Friday , June 12, 2009 marks the CD release show at The Varsity Theater in Minneapolis of local indie-rock band The Alarmists' new album, The Overhead Left. Culture Vulture got the opportunity to ask frontman Eric Lovold about the project.
Culture Vulture: How long have you been working on The Overhead Left, and how does it feel to have the final product ready for distribution?
Eric Lovold: We started demos for it about a year ago. We're pretty excited about this one, so it feels great to have it ready.
CV: What significance does this record hold for you?
EL: This is the first record that Joe Kuefler and Ryan McMillan and I made together in the studio that we built together a few years ago. So it was pretty cool to have that opportunity.
CV: Tell us a little about the new record. Is this a new direction?
EL: I wouldn't say the sound has changed in any specific way. You always hope to make better records, and I think that this record is definitely a step in the right direction for us.
CV: There's been some talk about supporting local non-profit Rock the Cause with this record. Tell us about that.
EL: We met Scott Herold a few years ago and did a charity show with his organization, Rock the Cause. They do pretty amazing community work. Our album is going to be available for free exclusively through the Rock the Cause site, for those people that attend our CD release show. We're directing traffic to Rock the Cause so that people can see what they are all about. The show is 10 bucks, so we figure we'll throw the record in for free for the people that come out to support us.
CV: That's incredibly generous of you guys. Now, I know there's been some shifting around as far as bandmembers go. Who is currently performing as The Alarmists? Does this differ from those who recorded on the album?
EL: The line up on the album is the same as the line up live, with the exception of Randy Tomes (Keys). It's Joe and Ryan and I, Mark Schwandt on drums, and Brian Gruidle on bass.
CV: What's next for the band? Will there be any touring with this album?
EL: We will not be touring on this album. We're keeping it local. Each of us have personal goals and separate lives from the band, and we're trying to respect that for our own sanity. The next step for the band is to work on writing new music with this lineup. We're pretty excited about the possibilities and the plan is to hit the studio again.
CV: Speaking of the studio, you do some recording for other bands. What are some of your recent projects?
EL: Recently I've worked with So It Goes and Stellar Vector. The cool thing about recording bands is that they might be people that you've only known socially, and then you spend all this time together and become close friends. That's pretty fantastic.
CV: Totally. So you've been part of the Minneapolis rock scene for awhile now. How old are you?
EL: I turn 26 a week after our CD release.
CV: You're a young buck. What's next for you?
EL: Next for me...more Alarmists music, working with White Light Riot on their next album, and recording in the studio. I'm doing as much music as possible this summer.
CV: Sounds great. Give us three reasons why people need to be there on Friday.
EL: Well, this is the first time our new lineup will be playing together live, which is pretty exciting. Also, Coach Said Not To is playing. Third - have you ever seen Joe on stage?
He's a madman!
CV: Anything else you want to say to Culture Vulture Party readers?
EL: If you've made it this far, thanks for reading. Hope to see you at the show!
Culture Vulture will ALSO miss this show, as we'll be at Bonnaroo. But if you're in Minneapolis this weekend, this is where you should be:
The Alarmists CD Release Show
w/ special guests The 757s, The Championship and Coach Said Not To
June 12, 2009
Varsity Theater
1308 4th St SE Minneapolis, MN 55414
$10 @ the door
Check out http://www.myspace.com/thealarmists
and http://www.irockthecause.org
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