Interview by Paul Salfen
Everclear, one of the leading alternative rock bands to emerge from the ‘90s led by vocalist, guitarist and founder Art Alexakis, has released their new live album, Live at The Whisky a Go Go, via Sunset Blvd Records. In addition to the live show, the 17-track collection includes two bonus studio tracks including their new single “Sing Away,” a powerful song addressing teen suicide and bullying written from the perspective of a grieving parent. Ahead of National Suicide Prevention Week, which begins this Sunday, September 10th, Everclear has released an emotional music video for “Sing Away,” directed by Brian Cox a.k.a. CiRCUS HEaD.
“I had heard about this little boy who had a colostomy bag because of issues that he had been born with, and he had gotten bullied so bad that he went home and killed himself. I mean, he was 10 years old,” Alexakis shared with PEOPLE about one of the many stories that inspired him to write the song. “As a parent, I don’t see how you go on living. I really don’t know how you go on.” He added, “When it came time to put out this live record, I wanted to record ‘Sing Away’ with Everclear because it has always felt like an Everclear song. I wanted to do it really heavy. And so, we did, and I just love the way it came out.”
To ensure safe messaging around the complex topic of suicide, Everclear worked with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), which provided creative guidance on the video for “Sing Away,” which concludes with a listing of crisis resources and information on how everyone can play a role in preventing suicide.
Brett Wean, the director of writing and entertainment outreach for AFSP, commented, “There is nothing more powerful than music in reflecting the feelings so many of us go through. It is so important for artists to spread the message that no one is alone and encourage people to reach out for help when they need it. No one takes their life for a single reason – but bullying can be one of the risk factors. Everclear’s heartfelt lyrics creatively echo AFSP’s recent Talk Away the Dark campaign: ‘Sing the words that keep you safe.’ We’re so grateful to Art Alexakis and Everclear for raising awareness of this leading cause of death and letting people know support is available for those struggling and for those who have lost someone.”
Live at The Whisky a Go Go, available digitally, on CD and 2-LP Coke bottle green vinyl, was recorded and filmed in late 2022 during Everclear’s 30th Anniversary Tour in Alexakis’ hometown of Los Angeles and marked the first time the acclaimed quartet performed at the famed venue. The album features all the hits and hidden treasures from throughout the band’s extraordinary catalog, including “Father Of Mine,” “Wonderful,” “Santa Monica,” and “I Will Buy You A New Life” as well as last year’s single “Year Of The Tiger” in addition to “Sing Away.” Full track listing for Live at The Whisky a Go Go below.
Everclear – Art Alexakis (vocals, guitar), Davey French (guitar), Freddy Herrera (bass), Brian Nolan (drums) – will showcase their incredible live show on the road this fall on a headlining tour that just kicked off this past Wednesday, September 6th. The 30-date outing, featuring special guests The Ataris and The Pink Spiders, stops all across the country including New York City (September 18th), Nashville (September 21st) and Los Angeles (October 9th) before wrapping October 15th. See below for full list of upcoming tour dates. Tickets are on sale now; visit www.everclearmusic.com/tour for all details and to purchase tickets.
Since forming in 1992, Everclear has enjoyed a lengthy career by any measure, spanning 11 studio releases, including four that have been certified Gold or Platinum, selling over 6 million records, and achieving 12 Top 40 Hit Singles on Mainstream Rock, Alternative, and Adult Top 40 radio, including “Santa Monica,” “Father of Mine,” “I Will Buy You A New Life,” “Wonderful” and “Everything To Everyone,” as well as numerous videos, thousands of shows, and various other accolades, including a 1998 Grammy nomination. The band’s 1993 debut album, World Of Noise, released on the Portland independent label Tim/Kerr Records, paired with their significant efforts to break into college radio and the buzz they’d created within the Portland music scene, attracted the attention of major labels, including Capitol Records, which signed the group soon after. Beginning with their major-label debut, 1995’s platinum-selling album Sparkle and Fade, and its massive chart-topping hit “Santa Monica,” Everclear was soon a household name and catapulted into the masses, thus allowing their impressive three-decade career to prosper and endure. In 2019, Alexakis was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) and has since donated one dollar from every ticket purchased for his performances to charities such as Sweet Relief Musicians Fund and National MS Society. To celebrate their 30th anniversary in 2022, Everclear reissued World Of Noise as a special remastered, deluxe edition, making the album available for the first time on digital streaming platforms with 6 bonus songs in addition to its original 12 tracks. In addition to his thousands of Everclear performances over the band’s lengthy career, Alexakis created and runs the annual Summerland Tour, which features a package of popular ‘90s alt rock bands, and he released his first solo album, Sun Songs, in 2019.
More than three decades in, Everclear’s enduring legacy and ongoing appeal as a live band continues.
LIVE AT THE WHISKY A GO GO TRACK LISTING
1. Introduction (by Matt Pinfield)
2. So Much For The Afterglow
3. Everything To Everyone
4. Heroin Girl
5. Heartspark Dollarsign
6. Father Of Mine
7. Nervous and Weird
8. Fire Maple Song
9. Wonderful
10. Strawberry
11. AM Radio
12. Local God
13. I Will Buy You A New Life
14. Santa Monica
15. Molly’s Lips
16. Year Of The Tiger (Bonus Studio Track)
17. Sing Away (Bonus Studio Track)
EVERCLEAR TOUR DATES
Fall Headlining Tour w/ The Ataris and The Pink Spiders supporting:
Friday, September 8 Lemont, IL @ The Forge Lemont Quarries
Saturday, September 9 Fort Wayne, IN @ Piere’s
Monday, September 11 Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
Tuesday, September 12 Buffalo, NY @ Town Ballroom
Wednesday, September 13 Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore Silver Spring
Friday, September 15 Philadelphia, PA @ Rivers Casino ^
Saturday, September 16 Westbury, NY @ The Space at Westbury
Sunday, September 17 Boston, MA @ Big Night Live
Monday, September 18 New York, NY @ Gramercy Theatre
Wednesday, September 20 Raleigh, NC @ The Ritz
Thursday, September 21 Nashville, TN @ The Sky Deck at Assembly Food Hall
Friday, September 22 Mt. Vernon, IL @ The Granada Theatre
Saturday, September 23 Waterloo, IA @ National Cattle Congress
Sunday, September 24 Minneapolis, MN @ Uptown Theater
Wednesday, September 27 Omaha, NE @ Barnato
Thursday, September 28 Denver, CO @ Gothic Theatre
Friday, September 29 Kamas, UT @ DeJoria Center Arena
Saturday, September 30 Cheyenne, WY @ The Lincoln
Sunday, October 1 Great Falls, MT @ The Newberry
Tuesday, October 3 Bellingham, WA @ The Wild Buffalo +
Wednesday, October 4 Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile
Friday, October 6 Umatilla, OR @ Rock The Locks +
Saturday, October 7 Elko, NV @ Maverick Hotel and Casino by Red Lion Hotels +
Monday, October 9 Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern
Tuesday, October 10 San Francisco, CA @ August Hall
Thursday, October 12 Temecula, CA @ South Coast Winery Resort & Spa +
Friday, October 13 Rocklin, CA @ Quarry Park Amphitheater
Saturday, October 14 Las Vegas, NV @ Silverton Casino Hotel
Sunday, October 15 Pioneertown, CA @ Pappy + Harriet’s
Friday, October 27 North Augusta, SC @ Jack-O-Lantern Jubilee +
Saturday, November 4 Tybee Island, GA @ Tybee Post Music Festival +
+ indicates Everclear only
^ indicates Everclear and The Ataris only
