BIO: Alberto Alaska was formed in its entirety in the spring of 2010 in Rochester, NY. The sonic foundation constructed by Alberto Alaska lies within the dual lead guitarists, who paint the frame work for a driving bass and a powerful percussive element. Combine the music with the lyrical journeys and the over all effect brings the listener a satisfaction that can only be quenched with the dynamic complexity of their work. Currently the band has is writing and recording their debut full length album.
BAND
Members and their roles:
Evan Clark - Guitar / Backup Vocals
Jacob Cavinee - Guitar
Michael Cardinale - Vocals
Doug Kelley - Drums
Jay Asarese - Bass
Where did the name come from?
Our name is derived from the idea of altered perception. A friend of the band used an alias while adventuring his way through college with an altered state of mind, as many seem to do once they experience their first taste of personal freedom. We found the stories behind the use of the name intriguing and now use the moniker to label our style of atmospheric rock.
How would you describe your sound?
We take elements from all sorts of genres and styles to formulate heavy hitting atmospheric rock songs. Roman Divezur did a nice write-up for us and said this "A meltdown of atmospheric and progressive styles that's typical of the post-rock genre. Alberto Alaska is a young band that can build a song into a hazy climax and burn it with a mid-tempo groove...this band is neither hard nor heavy nor wrong. It's like a wall-of-sound with chops on the side."
Who are your influences?
Radiohead, The Mars Volta/At The Drive-In,O'brother, Circa Survive, Manchester Orchestra, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd.
What makes you different from other local bands?
We focus primarily on sounding tight! Stage presence isn't a huge priority, we let the music speak for itself. But that isn't to say we don't move around, it's just a lot easier to put on a quality performance when you aren't flailing around.
What's coming up for you? (Music + Shows)
Our main focus right now is finishing our album which we tentatively plan on releasing late Spring.
LOCAL SCENE
How would you describe the music scene in Rochester from your point of view?
The music scene in Rochester is very cyclical and often lags behind. Things come and go, but the scene is always behind. We live in a B market... borderline C if you ask some agents. Basically most trends are well established before Rochester bands hop on the band wagon. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, it's a cultural and geographical issue.
What are some of the pros/cons of being where you are in the local music scene?
Rochester is great, there are a few very popular signed bands, a lot of bands starving for a shot at success, and the typical working musicians that populate any large city. There is a very large DIY scene, a healthy amount of club shows, and a ton of open mic / jams happening every week. CONS? Location, we are wedged in between cities that can support larger touring bands (Toronto, Buffalo, Syracuse, NYC). Most agents overlook Rochester, sometimes we are lucky enough to get off nights for bigger acts. Another con would be a decline in show attendance. This has made us and many other bands cut back local appearances and focus on regional touring instead. We live in a time where live entertainment is competing with Netflix and other stay at home activities. Oh and the winters suck here.
What are some challenges you've faced being based in Rochester? Do you think you would have benefited from being in a different city?
Tour routing and the weather are big challenges. It would be nice to be based out of NYC mainly because there are so many cities up and down the East Coast, which makes touring easier. When it comes to Winter we basically take a few months off, because it's very hard to get people to come out to the shows when the weather is bad.
Are there any other local bands that you find you play shows with a lot or that you collaborate with?
Of course! We love our pals in Dreameaters(formerly There I Say Is Lightning), Secret Pizza , Red Letter Statement.
GENERAL INDUSTRY
How do you pay for things like studio time, practice space and other marketing expenses?
We all have jobs, and pay for everything out of pocket unless we make money at a show. In the past we have used Kickstarter to crowd fund our debut EP, but our 2nd was completely out of pocket, and our album is currently racking up debt as we speak while we record. We split a rehearsal space with our pals in California Cousins. Without them we would still be in Mike's basement.
What would you look for in someone you might take on tour with you for management/merch?
A merch guy/gal tag along? They need to be a roadie as well, help us with loading and unloading, be able to drive in case we are too tired, and have their own money.
Do you book your own shows/ tours? What was your experience like and what advice would you give?
Yes we do all of our own booking, we have booked a few weekend tours and they are always a blast. Touring is great, in terms of advice: always leave early and plan on getting to the venue BEFORE load time. Don't tour in the winter and try to share gear, it will make your life a lot easier.
How has new technology affected your experience as a band? Has it helped or hurt you?
Technology is great, but not always beneficial. Smartphones have helped us out a lot for recording song ideas, but they are an unnecessary distraction at times. Our band just purchased a Zoom portable recorder, and that has allowed us to do a lot of pre-production recording and file sharing to speed up the writing process. So without that, and the internet we would still be using our smart phones.
What other advice do you have about the industry that didn't fit under any of the other questions?
Learn how to read and understand entertainment contracts, research copyright law, sync licensing, and marketing techniques. Knowledge is power.
LINKS:www.albertoalaska.com
https://www.facebook.com/
SOCIAL MEDIA:Twitter: Alberto_Alaska
Instagram: AlbertoAlaska
*All answers are direct quotes from the band, as this interview was conducted over email.
No comments:
Post a Comment