Everclear: oldie but goldie

Without so much as a nod to the crowd, Everclear burst onto the stage at the Knitting Factory with an aggressive three-cord riff and crashing drums before front man Art Alexakis screeched, "This is a song about Susan, this is a song about the girl next door." 
The song is "So Much For the Afterglow," the lead track off their 1997 platinum album of the same name.  For this performance, they've decided to cut the 30-second "Pet Sounds"-esque harmonizing intro that is featured on the album track and keep it messy and fast.  This move is indicative of what keeps Art Alexakis rocking club shows at age 47.
 For all intents and purposes, Art Alexakis is Everclear.  The lead singer/songwriter/guitarist placed an ad looking for a bassist and a drummer in a local paper in Portland, Ore., in 1992. 

The two respondents, Craig Montoya and Scott Cuthbert, joined Alexakis to create grunge-infused power pop that would quickly become the next big thing in the murky, undefined world of post-Nirvana alternative rock.  Alexakis kept the Everclear name strong through several lineup changes including total overhauls in 2003 and 2009.  The once three-piece set now tours and records with five members. 

The Knitting Factory floor was mostly full with a crowd that contained a broad range in age.  While the crowd lacked in sheer numbers, they more than made up for it with one of the most aggressive mosh pits I've seen — at one point I saw a middle-aged woman yank on the mullet of a teenage kid and lecture him for getting too rowdy.  Alexakis, who had a great view of the mayhem from onstage, was impressed by the crowd's tenacity.  After playing an acoustic number off "Songs from an American Movie Vol. 1" Alexakis commended the raucous crowd for moshing during what was a mellow, heartfelt song about his daughter. 

The set list was geared toward Everclear's heyday, a move that kept the crowd excited and singing along for the duration of the performance. 

Alexakis ripped through classic tunes about his estranged father in "Father of Mine," growing up broke in "I Will Buy You a New Life," and drug addicted girlfriends in "Heroin Girl." 

I was impressed by the inclusion of "White Men in Black Suits," and "Amphetamine," two deep album tracks off "So Much for the Afterglow."  These two songs are representative of his first-person, story-telling style of songwriting which will always be his greatest strength and unfortunately, now his weakness. 

All of Alexakis' best songs were written about his unhappy childhood and turbulent teen years that were marred by drug addiction.  His attempt to move past this, and "Songs From an American Movie Vol. 2," effectively killed the hype that Everclear was riding into the 21st century. However, "Volvo Driving Soccer Mom," the story of a porn queen's afterlife in the suburbs, is a valiant effort. 

Part of what launched Everclear to fame in the late 1990s was their crazy touring schedule.  In the 15 years since their major label debut "Sparkle and Fade," members have come and gone, but Alexakis hasn't slowed down one bit. 

Everclear may be past their prime and Alexakis isn't getting any younger, but there's still something extremely captivating about his act.  He can get on any stage in any city and make everyone feel like it's 1997 for 45 minutes a night. 

After the show, Alexakis stuck around the merch table for 45 minutes chatting with fans and signing autographs.  This was a move that caught me off-guard and was totally uncharacteristic of someone who had multiple music videos on rotation during the glory days of "Total Request Live." 

Alexakis was about as cool as one could expect given that he's at the tail end of a nationwide two-month tour.   When I approached him with pad and pen at the end of the session he perked up at the opportunity to brag about the fans again. 

"The crowd was overall more intense, more fun," a hoarse Alexakis said, "if you're playing in a rock band, that's what it's all about." 

With March Madness just around the corner in basketball crazed Spokane, allow me to offer a hoops analogy to illustrate this phase in Everclear's multiplatinum career. 

The most fitting analogy to better describe Alexakis' persona would be NBA journeyman Robert Horry.  Horry won seven championship rings with three different teams over a career of 16 seasons.  Alexakis sold five million records with three different lineups over a span of 17 years.  Horry and Alexakis were talented guys who had a tendency to be in the right place at the right time.  Horry was always in the corner on the three-point line as time ticked away in a big playoff game.  Alexakis rode the Northwest grunge wave with two guys that happened to be reading the wanted ads. 

While their respected professions have progressed both have held on tight.  Horry retired in 2008 after winning two more championships with the Spurs and continues to contribute to ESPN.  Alexakis and his new mates are hitting the studio after this tour and seem fully capable of dropping another sonic assault on those living the "blond, bland, middle-class, Republican life."