have liked.
Adalie formed in 2007, after a band Matt and I were in, called The Glorified, had failed. We had studio time booked to do a new record, but we lost steam (Check that band out at www.myspace.com/theglorified). Almost impulsively, in an effort to fill the void, we started jamming with other friends of ours that we had known from high school. Actually, this may sound weird, but I’ve known almost every person I’ve ever played in a band with since as early as grade school.In fact, 3 out of 4 of the original Adalie members played in the same band in 2001. At that time,we were called Broken Record,and you can even check out some of our music if you care to at www.myspace.com/brokenrecordrock. Now, the reason I’m throwing you links to my old bands is because I know there are a select few of you who appreciate it. For me, personally, one of the most exciting things to do with the bands I like is to search their entire discography, including those of the bands their members were in previously, and read and watch every single piece of press. Might seem creepy to some, but it brings me joy, so whatever. I’m sure murderers and pedophiles use that same logic to justify their evil deeds, but I digress.
…back to this band history stuff.
Strangely enough, Broken Record broke up when John, our bass player, abruptly quit in the Summer of 2004 after our record release show. Similarly, John also quit Adalie after we had our first official release with “Awake” in the Summer of 2009. I guess everything had come full circle. In the wake of it all, relationships were temporarily strained, and the motivation to continue playing had nearly evaporated. After all, the band wasn’t designed to be a business, so when one of our best friends bailed, it wasn’t easy to think about searching for a replacement.The idea of getting a “hired gun” simply didn’t seem attractive to us.
The band was almost entirely finished when we unexpectedly got an e-mail from Alternative Press magazine. We had been selected to appear in their December 2009 issue with a feature in the AP&R section. To be 100% honest, we weren’t even the ones that initially read that e-mail. Unbeknownst to us, John had still been logging into the band’s account, despite having left the band weeks prior, and he was kind enough to notify us. If he hadn’t have done that, the feature may not have happened and Adalie might not even exist today. This is merely one example of the kind of crazy shit that happens when you’re in pursuit of a goal. I can truthfully state that, with Adalie, every time I’ve wanted to just leave and never look back, something amazing transpired and restored my faith in it. Of course, it’d be great if things could always be rainbows and naked women feeding you grapes in a sun shower,but playing music will destroy your spirit, only to rebuild it a million times over. It is not for the faint of heart.
With no bass player, we pushed forward. Dan, Adalie’s other singer/guitarist, suggested we allow his younger brother to fill in during our search. So, we entrusted DJ to take on the role. Although he was only expected to do a temporary stint with us, his drive to be in the band, and the amount of progress he had made in such a short time was staggering. This was in late 2009, and DJ was in the middle of his senior year of high school, but it seemed senseless to discriminate against him because of his age. We decided we would work around the problem, and bring him on board full-time.
Following the article in Alternative Press, we signed with a manager. This would introduce us to a side of music that I wish we would have stayed clear of until we had more time to develop. Suddenly, we were looking at the band as a business, because for the first time we felt there were expectations. Things can get pretty fucked up when you start “expecting.” This whole new perspective would devastate us for the entire year of 2010, and bleed through 2011. We went from feeling excited about the accomplishments we were making, to feeling like they weren’t good enough. Unfortunately, business and music are forced to go hand-in-hand, but I can’t restrain myself from venting about the ugliness that is money. When there’s cash at stake, the devil certainly does take the reins. So, when you get that paycheck on Friday, be sure to remind yourself of its vulgarity. It only wants to hurt you, and will beg for you to whore it out for one of those delicious Mocha Frappes from McDonald’s.
As of late, we have been making a conscious effort to divert our attention away from the bullshit, and back to the artistic side of music that was the reason we started in the first place. Our goal isn’t to sell a million records, let alone a few thousand. We just want to create something that we can share with anyone in the world who will listen. If any of you reading this are kids looking to start bands, or kids wanting to take your band to the next level, your band is not a money-making venture. Even the most talented, and seemingly “established” independent bands struggle financially. But they love music, and playing for people who support it. So, don’t ever expect anything to happen. If you enjoy and believe in what you’re doing, that should be all that matters. Will I still hold this belief when I’m 45 and playing in a bar band? Stay tuned to find out!
Feel free to ask me any questions you’d like, whether it be regarding the band or not. I’ll answer every single one.
Adalie have their first show back in Philadelphia since 2010 this Sunday, August 7th, at the Troc Balcony. Please visit www.facebook.com/adaliepa to find out more details!
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