Interview with The Alphabetical Order

[music]

posted by catherine / June 16, 2005 /

- Can you give us a little bit of background on your band - reasons for forming, how you got together, what kind of goals you had in mind?

Kate: Gav & I got together because we were in a goth/synth-poppy band called Conscious Structure with a friend of his from high school. It really wasn't the style of music that either of us wanted to play, or a scene that I was used to at all, beyond occasionally attending DC-area goth/industrial dance nights back in 1999 and poking vague fun at on the Internet. We weren't having much fun at all, but we were both itching to play, so we did it until it occurred to us we could just secede and start our own rock thing. So, we did. Gav had played with Ben before and called him up after a few of my friends proved to be decent drummers but not exactly what we were looking for. He said, "This guy brings the rock." I thought, "Okay." But I sure wasn't prepared for the Dover. It was an instantaneous and amazing fit. Gabe was an add-on in late '04 after we'd seen him play a couple of solo shows around the area. He & Ben were good friends, and I thought he would make a good backup singer/rhythm guitarist. Instead he ended up adding some crazy experimental tones that I never even expected. I'd say the goals write themselves as we grow and develop. I mean, we've only been together with the 4-member line-up since November or so, with Ben for just over a year, and the Gav & Kate experience didn't even become a concrete idea until very late 2003/early 2004.

Ben: I joined the band because I was looking for an outfit where I could stretch out and push my playing, where I could be given more or less free reign to try new things, and, in doing so, try to push the rock envelope a little bit as well. Which sounds pretentious, especially coming from a northern Virginian without a record deal. I also have to play with a female in the band. It's on my rider, right between the albino ferret in my dressing room and the brandy glass full of green M&M's

Gabe: I really wanted to play with Ben, because he's better than me. And he was playing with Kate and Gavin, who are also better than me. So I strutted around like a peacock until they noticed that there are some things that I can do that they wanted. They challenge me technically, because they've been playing music a lot longer (I started when I was 17, I think they're all lifers) and I challenge them critically, because I'm the jerk who always thinks it can be better. It causes a little tension, but it's good tension, and it's creative tension, and I think we're all really happy with the end result.

Gavin: I felt the need to save rock 'n' roll. Thankfully I got over that and now I focus on more important things like finding a Visa card with a low APR.

- How long have the members of the band lived in the area?

Gavin: I was born in Burke, moved to McLean, went to Mary Washington in Frederickburg, then George Mason in Fairfax, and now I'm moving to Arlington. Something tells me I'm never going to get out of this place, and that doesn't seem like a bad thing...

Kate: I moved to Arlington when I was 2.5 and have been here ever since, flitting from south to north and spending a year in Old Town Alexandria to boot. I've been spending an awful lot of time in Falls Church lately, too.

Gabe: Born in Mount Pleasant in '79, moved to Falls Church in '84, left for JMU '97-'02, settled back in Alexandria.

Ben: I've lived in northern VA all my life, which I find both comforting and stifling at the same time. It is the snake to my mongoose. Or the Kahn to my Kirk, if you like.

- How would you describe the kind of music you play? Musical influences?

Kate: Rock. Indie rock/pop. Inspired by a strange balance of mid-'90s indie rock, '80s Nintendo themes, the screaming solos and catchy riffs of crap-your-pants '70s classic rock onslaught and sweet '60s pop songwriting...

Gabe: It's complex enough to be engaging, to be rewarding upon closer inspection/repeat listens, but I wouldn't characterize it as prog-rock, despite how much I tease Gavin. I think there's some good strong hooks and melodies and such, occasionally I'll ask myself "What Would Elliott Smith Do?," and while it certainly is loud and heavy, this band has a real yen for shimmery pop, which keeps it from being too oppressive. And yeah, I like Radiohead a lot.

Gavin: The running joke is that as soon as the current '80s retro craze ends, we're going to be on the cusp of the '90s retro movement. The band I normally mention when people ask what we sound like is the Smashing Pumpkins, but I am far more influenced by less-well-known bands such as HUM, Failure, The Afghan Whigs, Sunny Day Real Estate, and Jawbox. We won't go into my bordeline-obsessive love of Pink Floyd.

