OneRepublic promises 'most fun' tour to date for Ravinia gig

It's been more than a year in the making, but OneRepublic's "Love Runs Out" was well worth the wait for bassist/cellist Brent Kutzle.

Though band members had hoped to release the song with their latest album, "Native," in March 2013, Kutzle said they struggled to find a chorus they liked. So the song was released as a single, then added to a repackaged "Native." The official video just came out June 4.

"Some of the songs take forever," Kutzle said. "'Love Runs Out' was one of those. I think it's the longest we've spent working on a song.

"It's pretty precious to us."

That's saying something for the band behind such hits as "Apologize" and "Counting Stars."

Fans can expect to hear those hits and more when the pop/rock group plays Ravinia in Highland Park on Wednesday, June 18, and Thursday, June 19, on their Native Summer Tour with The Script. American Authors will also perform.

Kutzle and the band are on the road all summer, performing and promoting "Native" as well as tour sponsor Malibu's Best Summer Ever campaign.

In a phone interview, Kutzle talked about the band's songwriting process and their upcoming Ravinia shows.

"The writing process is 50 percent Ryan (Tedder) coming to us with an idea," Kutzle said. "It's very organic, and we do some writing together."

The band began when songwriter/lead vocalist Tedder and electric guitarist Zach Filkins met on the soccer field in high school. The former teammates turned bandmates in 2002, forming OneRepublic.

Since then Tedder and Filkins have been joined by electric guitarist Drew Brown, drummer Eddie Fisher and bassist/cellist Kutzle.

"I officially joined in 2007, and half of the first album was already done," said Kutzle. "There was a small bass audition, and I brought my cello - that is really what set me apart."

Kutzle joined the same year the band's first prominent song "Apologize" began its reign as "the most popular digital download in American history," according to the OneRepublic iTunes' biography.

"Native" is the group's third studio album and includes "If I Lose Myself," "I Lived," "Feel Again" and "Counting Stars," which has more than 318 million views on YouTube and continues to grow.

For the sold-out Ravinia shows, Kutzle promised a high-energy production with lighting to top off the performance.

"This show will be more rock than pop. We're all kind of rock guys at heart," Kutzle said. "It's our most fun tour so far."

OneRepublic's Native Summer Tour

Where: Ravinia, 418 Sheridan Road, Highland Park, (847) 266-5000,

www.ravinia.orgWhen: Gates open at 4 p.m. and show starts at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 18, and Thursday, June 19.Tickets: $38-$90; sold out