Staind vocalist Aaron Lewis has been doing his solo acoustic tour for six years now. "Why not?" was how the singer responded to our question as to why he's kept this special tradition going. Beginning on New Year's Day 2010, Lewis will suit up with his acoustic guitar and spend two months hitting casinos and other venues, proudly showcasing his softer and more sensitive side. He says that he does see some Staind fans in the crowd while on his solo sojourns, but has noticed that he mostly attracts an older demo.

"I know that I see a lot of older people there, that I would not see at a Staind show and I don't know if that is the exposure I've gotten from playing casinos or whether they are parents of kids that are fans that want to check out a kinder, gentler version of what their kids would go to," Lewis told Noisecreep.

Whatever the case, however these fans came to discover his music, it's all for the greater good and could actually increase Staind listenership. "I am sure it all helps in one way or another," Lewis said with a bit of zen-ness. "I really try to not think about stuff like that and be in the moment and be happy to be there and hope the ride doesn't stop."

Being in the moment also means that Lewis has a fluid approach to his solo sets. He doesn't scribble a set list and he certainly doesn't plan things in advance. "I never know what I am going to play," he admitted. "I go out with no set list and no plan of any sort. I know what the last three songs will be, and me and my guitar tech argue for 10 minutes before I hit the stage as to what the first song should be. Everything in the middle is off the cuff until I get on the stage." Lewis saves the big hits, 'Outside' and 'It's Been a While,' for the very end, and with good reason. "Those are for the people who came just for those songs. They have have to wait to hear them. It makes the most sense for me to play those at the end of the show."

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