Ben: I'd call our style of music indie rock with elements of pop, prog, and math. 75% male, 100% geek.

- Your bio says a couple of members were once in a goth band...what happened there, and how did you go from that to being a pretty straight-forward, catchy indie band?

Gavin: I've been in so many different types of bands: metal, blues, jazz, funky-pop, etc. So playing in my high school friend Dave Belazis' goth band Conscious Structure was just another genre to fool around in. Luckily I found a kindred soul in Kate; we wrote a few songs for Conscious Structure that were decidedly un-goth and we realized we needed to form our own group. Also I was really lousy at doing make-up and like wearing more colors than black.

When we recorded a demo and played our first few songs together, I had no clue what to call our sound. It definitely wasn't emo (though the whine does sometimes sneak in), far from modern rock, and god knows what the term alternative means. I can deal with the label "heavy indie rock"; it only makes me groan slightly.

Kate: Yeah, see above. I met a friend of Gavin's, never having even met Gavin before, and started playing cello in his goth-pop band because I was just so desperate to play ANYTHING. Plus we all have pretty diverse taste in music, and Conscious Structure covered NIN, Portishead, stuff that at least Gav and I are quite well into. The metal-y guitarist left that group and in came Gavin, and we eventually decided that we were dissatisfied with the goth life and needed to do our own thing. I hadn't been in a rock band since very early in college, and even then I think I'd only played a tiny handful of shows in people's living rooms and garages, so I was terribly excited to get out and do it for real.

Ben: I don't know exactly how it happened, but all I know is I liked the original demos they gave me, sans drum parts. Gavin and Kate both write in completely different directions, but both are very strong songwriters. Initially, I thought some of our songs were a little too poppy or a little too mid-90's sounding, but as we played gigs and listened to our performances and practices, the songs gradually evolved into something I was happy with. While there's still room for improvement, and I still think I suck, I'd say our guitar/drum/bass parts that evolved give a pretty good sample of the idiosyncracies of our individual playing styles, which is what I really like to hear in my favorite bands. It's fun being able to listen to one of Gavin's or Gabe's riffs or one of Kate's basslines and hear this mutant Frankenstein of a riff, stiched together from dozens of different influences. I now realize that the catchiness of some of those poppier songs turned out to be one of our bigger assets, and am proud that we have a sound that stands apart from the many sound-alike bands that are so common in NoVa. I'm proud that we can have songs that incorporate both catchy melodies and wanky chop-flexing.

Gabe: I was in a goth band in high school when I first started playing guitar. They called me "Foreigner" on account of my penchant for irrelevant and needlessly pyrotechnic soloing. Thankfully, I grew out of it by the time I met these guys.

- Can you tell us a little about the sort of experience you've had being a band in Washington D.C.? Has the scene been encouraging or have you found it difficult to make headway?

Ben: There are parts I like and parts I don't like about the DC music scene. I really like the accessibility and close-knit nature of it, I like the fact that it's a challenge for us to find other comparable bands to play shows with, and how a lot of the the bands generally have a great rapport and comraderie with their DC peers. I like most of the original music venues, for one reason or another. What I don't like: the fact that there are so few original music venues, so few all-ages shows, so few drummers, so few bassists. There doesn't seem to be much of a tooth-and-nail, I'm-gonna-make-it-or-die-trying attitude in the scene. I also hate the fact that a lot of really coolunderground bands that are doing great things to push their genre, tend to completely skip DC....it seems their tours take them straight from New York or Philly to Richmond. And despite the existence of so many colleges in such a small area, the area seems to lack a cohesive college rock scene.

Gabe: My old band (the Hopeful Monsters) played a lot of shows in Fairfax, which I found to be kind of depressing. The Alphabetical Order focuses more on DC and Arlington, and the sense of community and the quality of the musicianship is a lot more encouraging. Not that Fairfax and the outer 'burbs are a talentless wasteland, far from it, but the emphasis seemed to be more on individual virtuosity instead of cohesive arrangements, as though everyone is hoping to stand out and be spotted by someone else. And no one's going to "spot you" in South Riding; your band is just a soundtrack for a bender. The Order plays shows where we're foreground entertainment, where people are there to see a band, not to have a bachelorette party. It's a much more comfortable and rewarding environment.

