A Casual Affair: The Best Of Tonic Precedes the Return of the Modern Rock Hitmakers and Includes 'If You Could Only See,' The Grammy(R)-Nominated 'Take Me As I Am' and Three Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks

A Casual Affair: The Best Of Tonic Precedes the Return of the Modern Rock Hitmakers and Includes 'If You Could Only See,' The Grammy(R)-Nominated 'Take Me As I Am' and Three Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks

LOS ANGELES, May 18 /PRNewswire/ -- After Tonic scored platinum albums, a pair of Grammy nominations and several hit singles--including "If You Could Only See," the most-played rock radio song of 1997--the Modern Rockers went on hiatus in 2004. This summer, however, Tonic returns, first with a tour and then this fall with its first new album in seven years. Emerson Hart reflects, "When we play music together it feels like going home."

In anticipation, the group's first retrospective, A Casual Affair: The Best Of Tonic (Polydor/UMe), released June 23, 2009, revisits the enormously popular band that blended the raw honesty of rock with unabashed pop appeal, killer melodies with revved-up guitar heroics. Featuring 12 selections from Tonic's three albums, plus a trio of previously unreleased bonus tracks, A Casual Affair: The Best Of Tonic provides a refresher for today's musical malaise.

Founded in 1993 by two childhood friends, lead singer Emerson Hart and guitarist Jeff Russo, the band exploded onto the scene with a sensational debut album, 1996's Lemon Parade, produced by Jack Joseph Puig (The Black Crowes). "If You Could Only See" hit #1 Mainstream Rock and Modern Rock. Also boosted by two other Top 10 Mainstream Rock hits, "Open Up Your Eyes" and "Casual Affair", Lemon Parade went platinum. A Casual Affair: The Best Of Tonic additionally includes the album's title track and "Soldier's Daughter."

With Dan Lavery enlisted on bass and now officially a three-piece, the band issued their self-produced second disc Sugar in 1999. The single "You Wanted More," initially heard on the soundtrack to the seminal teen flick American Pie, cracked the Mainstream and Modern Rock Top 10s while "Knock Down Walls" peaked in the Top 20 Mainstream Rock. A Casual Affair: The Best Of Tonic adds the album's title track and "Mean To Me."

2002's Head On Straight, produced by Bob Rock (Metallica, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith), featured "Take Me As I Am," "Count On Me" and "Irish," and earned two Grammy nominations--for Best Rock Album and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for "Take Me As I Am."

The previously unreleased bonus tracks on A Casual Affair: The Best Of Tonic are a live version of their cut "Irish," an acoustic take on "You Wanted More" and their live rendition of "Sugar."

In 2005, after nearly a decade together, the band members decided to go their separate ways. Hart released his successful solo debut, Cigarettes & Gasoline, Russo recorded with the Low Stars and scored TV series (including "Crossing Jordan," and "The Unusuals"), and Lavery recorded/toured with The Fray, among others.

With A Casual Affair: The Best Of Tonic and the band reunited, Tonic's meaningful relationship with its fans continues. Dan Lavery says, "It seems serendipitous to have started playing together again just as this "Best of" collection is about to come out. But also, while a retrospective can be gratifying, it also inspires us to create something new." Catch the band on the road this year as they play throughout the country both solo and with the Gin Blossoms!

   TOUR DATES:     Thu, May 14, 2009    National         National Harbor, MD  Tonic                        Harbor    Fri, May 15, 2009    Celebrate        Fredericksburg, VA   Tonic                        Virginia                        Central Park    Sat, May 16, 2009    Wildflower       Richardson, TX       Tonic                        Festival    Sat, June 6, 2009    Alabaster        Alabaster,  AL       Tonic                        Festival    Fri, June 26, 2009   Luck Star        Concho, OK           w/Gin Blossoms                        Casino    Fri, May 22, 2009    Konocti Harbor   Kelseyville, CA      w/Gin Blossoms    Fri, June 26, 2009   Hard Rock Hotel  Las Vegas, NV        w/Gin Blossoms    Thu, July 16, 2009   Thursdays In     Stamford, CT         Tonic                        The Square    Sat, July 18, 2009   Waukesha         Waukesha, WI         Tonic                        County Fair    Thu, July 23, 2009   Riverspirit      Tulsa, OK            w/Gin Blossoms                        Casino    Sat, July 25, 2009   Taste of         Chicago, IL          Tonic                        Lincoln    Fri, Aug 7, 2009     Windjammer       Isle of Palms, SC    Tonic    Sat, Aug 8, 2009     Bud Light        Raleigh, NC          Tonic                        Series    Fri, Aug 21, 2009    Cain Park        Cleveland, OH        w/Gin Blossoms    Sat, Aug 22, 2009    Snoqualmie       Seattle, WA          Tonic                        Casino    Mon, Aug 24, 2009    California       Sacramento, CA       Tonic                        State Fair    Sat, Sept 10, 2009   Turning Stone    Verona, NY           Tonic                        Casino    Sun, Sept 13, 2009   Nomahegan        Cranford, NJ         w/Gin Blossoms                        Park     http://www.myspace.com/tonicband   http://www.tonic-online.com/  

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:
http://www.myspace.com/tonicband

Source: Universal Music Enterprises

CONTACT: Keren Poznansky of Universal Music Enterprises,
+1-310-865-7797, keren.poznansky@umusic.com

Web Site: http://www.tonic-online.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment