The Walnut Room

Alive In Stereo

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Less than a year after their debut performance in July 2009 at The Toad Tavern in Littleton, Colorado, Denver based indie rock trio Alive In Stereo is taking their high energy DIY vibe to the next level with the release of their self-titled debut. Produced and engineered by Andrew Berlin of The Blasting Room Studios—owned by former Black Flag member Bill Stevenson—the seven track EP is fully reflective of the band’s drive and dedication to making an artistic and hard hitting rock album.

The songs penned by frontman/guitarist Chris Evans, drummer Toby Crisp and bassist Alex Browers find a happy medium between the personal and universal, drawing new fans into their sphere with every blazing show. Named for the high level of intensity the trio puts into their lives and music, Alive In Stereo has also performed several times at Denver’s Gothic Theatre and Hodie’s Half Note in Ft. Collins, among other local venues.
Their optimism and enthusiasm is a reflection of the band’s resiliency. After years of playing with other bands that restricted their creative output, vocalist Chris Evans and drummer Toby Crisp decided to strike out on their own, leaving behind a record deal with a local indie label. They discovered an immediate chemistry with bassist Alex Browers, an experienced session player who stumbled into them while looking for other paying bass gigs to add to his resume. Feeling right at home in the sound being created by Alive In Stereo, Browers jumped at the opportunity to finally create some new music of his own. Off and running after a few performances, the trio set out to record a rough basement demo, but when they realized how strong their songs were sounding, they contacted Berlin to help them create what would become their first official recording.
With haunting vocal harmonies and hard-edged pop sensibility, Alive in Stereo blends the high energy stage presence of a hard rock band with introspective songwriting that leaves the listener feeling close to the band and the music. Each member contributes something unique to the mix.
Chris Evans has a remarkable way of cutting to the core of human emotion, making people question what they believe in and wonder just what it is they want from their lives, all while bringing an attitude and power to the music that is undeniable. He finds a way to leave himself vulnerable, allowing listeners to see, hiding behind the sarcasm and cynicism, the real person within. Alex Browers blends the drums and guitar hypnotically, riding the fine line between rhythm and lead, luring listeners into his world with a stunning visual show. Like an upstage ringmaster, Toby Crisp brings warmth, subtlety and groove intensity to his playing, darting in and out of the background and anchoring the infectious Alive In Stereo sound.
“When Toby was in high school, he played in the drum corps all over the state, and he also played in a metal band, so he wants the sound to be full,” says Evans. “I’m more a minimalist, influenced by straightforward songwriters and artists like Pink Floyd and Tom Petty. Alex brings an incredible level of proficiency on the bass, drawing from his backgrounds in classical, jazz and rock to build on our melodies and rhythms. One of the stronger points of the EP is communicating the truth about our lives and where we come from. We bring a fresh perspective of coming from the brink of destruction to something that’s good and pure, but without any agenda or judgment. I don’t believe in much of anything except myself and the people around me, but I’ve dragged myself through some very serious problems and somehow found my way back out. There’s no way that’s not going to affect what I write about.”
The original version of the harmonic mid-tempo rocker “Change Things” was penned by Evans when he was in what he calls the “absolute darkest place, in the throes of addiction.” It’s an infectious, inspirational tune that originated as a powerful cry for help. The lyrically introspective, musically and rhythmically intense “Impossible” is about learning to live day by day after realizing you’re in that self-destructive lifestyle, realizing you’re always on the razor’s edge where any false step can put you back in the darkness. Along a different line, “American” is a blistering reflection on us as a people, quick to blame others for our problems when what’s wrong is inside each of us; the ultimate hope is that we can overcome. “Oh My God” is an edgy, slow and “grindy” relationship tune about a person with a genuine heart being used and abused solely for sex.
Alive in Stereo is currently midway through the writing and recording their first full length CD. “The writing and recording process can be tricky and trying at times, but getting out on stage in front of people, seeing the audience get what we’re saying, is incredible,” says Evans. “It’s almost like they want to be part of what we’re communicating, and that’s very rewarding. We love it when someone comes up and tells us that it really hit them; what we were trying to get across. Recording is rewarding in a different way, but there’s nothing like the instant gratification and pure fun of playing these songs live.”

Read more: http://www.myspace.com/aliveinstereoband#ixzz10kvDXNJJ