Everclear tackles "dark places" with new album
Everclear frontman Art Alexakis had a pretty clear vision in mind for the band's ninth studio album: to make an "unapologetic rock record."
Due April 28 on The End Records, "Black is the New Black" features Alexakis, along with guitarist Davey French, bassist Freddy Herrera, keyboardist Josh Crawley and drummer Sean Winchester.
"It's pretty stripped down. It's pretty rock and roll," Alexakis told CBS News about the guitar-heavy album.
Everclear recorded the tracks last year in York, Pennsylvania, at the band Live's Think Loud Studios.
"They were gracious enough to let us kind of take it over for March, April, May and September," said Alexakis.
Some of the songs recorded there have already surfaced ahead of the album release this month, including "The Man Who Broke His Own Heart" and "American Monster." Now Alexakis is eager to introduce the rest of the new songs to fans.
"I'm very excited. There's more excitement about this record," he said, adding, "I wrote a lot of dark songs, which is funny -- well not funny, but peculiar, because I'm in a really good place in my life. I'm really happy."
Alexakis, 53, has been candid in the past about those dark moments in his life -- ranging from his drug addiction battles to his father splitting when he was a kid (as he sang about in the band's 1997 hit "Father of Mine.")
But life is different these days. Now 25 years sober, Alexakis feels at ease tapping into those dark places.
"I still play in a rock band. And I have an awesome wife and kids," said Alexakis. Being a family man -- I have a 22, almost 23-year-old daughter and I've always had that aspect of my life to anchor me. But I think now where I'm at in my life with my family and with the band and with all of our relationships it feels really good and right and exciting to play music....When I go home, I'm dad. I live a part of LA -- I live in Pasadena, which is beautiful, very family-centric. I don't live in the business."
When at home, Alexakis lives a pretty normal life, he says. In addition to his 22-year-old daughter, he also has a younger daughter with his current wife.
"I go home and I make dinner with my wife for my daughter, walk around the block with my daughter on her bike. She's learning to get off of her training wheels. I read her a little bit of 'The Hobbit' before bed and that's it," he said.
Still, Alexakis balances time with the family with touring throughout the year. This summer, Everclear will host the fourth annual Summerland tour, an annual outing showcasing bands from the '90s. This year's line-up? Everclear, American Hi-Fi, Fuel and the Toadies.
Alexakis started the tour to celebrate rock bands of the '90s. He says there's a little bit of nostalgia to that -- but he think that's "healthy."
"You'll hear all the hits, fan favorites and new songs. Plus, I keep it very short. Four bands, three hours. And its's pretty cheap," he said. "Average price across the board is 25 to 30 bucks for the basic seat. No one's getting rich off of it, and the fan wins."
Before Summerland, though, Everclear will embark on a tour to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the release of its sophomore album, "Sparkle and Fade," which featured the breakout song "Santa Monica." On the itinerary are visits to New Zealand and Australia in May where they'll play the album live in its entirety for the first time.
"I can't believe it came out 20 years ago," said Alexakis.
Alexakis, meanwhile, recently played a tattoo artist in the Oscar-nominated film "Wild," starring Reese Witherspoon.
"It was the 35 seconds that held that movie together, come on! It was the glue. Reese Witherspoon, who?" Alexakis joked about his small appearance in the movie.
This wasn't his first acting gig, though, having appeared in the 2000 Heather Graham comedy, "Committed" and made appearances in two episodes of "The Chris Isaak Show."
"I've been acting off and on," he said. "It's fun now. I've done what I wanted to do. When I was kid and people wanted me to do acting and give me scholarships and stuff like that, all I wanted to do was play in a rock and roll band."
Now years later, that's exactly what he's still doing -- and will likely be doing for a long time.
"I'm going to be playing these songs looking like Grandpa Simpson," he said.
To purchase "Black Is the New Black" via The End Records, go here.
