On the phone from a tour stop in Berkeley, Calif., last month, Kowalczyk spoke about his bald head and the tour Live is co-headlining with Counting Crows, among other things. The tour rolls into Tampa on Thursday at the Ice Palace.

(Kowalczyk may be a trendsetter with the bald thing, but his wife has requested that he grow it out so she "can run her fingers through it," he said.)

"People are generally surprised at the level of performance that Live has come to," Kowalczyk said. In contrast to the mellow yet "classic and wonderful" sounds of their Counting Crows road buddies, Live offers up its own blend of loud rock each night. "The show still rocks really hard!" Kowalczyk said.

But does the sonic dichotomy of the bands make for a jarring evening?

No, emphatically, said Kowalczyk. The difference in sound is the key ingredient to a powerful show. Both bands have "honed the craft (of a live show) to an extensive degree," said Kowalczyk.

The strong friendship between Kowalczyk and Crows lead singer Adam Duritz also contributes to the show's impact, he said. There's a "mutual inspiration every night. We're both fans of each other's music."

Besides sharing the limelight with Counting Crows, what else inspires Kowalczyk? He admits that he sings in the shower and also writes many lyrics while driving.

To his teenage fans, the easygoing Kowalczyk offers this advice: "It gets better being a teenager. Don't be afraid to grow up. Stay happy."

If the band was on television's Survivor, which member would remain the longest? "Oh, me," says Kowalczyk with a laugh. "The rock singer must always prevail."

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright