when looking at Everclear performances in the Lawrence and Kansas City area during the past year, it's
n' roll fans consider them part of the local scene.
In the past nine months they've played the Granada twice, the Hurricane twice, the Bottleneck and the Grand Emporium. All were sold out.
The Lazer has become the flagship station for the grassroots Everclear movement, playing only the band's released and promoted singles but also songs from the band's first album and some lesser known compilation tracks.
A listener can't tune in to the Lazer more than 20 minutes without hearing an Everclear song or a plug for Saturday's show at the 4,000-plus seat Memorial Hall.
Let's just hope that all this Everclear doesn't leave local rock fans hung over. The Everclear has been around for awhile now and the party is out of control.
I spoke recently with Everclear bassist Craig Montoya about his band's rise from the Portland night-clubs to national tours and television exposure. So relax, have a drink and read on. You've had too much Everclear to stop now (I think you ought to give me your keys).
Q: You've played nearly every club in Lawrence and Kansas City, and our radio station absolutely worships your records. You sell out every show, and I even met a guy yesterday who told me you guys were a local band. Isn't all of this adoration a little weird?
A1 (laughs) Oh yeah, definitely. It kinda freaks me out. Those guys at the Lazer have really been good to us
and we've had tons of fun in Lawrence. We really love it there. When we first played there, we expected the clubs to be pretty empty. Then we show up and the kids are jumping around like crazy, singing the words. I can't really describe how cool we think Lawrence and Kansas City are.
Q: Do you play to similar crowds elsewhere?
friends of ours. We asked them to tour with us and thankfully, they said yes. No Doubt is a great band that doesn't really play anything like I've heard before. As far as them being one-hit-wonders, I can't really respond to that because I don't listen to the radio much. I know that both bands play more than one song that I like.
Q: What's been the biggest
Lawrence listeners have adopted these West Coast rockers
A2. Well, not really. I mean, we sell out in lots of places, and at home (in Portland) we do really well. But this is the first time we've had to cancel a show because the venue wasn't big enough. At the same time, I don't like to play in bigger venues. Any place where the stage is taller than the pit is too big. I like the people in the front row right on top of me. There's an energy between us and the crowd, and we can feed of off it when we play. Sometimes that energy just isn't there in a big venue.
Q: The other two bands on the bill, No Doubt and Ruth Ruth, have been taking some flak lately. It seems they've been hit by the standard one-hit-wonder stigma. How well do you know these bands?
A: We've played with Ruth Ruth before, and they've become good
adjustment or change you've made since Everclear signed with Capitol and the album Sparkle and Fade was released? Do you have a new 'rock star' persona?
A: I hope your joking about that ... (laughs).
Q. Yeah ... I'm joking a little. But I also see the video for "Santa Monica" about every ten minutes. That had to make hanging out in public places a little more trying.
A: Oh yeah, every time I see that video I get really freaked out. I don't know how to feel about seeing myself on television. As far as fame goes, we've gotten some really weird letters. Some from lawyers and businessmen, telling us how much they like the record, and a whole lot from younger kids who say the record helps them deal with tough things in their lives. We got a letter from a girl
who went to our show and had a great time. She found out two days later she had AIDS. We heard that right after she mailed us that letter she jumped from a freeway overpass and died. That really freaked us out. How do you react to someone writing you the last letter before they kill themselves? You can't expect to read something like that.
Q: Wow. That's pretty heavy stuff. Do you get a lot of questions about the band's message? I know Art (Alexakis) is a recovered heroin addict and that some of his lyrics seem to be therapeutic and autobiographical. How do you guys respond to that?
A: We write the music first, and then Art plays with a lyric idea as we go. We've never written a song with a message in mind. Recently we've been practicing and writing songs for a record we'll make in April, and we haven't changed the message at all. What Art writes as far as lyrics go is just what comes to mind when we play.
A lot of kids tell us that they can really relate to our songs, 'cause they're angry and up-front.' That's just how we are. I'd say that yes, the songs are about us, but what's more important is that they're honest. We just like to rock'n'roll.
Q: What comes after the April recording session?
A: It looks like we'll play this summer's Lollapaloooa. Last year's lineup was pretty lame, but this year they've got Metallica, Soundgarden, the Foo Fighters and Oasis. I'm not sure where Oasis fits in there...but who cares, they are British. I hope it works out and we can play the tour.
Few tickets remain for tomorrow night's Everclear show. They are $10 and are available at The Bottleneck or through Ticketmaster.
Night topics
Today
Ben Folds Five, 9 p.m. at The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St. Cost: Advanced tickets, sold out.
