American Suzuki Motor Corporation’s Automotive and Motorcycle Divisions named as title sponsor of upcoming Kutless’ Hearts of the Innocent tourBREA, Calif. – (August 10, 2006) – American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC), widely known for its high-performance motorcycles and life-enthusiast-focused automobiles, today announced a sponsorship with BEC/Tooth and Nail’s Kutless, making the band the automotive company’s first music partnership. . . .
The tour marks Suzuki’s first foray into the music industry where the company sees an opportunity to connect its products with a like-minded consumer demographic of those who choose to live life instead of watch it go by.
“Kutless is honored to partner with Suzuki, a company that shares our passion for living life to its fullest,” said Kutless frontman Jon Micah Sumrall. “The Hearts of Innocent record is a call to our generation to stand strong and faithful. We are pumped to get back out on the road for a full-throttle rock-and-roll show that will be more than just a great night of music.”
The Hearts of the Innocent tour powered by Suzuki supports Kutless’ latest album The Hearts of the Innocent, which was released in March, and debuted at No. 2 on Neilsen SoundScan’s Top Christian/Gospel Albums Overall chart, No. 1 on its Top Christian Rock/Alternative Albums chart and No. 45 on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart. T
Added Chance Hoag of Platform: “It’s an awesome opportunity for Kutless to demonstrate to Suzuki and other corporations of their caliber that there is tremendous benefit to being associated with Christian music and its fans; as well as for the fans to see how a corporate sponsor helps a band like Kutless to deliver a first-class, high-impact concert experience.”The Portland, Ore.-based quintet has emerged as one of Christian and rock music’s hottest acts. Kutless has played before nearly two million fans in the past four years, has had eight radio hits from the band’s first three CDs, Kutless, Sea of Faces and Strong Tower, and been nominated for multiple Dove Awards, earning its first last year for the band’s participation on the Special Event Album of the Year, the soundtrack to “Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.” Kutless’ music also has been featured in television and film. On the NBC hit TV show “Scrubs,” in an episode this season titled “My Bright Idea,” the Kutless song “All of the Words” played for almost two minutes during a pivotal scene of the popular comedy. Additionally, the band’s groundbreaking video for the song “Shut Me Out” has been placed on an exclusive Microsoft/Wal-Mart DVD Xbox giveaway, estimated to reach 350,000 gamers, and Target Stores recently debuted the “Shut Me Out” video on Target TV (Red Channel) nationwide.
ASMC will complement its sponsorship with a number of promotional activities surrounding the tour, including an online sweepstakes. Beginning in September, fans will be able to register online at www.kutless.com/tour for a chance to win one of three exciting Suzuki products, including the all-new 2007 Suzuki SX4 compact sport X-over, 2007 Suzuki RM-Z450 and 2007 Suzuki DR-Z400SM.
Hearts of the Innocent tour powered by Suzuki concert schedule:
Wednesday Oct. 25 Birmingham, Ala.
Thursday Oct. 26 Knoxville, Tenn.
Friday Oct. 27 Cincinnati, Ohio
Saturday Oct. 28 Griffin, Ga.
Sunday Oct. 29 Indianapolis, Ind.
Monday Oct. 30 St. Charles, Mo.
Wednesday Nov. 1 Duluth, Minn.
Thursday Nov. 2 Fargo, N.D.
Friday Nov. 3 Minneapolis, Minn.
Saturday Nov. 4 Chicago, Ill.
Tuesday Nov. 7 Detroit, Mich.
Thursday Nov. 9 Huntington, W.Va.
Friday Nov. 10 Pittsburgh, Pa.
Saturday Nov. 11 Albany (Clifton Park), N.Y.
Sunday Nov. 12 Buffalo (Hamburg), N.Y.
Monday Nov. 13 Souderton, Pa.
Tuesday Nov. 14 Manheim, Pa.
Thursday Nov. 16 Bedford, N.H.
Friday Nov. 17 Baltimore, Md.
Saturday Nov. 18 Waterbury, Conn.
Sunday Nov. 19 New York, N.Y.
For more information on the Hearts of the Innocent tour powered by Suzuki, visit www.kutless.com.
