everclear
Art Alexakis
By: Lori Smerilson Carson | Photos: Brian Cox
In the year 1995, Windows 95 was introduced, Toy Story hit movie screens across the country, PlayStation debuted for gamers, and the music scene was amazed with the release of Everclear’s Sparkle and Fade which reached Platinum status spawning hit singles “Santa Monica”, “Heartspark Dollarsign” and “Heroin Girl”. This incredible band continued releasing prominent rock music including two more platinum records and another gold LP, backed by fan favorite tours. Currently, Everclear, consisting of Lead Vocalist/Guitarist Art Alexakis, Guitarist Davey French, Bassist Freddy Herrera and Drummer Brian Nolan are celebrating their 30th anniversary of the original Sparkle and Fade release with a remastered two album version, and a forty-three-date national tour with special guests Local H and Sponge. Florida fans have the opportunity to catch this show on October 5th in Pensacola at the Vinyl Music Hall, October 7th in Orlando at The Plaza Live, October 8th in Clearwater at Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, October 9th in Fort Lauderdale at The Parker, October 11th in Fort Pierce at the Sunrise Theatre, and on October 12th in Ponte Vedra Beach at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall.
Catching up with Founder Alexakis at the start of the tour, he revealed some details about the show and new albums, as well as bits about their music, and what fans can look forward to.
SFL Music Magazine: Everclear is playing a forty-three-date tour with Local H and Sponge. How did this all come together, and what can fans look forward to with the new show?
Art Alexakis: Well, we tend to tour every year, and this year we’re celebrating the 30th anniversary of Sparkle and Fade’s release, so we’re doing a tour for that. Local H is just one of my favorite bands and some of my favorite people, as are Sponge. Sponge took us on our first bus tour back in 1995 when Sparkle and Fade was released. So, I thought it was only fitting to have them out there with us, and it’s just going great! The first nine shows are done. We’ve got a day off today and we’re heading east. We left the West Coast, and so we’re in the middle of it and having a great time! It’s nice to have a day off and everybody rest and re-vitalize and re-energize. We hit it tomorrow in Boise. What fans can expect, we’re going to play the whole album Sparkle and Fade, but we enter seed songs every two or three songs to keep it interesting. Not that Sparkle and Fade isn’t interesting. People are loving it! We really got the rhythm of the show now. It takes a few days, two shows to get used to playing a different show with different song orders and different songs. Right now, it’s rolling really good. Energy is high. We’re having fun. I think people are going to see a great show!
SFL Music Magazine: The remaster of Sparkle and Fade consists of two albums for the 30th anniversary collection?
Alexakis: Yeah. So, basically what we’ve done is, we requeued it. In the 90’s, people sent it to make things really high endy. This just sounds fuller and just better, like you can turn it up louder and you don’t get words, like too brittle. A lot of the nineties acts for whatever reason sounded like that and we were no exception, but I really think that this master sounds great. They let me in the vault at Capitol (Records), so I went in and found a bunch of outtakes and songs that didn’t make the record. A couple of songs no one has ever heard before or versions of songs. It’s going to be fun, and it’s on double, a hundred-and eighty-gram vinyl, colored vinyl, and it just looks and sounds phenomenal. We’re so excited!
SFL Music Magazine: Are there going to be any new videos, maybe live videos to go along with the tour and albums?
Alexakis: You know, we’ve been talking about that. We’ve been talking about maybe having some footage. I mean, it’s such a long tour. These days are easy to have someone shoot some footage and send it to our guy in L.A. who does all our videos, puts it together. That’s not a bad idea. Someone brought that up a couple of times. We’re just trying to settle into a rhythm, and I don’t know if you’re aware, but I was diagnosed with MS about nine years ago. So, where it really gets me is balance, but especially fatigue. So, I have to be very aware of like getting naps before shows. Just pacing myself as far as stuff goes so that when I hit the stage, I have full energy, and we’ve been doing that. It’s been great!
SFL Music Magazine: The last time we spoke you did tell me about your MS. You said you were swimming to stay cooler. The one thing I saw on your website which I thought was awesome is that you donate a dollar from every ticket to the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund and the National MS Society. Was there anything in particular you want fans to know about that?
Alexakis: I talk about it during the shows. I talk about my recovery and sobriety, and people who are dealing with stuff. I dedicate a song to all our MS warriors and cancer warriors and people suffering from so many things. A lot of our fan base, a lot of them are younger. It’s weird seeing 17 and 25, kids weren’t even born when these songs were on the radio. But a lot are older, and you know as you get older, things happen. People get stuff. It just is what it is, and I think the fact that we talk about it and try to normalize it is inspirational to people. That’s what they tell me. Not all rock bands talk about stuff like that, but we do because that’s the kind of lyrics I write. I write lyrics that are storytelling and are things that people go through, most of them bad. Because that’s what interests me. That’s the kind of songs and storytelling I like that I grew up with.
SFL Music Magazine: The band has put out 11 albums, four gold and platinum, and have sold over six million records. What would you say attributes to Everclear’s success and longevity?
Alexakis: Boy sister, I don’t know (he laughed). Persistence, tenacity. I think that people love a good story. A lot of people like different types of music, but we found a niche. I just do what I do. My thing is a little different than a lot of the other bands from the nineties and our music was consistent but still had its own niche. I think we still continue to do that, and I think that’s attracted a lot of people. I think people just saw something and see something because these young people are coming into it like it’s brand new. It’s new to them. It’s exciting to see. Sometimes there’s so many young people up front that it feels like it’s 1995 all over again (he laughed)! It warms my old ancient heart.
SFL Music Magazine: Are there going to be any new albums coming out in the near future?
Alexakis: Yeah, we’re working on a new album right now. We hope to have it out next year. People asked me a year or two ago if I was going to make a record. I’m like, nope. I’ve made eleven. I don’t feel the need. I feel a need to do a song or two every year. Put it out to fans online, but after all that’s going on in our country, it just has me writing. I’m writing. I’m coming up with ideas, so I don’t fight it. We’re going to make a record.
SFL Music Magazine: Is there anything else you want to add about the show for people to know?
Alexakis: People are having such a blast! I mean, look online. People are just raving about it. We’re just doing really, really well with merchandise, which is a really good sign that people are enjoying the show. People, they go to shows and if the show is really great, the merchandise sells easily. It’s a good barometer and the reviews, people on social media are just having a great time!