Craig Akin House Band, 10 p.m. at Full Moon Cafe, 803 Massachusetts St. Free.
The Billys, 10 p.m. at the Jazzhaus of Lawrence,
926 1/2 Massachusets St. Cost. $3.
Urban Safari, 9 p.m. at Johnny's Tavern, 401 North Second St. Cost: $2.
Tomorrow
Wakeland with Blueshead Beggars and Mouth
Wide Open, 10 p.m. at The Granada, 1020 Massachusetts St. Cost: $5-$6.
Shag with Justin Case, 10 p.m. at The Bottleneck.
Cost: $5-86.
Everclear with No Doubt and Ruth Ruth at Memorial Hall. Cost: $10.
Howard Iceberg & the Titanics, 10 p.m. at Full Moon Cafe. Free.
Dave Thompson, 10 p.m. at The Jazzhaus of
Lawrence. Cost: $4.
Urban Safari, 9 p.m. at Johnny's Tavern. Cost: $2.
Sunday
Napalm Death, 10 p.m. at The Bottleneck. Free.
Monday
Luna with Shallow, 10 p.m. at The Bottleneck.
Cost: $6.
Tuesday
Tuesday Pamper the Madman with Iodine, 10 p.m. at The Bottleneck. Cost: $3-$4.
Parlor Frogs, 8 p.m. at Full Moon Cafe. Free.
Tori
Amos Boys
for Pele (Atlantic).
On the inside of the Boys for
Pele CD booklet, there is a picture
of Tori Amos breast feeding a small pig.
And though I know it's an image intended to
offend, I can't help but think "Well, I guess that's just
Tori."
Maybe it is that her affinity for usual photos is the very least of what's different to mention Tori Amos. She's kind of hard to classify. Her sound doesn't easily fit into any mainstream category, and she's as far from the alternative-d stereotype as you can get. Which really leaves us with just one thing to talk about. Her music.
and thankfully, her
music is well worth talking
about. Bows for Pete, written and produced entirely by Amos, is a unique musical achievement that I imagine will be well-received by critics and fans alike. The disc opens with two strong songs, "Horses" and "Blood Roses," and though at points it sounds a touch over-produced (at one point an over-dubbed Amos sings a duet with
Tori Amos
her- self) the al- bum quality gener- ally increases as you listen. As far as the nature of the lyrics, this disc shows Amos at her boldest, lustiest
best. I recommend listening to this disc extremely late in the evening, particularly after a rousing night out on the town. Overall: 7 and climbing.
Mr. Mirainga Mr. Mirainga (MCA). This LA-based punk band played a cool little
Mr. Mirainga Mr. Mirainga (MCA). This LA-based punk band played a cool little show at the Replay Lounge last fall.
Unfortunately only two drunk guys, a dog and I saw it. Needless to say, I was looking forward to hearing their coming album. It's got some of the best cover artwork I've seen in a while, and it's obvious from the size
of their press kit that MCA is dedicated to this relatively unknown band's promotion.
Too bad the music has some problems.
Not serious problems, mind
you,
b u t
problems
nonetheless.
The most glaring is
the vocal track. Nearly
every song starts with great
guitar hooks, and — with a cou-
ple of exceptions — these songs are
pretty catchy. But the vocals are over-
mixed and often harsh. After a couple of songs
into the disk, I start to get annoyed. I know this
doesn't make me sound like the punk-
rock fan I claim to be, but I honestly wish
that these guys would learn how to sing.
Overall: 4.
Ruby Salt peter (Creation/Work). Judging by the above review of the new Tori
Mr. Mirainga
Amos record, one could guess that I'm not a fan of the current crop of women rockers. And to be honest, that's basically true. But here's where I talk out of the other side of my mouth.
Hove this record.
Ruby is the project of
you
are a fan
of the early
Nine Inch Nails
records or the more
rock n' roll based Ned's
Atomic Dustbin, this record
might have the feminine industrial
perspective you were waiting for.
The Lazer is playing the band's first single,
The Lazer is playing the band's first single, "Paraffin," in its rotation, though I seem to hear it
Ruby
only at night. Which is OK, because with song titles such as "Tiny Meat," "Swallow Baby" and an album called Salt peter, I get the impression that this is music for and about things that most often happen at night. Overall: 8 Next Week: Hum and Mercury Rev at The Bottleneck, plus CD reviews for the new 2Pac double-CD and the latest from KJHK favorites Possum Dixon. Staytuned.
You can reach Robert Moczdywsky at rmozuckd@afcon.ku.edu. Please send any demo tapes, 7" records or CDs to be reviewed to 11.1 Stauffer Flint Hall, Lawrence, K.6045