Before Allele's show on November
17 at The Music Farm in Charleston, SC, I caught
up with all the guys to talk with them about
their music, life on the road, spare tires,
and Lane's karaoke skills.
TuneLab: It's been more than a year
since you released your debut album 'Point
of Origin'. What has the ride been like
for the band so far?
All: Bumpy.
Lane Maverick: Up and down,
lots of titties, girls, lots of alcohol, and
lots of bands so it has been good.
Tim Tobin: It's been great
man, we've been having a good time.
TL: Your hometown of
Jacksonville, FL has bred so many successful
rock bands over the past decade. How has the
attention to Jacksonville's flourishing music
scene helped Allele in reaching the band's
goals?
LM: I guess
some of the hookups from band members that
have gone there, sharing some love, putting
it down.
Andy Toole: Alot of people
know alot of the bands coming out of Jacksonville
so it makes it good coming from here.
LM: *burps* [laughs], yeah.
TL: That was lovely.
Allele tours relentlessly with little time
off. Have the rigorous touring cycles started
to take their toll on the band?
TT: On the band
or on the van?
AT: On the van definitely,
but on the band, yeah, absolutely.
Lane: Yeah, but we're ready, we're ready to
do this. I'd rather be on the road sometimes
than be sitting at home, you know?
TL: If music was never
a career option for you guys, what would each
of you be doing right now?
LM: Uh, I don't
know.
AT: That's my only option.
Giancarlo Autenzio: I'd be
playing PlayStation somewhere, maybe fishing.
LM: Drinking, partying, fishing.
AT: Well, I'd probably be
teaching.
GA: I'd be touring on the
BassMasters Classic.
LM: I'd be spanking it. But
seriously what are your three favorite pastimes
Andy cuz he asked the question...
AT: Oh, well talking shit,
playing music, and jerking off [laughs]. Life's
too short man.
TL: The band parted ways
with former vocalist Wally Wood earlier this
year. How have fans adapted to the band's
new front man Andrew Toole?
AT: Hell, he's
asking y'all not me.
LM: I don't know, I think
fans have responded real well. Fans come up
to us all the time and tell us how much better
Andy is as a vocalist, like a better quality
singer, and he's totally catching on like
mad so everything's working out.
AT: You're supposed to let
me walk away before they answered that one
[laughs].
TL: Allele always puts
on a frenetic live show. What drives you guys
to go so berserk on stage?
GA: What was
that word? Frenetic?
LM: Hey look, we're frenetic!
TT: It's the music you know,
the moment, the people.
LM: It's like a drug.
TT: We're really grateful
people come and watch us, so we try to do
as much as we can.
LM: Yeah, if we're not breaking
limbs and shit. Adrenaline junkies man.
TT: We don't have a big light
show with big production so it's all about
the music. The energy always interacts between
us and the people there.
LM: And that's why we don't
wear underwear when we play [laughs].
TL: The band began touring
all across the country by booking shows with
bands that are close friends and any local
acts willing to share the stage. Most recently,
the band earned a coveted spot on a tour with
10 Years. What are the main differences in
playing independently booked shows compared
to major tours?
AT: The people.
Lots more people.
TT: The production.
LM: It's more of a professional
gig. And everything is taken care of too,
like they'll open up the bar, you can drink
all night and sing karaoke and how do you
beat that?
TT: It's different because
the people at those shows didn't show up to
a bar on accident and just happen to see us
play-they are actually there to see a rock
band so it's a whole different vibe
AT: Instead of everyone coming
to get drunk, they've spent their 30 or 40
bucks to get a ticket so they're coming to
have a good time and see a band and not just
to get drunk.
LM: But I still get to sing
late nite karaoke totally wasted and that's
what it's all about.
TL: What's your number
one song to sing?
LM: What is
it, yeah "Love Shack" by B-52's.
AT: That one or "Black
Water" by Doobie Brothers.
TL: The band is currently
signed to Corporate Punishment Records. What
was it like working with Thom Hazeart's up-and-coming
label?
LM: I'd say
him looking out for us, him giving us a good
head start has been good. Some of the promotions
and some of the people they know have been
real good as far as the tours and stuff like
that. I mean, it has helped alot. It's an
independent label so it has its ups and downs
but it's been pretty good.
TL: "Closer to Habit"
was the first single off '<i>Point of
Origin</i>', while "Stitches"
was recently used in a television spot for
TNT's 'Nightmares and Dreamscapes'. What are
the band's plans for the next single, and
when should we expect to hear a new Allele
record?
LM: Spring is
what we're shooting for. The idea is we're
just throwing around all the ideas we've been
kicking since the last record. We're just
gonna write a bunch of songs and see what
we like best and whatever the people like
and what they catch on with.
TT: We're not gonna put out
another single I don't think anytime soon
because the band has changed so much.
LM: Fans latch onto the songs.
It's about what they latch onto though for
real.
TL: The new season of
'The Real World' is coming up. Which member
of Allele would make the most hilarious and
interesting character to watch on the show
and why?
All: Lane [laughs].
TL: Why do you think
they chose you Lane?
GA: Because
all the girls would be fighting over him.
TT: Lane just always finds
a way to have a good time.
AT: A firecracker, you know?
GA: With Lane, it's always
a good time.
LM: Yeah, that's right [laughs].
TL: Other than MySpace
and the Internet in general, what have been
the most successful methods of promoting Allele's
music to a wide audience?
GA: Playing
shows.
AT: Live tours. Touring.
TL: That's about it y'all.
Any final words or advice?
LM: Advice?
Yeah, make sure you have your guarantees set
before you go out on the fucking road.
AT: Money guarantees.
GA: Always take a spare tire.
LM: Always have a spare tire,
yeah. Always have good friends so they can
come find you when you're lost and hungover
somewhere so they can find out where you're
at the next day.
AT: Don't lose your earpieces.
LM: But anyways man, it's
been fun hanging out with you.
