If you go
› What: Sevendust with Fault Lines, Hour Late› Where: The Signal, 1810 Chestnut St.› When: 8:30 p.m. Monday, May 6› Admission: $25-$50› For more information: 423-498-4700› Online: thesignaltn.com
Like a lot of bands, Sevendust has had to overcome obstacles. They had to change their name three times, for example, after being threatened with lawsuits by bands with the same names, and they went bankrupt. Through it all, lead singer Lajon Witherspoon said the group never considered packing it in because they and their fans believed in what they were doing.
Sevendust will perform Monday night at The Signal. / Photo from Rise Records"It was us just believing in something that we had," he said.
"The fans were behind us and it kept building and building. We kept growing and overcoming the hurdles and obstacles. Thank the Lord it did work out."
It worked because of gold-selling albums like "Sevendust" (1997), "Home" (1999) and "Animosity" (2001). For their latest album, the group enlisted the help of Michael "Elvis" Baskette, who produced "All I See Is War" at his Studio Barbarosa in Orlando.
It was the first time the band used an outside producer in years, and Witherspoon said the group loved the experience.
"He came in and said, 'I don't want to change Sevendust. You are what you are and I love it.' He was great to work with. He was like a member of the band. It was an incredible working partnership.
In this Jan. 27, 2016 photo, Lajon Witherspoon, lead singer of Sevendust, poses for a portrait in New York. The Atlanta band is celebrating two decades together with their very first Grammy nomination for their song, "Thank You." (Photo by Scott Gries/Invision/AP)Experiences like hiring a new producer is one of the ways the group keeps things fresh. Another was attending a sold-out seminar where 25 people got to watch, and ask guestions, as the guys spent an entire day composing a new song.
"They got to watch how we work, using Pro Tools and build and record a song. It was an experience for me, too. I've never written a song in front of 25 people.
"The reaction was great. Of course, that might have been because they were in the room with us, but it was good.
"We worked during the day from noon to 8 o'clock, had a bite to eat with them and then came back to work."
The band - Witherspoon, Clint Lowery, John Connolly, Vince Hornsby and Morgan Rose - formed in 1994. They will appear Monday night, May 6, at The Signal.
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.