Kate: Depends on what you refer to as "making headway." I think all bands have different goals for themselves vis a vis fame, fortune, and all that. We've played a couple of crap venues and a lot of great venues. We've had tons of people come out and no people come out (literally NONE, like that time I bowled a zero when I was eleven). And then we've also played the 9:30 Club, which was incredibly awesome even though it was just a short set as part of a revue. I think the scene is pretty encouraging if you're just going out there like us, trying to play some music for fun, and hopefully entertain your friends and strangers alike, maybe make a few fans, network with other bands, etc. But if you're going out there like a wayward marketing guru and you're too busy kissing hands and shaking babies to even remember that you're a musician and you should do your own thing and have your own sound and actually give something back to the public, like a unique experience or personality or look or whatever that is... then I think the scene isn't so supportive. I'm not going to name names, because it would take too long. There really is a lot of crap out there. I think the scene itself needs to get better at weeding out the crap, and then it might be easier for honest-to-god rock bands to make more headway, if that's what they want.

Gavin: I haven't had nearly enough groupie experiences. I'm kind of depressed - come on, ladies, what's not hot about an anorexic singer who thinks he's David Bowie and masturbates via guitar solos? You know you want some.

- What are your favorite local bands?

Kate: Hands down, Run Silent Run Deep. It's not even a "chick bassists unite" thing there. Julie's one of the best bassists in DC, boobies or no. Their drummer Ash is sick too. It's unbelievable. And they don't sound like anybody else, or at least nobody else who's on the scene right now, DC or national or wherever. I'm also a big fan of Hot Young Tang, out of Fairfax. They're gritty, raw, energetic... I heard my roommate's girl blasting their music one day and said "Who the hell is that?" and she said it was the Tang. I was hooked. Koshari are also really cool, and great people. Misamerica are great but they don't play out enough because the guys are all in school I think. We played with them once and it was a lot of fun (and not just because it was at Velvet, where I always get a bit inebriated). I'm definitely forgetting some here.

Gavin: Definitely Run Silent Run Deep - they're a tight band with extremely ambitious music. Always a good show as well, especially now that they've started to loosen up on stage. Besides that, The Fallen One shares my love of HUM, Koshari makes some of the most atmospheric rock I've ever heard, and Gist is AMAZING. I've also enjoyed of late Running With Scissors, Enemy of Three, Greenland, Red Racer, Waking State, Overhead Switch, and I definitely suggest you check out the Hot Young Tang. Other shoutouts go to our buddies in Chrysalis and Jebus, and that Hungarian temptress Viki Nova. Many weekends I can't decide whose show to go to because so many great local acts are playing.

Ben: I'm a big fan of The Fallen One, Gist, Run Silent Run Deep, Running with Scissors, Overhead Switch, Koshari, The Lost Atoms, Jebus, and Viki Nova. They do different things, and are working towards different ends, but they all play their asses off, and work doubly hard offstage, promoting themselves, building the DC musician network, making the scene more vibrant and strong. These are strong bands that make me proud to be from DC. Bigger bands from the area that I like are Q and Not U, Fugazi, and Jawbox.

Gabe: I like Greenland, they've got a good sound and great lyrics, which is a big pet peeve for me. I don't want to hear about your feelings, or what your ex-girlfriend did. And if you are singing about that stuff, I want it to be so cleverly couched in mixed metaphors that I can't be certain that's what it is, or described in such thrillingly sublime poetry that I don't care. Greenland is the former, Meredith Bragg would be the latter, I suppose, I like him a lot. And Andy Zipf. And Laura Burhenn, she's stupid good. And the Lost Atoms, but by way of full disclosure, I do play drums for them. I've been listening to the Seldon Plan's album quite a bit, and I really like Faraday too, if "local" includes Baltimore. Viva D-Plan.

- The Alphabetical Order are playing a show June 24 at the Velvet Lounge. What can people expect from a TAO show?

Gabe: Painfully awkward sexually-charged double entendres, especially if Kate and Gavin are in their cups. We've been moving around a lot more, trying to be more visually interesting, so injuries are a distinct possibility, I broke my guitar at the last show (I think I rolled over it). It's generally faster and looser than the recorded material, as one might expect, but it's also pretty clear that we're having fun doing it, which really improves a live show, in my opinion.

