By Kimberly Gasuras
A former lead singer of the band, Hinder, Nolan Neal will be performing at Dillinger’s Entertainment Center and Restaurant on Saturday.
Neal has appeared on seasons 10 and 11 of the popular television series, The Voice, and will perform his song, “Tiny Dancer,” along with many other hits during his acoustic show this weekend. He will share the stage with fellow singers and songwriters, Mike Alan and Austin Peckham.
Local resident and songwriter, Shane Grove, lined up the show after working with Neal.
“I met Nolan a couple of years ago while I was in Nashville with another writer, David Wade. We did some work in the studio with him before going back to the house he shared with Mike Alan to do some writing. I had some lyrics that were a little different and Nolan immediately gravitated to them,” Grove said.
Grove said he and Neal have spent the past year-and-a-half finishing the song long distance.
“You never knew when Nolan was going to send a voice recording of something he had done with it. It is almost done and we can’t wait to get it out there for people to finally hear,” Grove said.
In a recent phone interview, Neal said it is something different than most musicians, that he finds most exhilarating in his career.
“I am a recovering addict. I liked opiates the best but would take just about anything. I was worried that I would not be able to write songs anymore if I was sober,” Neal said.
Neal said that the last year he was high, he wrote seven songs.
“The first year I was sober, I wrote 70,” Neal said.
Neal said he loves to perform for people in recovery.
“When they tell me that one of my songs moved them, helped them in some way, that is more exciting than the rush of the crowd cheering or when all four chairs turn around on The Voice after none turned around the first time,” Neal said.
In his 22-year career, Neal has written songs with members of Cold, Saliva, Hinder, Tonic and various other number one chart-topping songwriters in Nashville, Tennessee. Recently, this included five songs on two Saliva records and two songs on a Hinder record.
As a Nashville native, Neal grew up in music and under the influence of his parents’ own musical gifts, preparing him to embrace his calling to “Heal people through the gift of music.”
Gracing the stage with other talented artists such as Eddie Money, Saving Able, Adelitas Way, Pop Evil, Pretty Wreckless and more, he was able to effortlessly entertain a 10,000 person crowd at the Forks of the River Rockfest in 2014 as Hinder’s frontman. Other successful ventures include past collaborations with Hollywood Records and Virgin Records, alongside artists such as Kid Rock, Matchbox 20, and Jewel.
Neal, who recently moved to Los Angeles, will return to reality TV this fall as a judge on the show, “Big Bad BBQ Brawl.”
Neal said he has played at Dillinger’s before.
“I love Bucyrus and this will be a fun performance on Saturday,” Neal said.
Grove said, for the record, that Neal a pure musical genius.
“And someone I am glad I can call my friend,” Grove said.
Neal, Peckham and Alan will take the stage at 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. The restaurant at Dillinger’s opens at 4 p.m. Tickets are available online or at Dillinger’s, located at 144 Washington Square in Bucyrus. For online tickets, visit https://www.showclix.com/event/nolan-neal-austin-peckham-and-mike-alan-acoustic.