Love and Theft (duo)

Last updated
Love and Theft
Love and Theft.jpg
Love and Theft performing in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Stephen Barker Liles (left) and Eric Gunderson
Background information
Origin Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres Country
Years active2006–present
Labels
Members
  • Eric Gunderson
    Stephen Barker Liles
Past membersBrian Bandas
Website Official website

Love and Theft is an American country music duo consisting of vocalists Eric Gunderson and Stephen Barker Liles. They originally recorded as a trio with vocalist Brian Bandas; after he exited the band, Gunderson and Liles continued as a duo. Signed to Lyric Street Records subsidiary Carolwood Records in 2009, Love and Theft made their chart debut in early 2009 with the single "Runaway," which reached the Top 10 on Billboard Hot Country Songs. The band's debut album, World Wide Open , was released on August 25, 2009.

Contents

In 2011, following the departure of Bandas, Love and Theft continued as a duo consisting of Gunderson and Liles. The duo moved to RCA Records Nashville that year and released the single "Angel Eyes", which became their first number 1 single. It and the Top 40 singles "Runnin' Out of Air" and "If You Ever Get Lonely" all appear on their second, self-titled album. A third album, Whiskey on My Breath, followed in 2015.

Musical career

Love and Theft was formed in 2006 by Brian Bandas, Stephen Barker Liles, and Eric Gunderson, all three of whom alternated on lead vocals. After performing before ASCAP executives, they were recommended to an A&R executive for Lyric Street Records, who signed them to Lyric Street's sister label Carolwood Records in 2009. [1] Just prior, they were also signed as an opening act for Taylor Swift's 2008 tour. Liles is the subject of "Hey Stephen" which appears on Swift's 2008 album Fearless . [2] He also co-wrote the track "Wrong Baby Wrong Baby Wrong" on Martina McBride's 2009 album Shine. "Kissin' in Cars," which was featured on the soundtrack for the film Country Strong, was also co-written by Liles.

Love and Theft made their first Grand Ole Opry performance on March 28, 2009, [3] shortly before the release of the debut single "Runaway." This song was written by Stephen Barker Liles, Canaan Smith, and Rob Blackledge of Blackjack Billy, and is included on the band's debut album, World Wide Open. The album entered at No. 10 on the Country chart, selling 12,500 copies in its first week. [4] In addition, Love and Theft recorded a video for "Don't Wake Me," another cut from the album. [5] "Runaway" peaked at number 10 on the country chart in November 2009, shortly before Carolwood was consolidated with Lyric Street. [6] "Dancing in Circles" was released as the album's second single in December 2009, and reached a peak of number 25 in March 2010. On April 14, Disney Music Group announced the closure of Lyric Street Records, leaving Love and Theft without a record deal. [7]

Love and Theft became a duo in 2011 after founding member Brian Bandas left the band. [8] The remaining two members then signed with RCA Nashville in 2011. [9] "Angel Eyes" was digitally released on November 8, 2011, and released to radio six days later. In August 2012, "Angel Eyes" became Love and Theft's first Number One single on the Hot Country Songs chart. It was the lead single from their self-titled album, which was released via RCA on July 24, 2012. [10] The album's second and third singles, "Runnin' Out of Air and "If You Ever Get Lonely," were both minor Top 40 hits on the Billboard Country Airplay charts.

The duo released "Night That You'll Never Forget" in early 2014 as the lead single to an upcoming third album. It reached a peak of number 34 on the Billboard Country Airplay charts and in October 2014, it was announced that Love and Theft had parted ways with Sony Music Nashville. Almost an entire second album was lost (including "Going Out Like That," which Reba cut in 2015), the songs untouchable for five years, unless Stephen and Eric paid the hefty price of $13,000 for each song. [11] They self-released "Whiskey on My Breath" via Hate & Purchase Music later in the year, [12] and their third studio album, also titled Whiskey on My Breath, was released on February 10, 2015. Their Can't Wait For the Weekend tour took place 2015-2016, taking place throughout the United States.

In March 2016, Love and Theft signed a new record deal with Curb Records, which immediately re-issued their previous single, "Whiskey on My Breath," to country radio. [13] "Candyland" was released to country radio on October 10, 2016, and peaked at number 55 on Billboard Country Airplay. Love and Theft recorded for Curb Records through 2019, but on December 1, 2023, Curb finally issued Need to Breathe, Love and Theft's fourth studio album.

Personal lives

Gunderson married Emily Hagar in 2010. [14] The couple had their first baby on March 10, 2013, [15] a boy named Camden William. Stephen Barker Liles got engaged to Jenna Michelle Kennedy on May 28, 2013. They have two children. [16] Liles and Kennedy married Aug 24, 2014. [17] [18] [19] [20]

Discography

Love and Theft discography
Studio albums3
Music videos9
EPs1
Singles9
#1 Singles1

Studio albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positionsSales
US Country
[21]
US
[22]
US Indie
[23]
World Wide Open 1036
Love and Theft
  • Release date: July 24, 2012
  • Label: RCA Nashville
  • Formats: CD, music download
421
Whiskey on My Breath [25]
  • Release date: February 10, 2015
  • Label: Hate & Purchase Music
  • Formats: CD, music download
2616
Need to Breathe
  • Release date: December 1, 2023
  • Label: Curb
  • Formats: CD, music download
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Extended plays

TitleAlbum details
Live in Savannah
  • Release date: September 30, 2008
  • Label: Lyric Street Records
  • Formats: CD, music download

Singles

YearSinglePeak chart positions Certifications
/Sales
Album
US Country
[27]
US Country Airplay
[28]
US
[29]
CAN
[30]
2009"Runaway"1065World Wide Open
"Dancing in Circles"25
2011"Angel Eyes"13268Love and Theft
2012"Runnin' Out of Air"3835
2013"If You Ever Get Lonely"4334
2014"Night That You'll Never Forget"3834
"Whiskey on My Breath"3142Whiskey on My Breath
2016"Candyland"55
2018"You Didn't Want Me"Need to Breathe
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Music videos

YearVideoDirector
2009"Don't Wake Me" [33] Devin Pense
"Runaway" [34] Kristin Barlowe
"Dancing in Circles" [35]
2012"Angel Eyes" [36] Chris Hicky
"Runnin' Out of Air"Mason Dixon
2013"If You Ever Get Lonely" [37]
2014"Night That You'll Never Forget" [38]
2015"Whiskey on My Breath" [39]
2018"You Didn't Want Me"

Awards and nominations

YearAssociationCategoryNominated WorkResult
2012 Country Music Association Awards New Artist of the YearNominated
Vocal Duo of the YearNominated
2013 Academy of Country Music Awards Top New Vocal Duo/GroupNominated
Top Vocal DuoNominated
CMT Music Awards Duo Video of the Year"Runnin' Out of Air"Nominated

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<i>World Wide Open</i> 2009 studio album by Love and Theft

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<i>Love and Theft</i> (Love and Theft album) 2012 studio album by Love and Theft

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">If You Ever Get Lonely</span> 2013 single by Love and Theft

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References

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