and drummer Blake Dixon. Combining influences of southern rock, hard rock and alternative music, the band was first heard on a 2005 EP, produced by Skidd Mills (12 Stones, Saliva, Submersed).
Saving Abel 2008 Tour Dates:
(Dates and information subject to change.)
With Buckcherry / Shinedown
9/24 Tulsa, OK Brady Theater
9/26 Oxford, MS U/M Grove Stage (Presidential Debate)
9/26 Huntsville, AL Big Spring Jam
9/27 Memphis, TN Mud Island Amphitheatre
9/28 Knoxville, TN Civic Coliseum
9/30 Clemson, SC Littlejohn Coliseum
10/2 Sauget, IL Pop’s
10/4 Mobile, AL Bayfest
10/8 Charlotte, NC Grady Cole Center
10/9 Atlanta, GA Tabernacle
10/10 Macon, GA The Hummingbird *
10/11 Kinston, NC Lenoir County Fairgrounds
10/25 Frisco, TX Pizza Hut Park (KDGE Radio Show)
10/26 Spring, TX Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavillion (KTBZ Radio Show)
10/27 Waco, TX Whiskey River * with Puddle of Mudd
10/29 Amarillo, TX Aztec Music Hall * with Puddle of Mudd
10/30 El Paso, TX Club 101 *
10/31 Tempe, AZ Tempe Market Place * KUPD Halloween Show
11/1 Albuquerque, NM Launchpad *
11/2 Denver, CO Bluebird Theatre *
With Buckcherry / Avenged Sevenfold / Shinedown
11/4 Casper, WY Casper Events Center
11/5 Billings, MT Metra Park Arena
11/6 Rapid City, ND Rushmore Plaza Civic Center
11/8 St. Paul, MN Roy Wilkins Auditorium
11/9 Fargo, ND Fargo Dome
11/12 Milwaukee, WI Eagles Ballroom
11/14 Madison, WI Alliant Energy Center
11/15 Waterloo, IA McElroy Auditorium
11/16 LaCrosse, WI LaCross Center Arena
11/18 Grand Rapids, MI Deltaplex
11/21 Ypsilanti, MI Convocation Center
12/13 Townson, MD Recher Theater *
12/15 Richmond, VA Toad’s Place (WRXL xmas radio show)
12/17 Chicago, IL House of Blues (Q101 xmas radio show)
12/18 St. Louis, MO The Pageant *
12/19 Cincinnati, OH Bogart’s *
12/20 Indianapolis, MN The Vogue *
* Headline Show
Photo Credit: Jeff Forney
For more information on Saving Abel, visit:
Saving Abel MySpace
Saving Abel Official Website