Ben: Profuse sweating, sex faces, flying drumsticks, witty stage banter. Flying emo waifs, dramatic aerial spin moves, broken pickguards. Spontaneous blood loss. Unimpeachable haircuts. Tongue-in-cheek irony, delivered with white-knuckle resolve.

Gavin: I'm sure Gabe and I will collide at some point during the night, and various objects will be jumped off of - I get so damn excited on stage I can't help it. There will probably be silly drunken banter, bloody fingers, an extremely sweaty drummer, Kate's breasts and booty, but most definitely the ROCK.

Kate: Loud rock music. Energetic, catchy songs. Good melodies, and eye candy since we're all so smokin' hot of course. All our friends are hot too. Plus this show is special because it's our EP release, and my birthday party to boot. Everybody come buy a JB & Schlitz for the Rears!

- Finally, a few questions about D.C. ...

- Favorite restaurant/watering hole?

Kate: Matuba, Mexicali Blues, Delhi Club, Lesbian Taverna, and Black Rooster Pub.

Gabe: Ben's Chili Bowl at 13th and U. NW (duh); Zaytinya at around 9th and G NW, near Jaleo (expensive, but very tasty); Bistro D'Oc, across the street from Ford's Theatre (cozy french place, try the escargots); Coppi's Organic, near 14th and U, near Cakelove (great pizza, check out the wine list); Food For Thought in the Black Cat on 14th (get the vegan chili, give your change to the homeless)

Ben: It's a tie between Ben's Chilli Bowl and Thai Phoon.

Gavin: Trips to the Velvet Lounge always end up at either Ben's Chili Bowl or Jumbo Slice.

- Washington Post or Washington Times?

Gavin: Ooh, it's a tough choice between being informed and being misled.

Ben: The Post. I never really got into The Moonies, though I hear their earlier stuff was pretty ground-breaking...especially the UK B-sides.

Gabe: I prefer Citizen Graham to Citizen Moon, but I may cancel my subscription if Krauthammer and Will don't start writing me back. I'm beginning to think they aren't interested in debate. Or being corrected.

Kate: Is this a serious question? The moonies? REALLY?

- Favorite monument?

Gabe: FDR, for now. So well thought out. And a crucial make-out destination.

Ben: The 9:30 club. I hear Billy Corgan threw up somewhere onstage, and I went looking for that spot when we played Emergenza. Didn't find it, though. I guess everyone needs to have their own White Whale.

Gavin: Does the Mormon Temple count? It makes me think about Disneyland...

Kate: Am I supposed to say "Lincoln, because he's in the B.M. position"? Seriously, I prefer the one by Depeche Mode. And not the crappy cover on "For the Masses," either. Actually, what am I talking about? That's just a really, really bad song.

- Favorite thing about D.C.?

Kate: Dave Grohl.

Gavin: U St. and the Studio Theater.

Gabe: The challenging beauty of Monsieur L'Enfant's design.

Ben: In a thirty minute drive, you can go from the edge of civilization (Chantilly) to the pinnacle of horn-rimmed hipness (Black Cat).

- Least favorite thing about D.C.?

Ben: The lack of original music venues...oh, and the hipsters that stand around at shows with their arms folded, then turn around and complain about how dead the DC scene is.

Gabe: Democrats, Republicans, and Georgetown.

Kate: It's a close race between taxation without representation and the weather we've been having for the past two weeks.

Gavin: Cabbies and couriers; one or the other is always trying to kill me/get killed by me.

- If you could change one thing about D.C., what would it be?

Gavin: How about a 24-hour metro? Or at least one that had trains that come more often than once every hour after midnight?

Kate: You'd be able to play music permit-free on the Mall without getting accosted by rent-a-cops. I guess that's not really forward-thinking or revolutionary of me, is it? Oh well. Things always turn out this way.

Gabe: I'd start with real estate prices, move to the related issues of gentrification and scholastic disintegration, and end with getting us a decent radio station. This town hasn't had any worthwhile rock radio since '94, and I think that's to blame for a whole host of seemingly unconnected problems in the District.

Ben: If the streets would run red with blood, I think that would be pretty neat.