A couple weeks ago I noticed that Everclear and Soul Asylum were playing a minor summer festival in the area. I remember going to to these things as a kid and thinking no one I listen to will ever stoop to this level. How foolish I was, I now realize that Everclear probably should have been opening for Three Dog Night even in the heady Santa Monica days.
What are the five things that make Art Alexis and his band so mediocre?
1 – The name – That is kind of like calling youself “Beer” or “Capri Sun.”
2 – The three man line-up. This works if you are playing certain understated melodic music, not when you are a heavier band.
3 – Subject matter – As the Onion put it, all of their songs are about Heroin addiction, Art’s childhood, and how Art’s childhood led to his Heroin addiction.
4 – Wordless lyrics – He has stretched the “hey hey hey” vehicle way past its breaking point.
5 – He wrote a song called “Volvo Driving Soccer Mom.” Oh how the edgy have fallen.
What are the five things that make Art Alexis and his band wonderfully mediocre?
1 – That opening riff from Santa Monica. Sounded great, and you could learn it within minutes of picking up a guitar for the first time.
2 – Consistency – Their first two albums were really catchy despite the clear limitations.
3 – Of it’s time – The band belonged in the early ’90s; something refreshing about the lack of polish.
4 – The three man line-up – Ensured they wouldn’t try anything musically advanced. Could you imagine an Everclear concept album? (actually, they made a horrific one, and they called it Vol. 1, how creative).
5 – Teen Angst – So what if the guy is 46.
UPDATE
From the wikipedia article:
In 2000, Alexakis testified before Congress in support of HR 1488, the Compassion for Children and Child Support Enforcement Act[4]. Alexakis was a delegate for the 2004 Democratic National Convention representing Portland’s 3rd congressional district after campaigning for John Edwards during the 2004 Democratic Presidential primaries.
So he campaigned for John Edwards and against child abandonment?????
