Everclear
Art
Alexakis - Vocals, Guitar
Dave
French - Guitar
Freddy
Herrera - Bass
Brian
Nolan - Drums
Considering
Everclear has written and recorded some truly iconic '90s alt-rock hits, it
would be all too easy these days for the band to be a victim of its past
successes, relegated to performing as a glorified jukebox, existing to satisfy
the nostalgic cravings of Gen Xers everywhere. But singer-guitarist Art
Alexakis isn't about to start phoning it in now.
Although
the band hasn't released a new studio album since 2015's triumphant Black Is The New Black, Everclear
continues to tour actively, in conjunction with a series of past-release
anniversary dates and the annual Summerland Tour, which
Alexakis created and has been running since 2012, featuring a rotating cast of
'90s alt rock favorites. And while it's a virtual surety that no Everclear gig
is complete without a rendition of "Santa Monica" and "Father of Mine," lately
the band has found that exploring the full range of past material-especially
the "deep cuts"-not only gives fans a rare treat, it also injects new life into
the band's live dynamic.
"By
mixing it up and digging into the catalogue, it still makes it fun and relevant
for us, and I think for the fans as well," says Alexakis. "It's still important
to play the hits, but by playing those other songs as well, it makes it all
seem more vibrant and real. Even though I recorded some of those songs 20 years
ago, I haven't played them in a long time, so it's like reinventing the wheel.
I'm having more fun now than I have in years. I think all of us are."
Formed by Alexakis in 1991 in Portland, Oregon, Everclear has
enjoyed a lengthy career spanning 11 studio releases, numerous videos,
thousands of shows and accolades that include a 1998 Grammy nomination. Like a
true survivor, Alexakis has soldiered on through multiple lineup changes over
the years: During the "classic" era, the band also included Craig Montoya on
Bass and Greg Eklund on drums; the current touring lineup features longtime
members Dave French (guitar) and Freddy Herrera (bass), as well as drummer Brian
Nolan (also with American Hi-Fi), who has performed with Everclear on multiple past
tours.
This incarnation of the band will hit the road for the 2018 Summerland
Tour. As in prior years, Everclear will headline the latest installment of the festival,
this time supported by Marcy Playground and Local H, and also featuring a
special DJ set Alexakis will contribute, which honors the '90s in a
refreshingly old-school way.
"The Summerland Tours are all unique; they all have a different
kind of feel to them," says Alexakis. "I think this year will be really cool,
because it's usually guitar-based, but Marcy Playground is more acoustic-based,
yet they still rock in their own way. Local H is just two guys, meanwhile, and they're
great, too. So, it's just a different look at '90s alternative this year...different
facets of what it's about. With Everclear, we're going to play the hits we
always play, but we're also going to mix it up. Every night will be a little
different; there'll be a few surprises every show."
For Alexakis and Co., it's a continuation of a hectic couple of
years. Everclear spent May and June of 2017 touring in honor of the 20th
anniversary of So Much For The Afterglow,
the band's massively successful sophomore major-label release. The 40-date run
was an incredibly emotional and personally satisfying experience for Alexakis,
who was able to perform obscure cuts from that time period for the first time
in many years. Connecting with fans in that setting also reinforced the lasting
impression the album has made.
"The tour was phenomenal. It left me and the band stunned at how
important that record was to so many people, and to be a part of that, both
then and now," says Alexakis. "The legacy of it is still vibrant for so many
people. It was great just watching people react when we were playing not just
the hits, but deeper songs on that record. I always liked the deeper songs-they
were usually my favorite songs-and when the band would play those, it would be
really exciting and important for me. That was fun, seeing that reaction, and
just talking to people after the show."
Prior to that, Everclear experienced a career resurgence thanks to
2015's Black Is The New Black, which not
only proved the band could still rock, but also that Everclear remains creatively
relevant, decades after their platinum years. As is common for many artists these
days, Black didn't set records for traditional
album sales, but the release did see significant streaming activity and sparked
a heightened social media presence, putting the group firmly back in the listening
public's mind. The band continues to ride this latest wave of interest.
"I personally think [Black] is one of the best records Everclear
has ever made," Alexakis says. "It sounds like both old Everclear and new
Everclear: It has a contemporary production sound, but it's just old-school,
angry rock songs. It's kind of dark, very reminiscent of the early stuff. The
sales weren't great on it, but a lot of people streamed it. It got millions and
millions of streams, so people were listening to it, and it resonated."
But when you've been a prolific band for more than a
quarter-century, it's all part of the journey. Right now, Alexakis is feeling a
reflective pull for the 25th anniversary of World Of Noise, the band's indie debut, which was recorded for $400
in a friend's basement in Portland. Although no official commemorative tour dates
are confirmed as of this writing, Alexakis says he's considering playing some
smaller, select shows this year as a tribute to the release. Much of the
material rarely sees the light of day, but the 1993 album continues to enjoy a
special place in Everclear history.
"We'd just had a baby, I was on public assistance and was working
part-time jobs, I was very frustrated and very angry and there were a lot of
emotions going on," Alexakis reflects. "I made that record for $400, because
that's all I had. I got this guy who had a basement studio to give me 40 hours'
worth of recording at $10 an hour. We had 10 or 11 songs, so we went in and
recorded them in a week and mixed them, and that's the album....From there we just
hit the ground running. I still haven't stopped."
That rough and raw first attempt was just the nexus of the massive
body of work Everclear and Alexakis have contributed since that humble
beginning. When it comes to recording new material, at the moment Alexakis is
focused primarily on writing and recording his first solo album, due out later
this year. That precludes a new Everclear release...for now.
"We might make another record in a couple years," he says. "Maybe
later on this year I'll feel like it. I don't know yet."
That said, the band's live itinerary certainly makes up for its recent
studio absence. As the group prepares for another Summerland run, as well as
numerous other future dates, Alexakis is excited to revisit songs from fan favorite
records like Afterglow, Sparkle and Fade and the double album Songs From The American Movie, but also
compositions from more underrated collections, like 2012's Invisible Stars.
"There are people asking for songs, so we'll just try and learn
songs as we go," Alexakis says. "If we get a lot of response from people to
play a certain song, we're going to learn it and go on the road and play it. You
don't think, 'Wow, I can't sing that high anymore.' We're not going to worry
about it. We're going to play some rock n' roll, and just do it."
- Website:
- http://everclearmusic.com