ALLELE
2/22/2006
Interview with Wally Wood
by Christopher Wood, Audio Abrasion
Allele’s performances are about intensity and you can catch the band live at
an already scheduled show this March and April. Visit the official website at
www.allelemusic.com for a list of dates, tons of photos from the road, and a
forum where you can share your thoughts on the band. Some bands currently on
tour with Allele include Trigger Point and Switched. But, stay tuned and prepare
for some exciting stuff, currently under wraps, planned for early summer.
As Allele travels the country in support of their debut album, ‘Point of Origin’
(available in stores, now) and prepares for that “cool” upcoming stuff this
summer, Audio Abrasion was able to catch vocalist, Wally Wood at a tour stop in
Knoxville, Tennessee. We spoke about the differences between Allele then and
Allele now, why “family” should come out to see the band live, and what it was
like the first time he ever sang in front of a crowd.
Hey, man. How’s it going?
Ahhhh. Just been driving all night.
So you guys must have pulled into Knoxville, already, right?
Yeah, we’re here.
What do you think? They love their music in Knoxville, don't they?
Um. I’ve never been here, man. I’ve got some friends here, so I’m looking
forward to it. We’ve had so many responses on our sites about people couldn’t
wait for us to come. So, hopefully we’ll have a really cool show tonight.
How's the tour been going for you, so far?
Man, it’s been going good, except for a couple mishaps in California, but other
than that, it’s been great. That’s normally not me to do that, but that one
place can just go to hell, dude. But it’s been cool. Other than some spoiled
chick slamming into our van in L.A., it’s been great. Great.
Allele has played with some big names in the past 3 years; Cold, Staind, Saliva,
Trapt, and Shinedown. How has playing with those bands helped you guys?
Yeah. I think obviously to be able to put yourself on with the caliber of bands
like that, playing with them, does a lot of things for you. It does a lot for
your confidence, obviously, for the band. And, if you’re smart, you kind of
watch and listen, to pick up on things. You know what I mean? Bands that have
already been there, done that.
Definitely. Can you give us any hints on the "really cool" upcoming concert tour
you’ve mentioned in your blog?
Um. Well. I guess we’re not really…I can just say it’s gonna be cool. (laughs)
All right. We’ll just leave it at that for now. You've listed some of your
biggest influences as Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Pearl Jam. I'd love to see a
show in Seattle. Any plans to hit the Pacific Northwest?
Oh. Absolutely, man. If the group we’re hoping to go out with in May doesn’t hit
it. We’ll probably be coming out right after that. So, if anything, June we’ll
be out there.
Excellent. So, Allele has been around, in one form or another, since 2002. But,
a lot has happened in the past six months. You're being played on the radio all
over the country and you have a new CD out. So, what's the biggest difference on
tour now?
Oh man. Everything’s happening really really fast, actually. When we first
finished the record, before it really got out there, going on the road, playing
these shows, you see a difference with people. First of all, the amount of
people coming to the shows. Secondly, the amount of people knowing all the
words. All the people just pumped up for you to come play. The radio stuff is
like…I mean, nobody can argue with that. That says a lot for the band. You know?
It really does. We’re all about the radio. You can’t argue that. It’s like the
ultimate reach out tool. It’s made a big difference, man. It’s made a big
difference in getting our name out there.
What interesting things have you learned about each others living habits since
you've been on the road?
They stink. (both laugh) Actually, everyone is pretty cool, calm, collected.
And, everyone is real conscious about being around each other all the time, you
know? There’s a lot of respect when it comes to living in this van together. We
don’t ever fight, or argue, no punches, or stupid crap like that.
Allele has two more months of dates currently planned, taking you through April.
And, a possible upcoming concert tour. Why should people come out to see you
guys live?
‘Cause there’s no reason why they shouldn’t. Why they should is because, I mean
you’ve been out there. Everyone’s been out there. There are hundreds and
thousands of bands. But, you’ve got to find something that sets you apart. The
music can set you apart all at once, but until you’re there live and you see
what kind of show someone puts on, for us that’s why people should come watch.
Because, you’re gonna see a lot more intensity in our shows than you’re used to
seeing, especially with bands like us. You know, you’re not gonna come watch a
band that just kind of stands there and sings and then gets off the stage.
You’re going to see a band that’s just going off, that’s into it, that’s
grabbing you by your clothes. It’s just in your face. We have a good time. It’s
the same show, man. Literally. One person could be there, or ten thousand and
it’s the same show.
It is a couple hours before a show. Doors are open. And, fans are filling the
club. What are you doing: getting yourself ready or just hanging out?
Man, I’m just sittin back there smiling. (laughs) I’m just like, getting giddy.
Now, you consider yourself a pretty shy person. How'd it feel the first time you
got up in front of a crowd and sang?
It was horrible, dude. It was like, the whole Jim Morrison, thing. I didn’t even
look up. You know? It’s like, hold the microphone stand…I don’t even use a
stand, now. But, I was holding the stand and staring down at the ground. My feet
were like, patting the ground. I didn’t even look up. My head came up just to
hit the microphone. But, it was horrible. I had fun, though. I had tons of
friends and family that were there.
Interuption – Someone is asking Wally if he wants to get off the bus.
Yeah? Yeah. Sorry, dude. We just pulled up and they wanted to know if I wanted
to get out.
Cool. No problem. So, how do you feel before you go on stage, now? Has it gotten
any easier, then?
Oh yeah. It’s like, no big deal. You know, actually, the smaller the crowd, the
harder it is for me. The bigger the crowd the easier it is. We’ve done like, ten
thousand people and it’s like, no big deal. And then you do fifty, or a hundred
and it’s a lot more intimidating. Yeah. But, you know. I tend to, sometimes, get
a little bit nervous.
Can you describe the way you felt when you first heard an Allele song on the
radio?
Man, we pulled up to our label, who had moved their office to the Green Bay
area. And, we had pulled up into the driveway, because we were doing some shows
out there. We were coming to hang out. So, we were sitting there for a second.
All of a sudden…we didn’t even know what the station was, but the radio happened
to be on it. And, then “Bam”, it comes on. It was the first time we heard it.
Dude, we were freaking out. You know? It was just…I’ll never forget it. That’s
like, a long term, burnt in my brain, memory. It was like one of those things,
you’re like, “Man. All the work that you did paid off right then and there.” You
know? It was very gratifying.
How do you feel about some of the comparisons made between Allele and Cold?
You know, people are going to do that, naturally. But, I don’t think we sound
anything like them. I think that some of the guitar sounds that Kelly recorded
are affiliated, obviously. Because, they were his sounds when he was in the
band. He actually toned so much of it down. You know what I mean? The guitars
are so much heavier in this band than they were in Cold. Their not so bled and
washed out. But, you’re going to get it anyway. We could say anybody is in the
band and they’re going to compare it to the last band. But, I don’t care,
honestly. Whatever. If that’s what it takes to get you to give us a chance and
listen to it, call us what you want. There’s no shame in me saying that. ‘Cause
we’re obviously here to have people listen and get people to check it out. You
know, whatever it takes. You know what I mean? I think, once they get into it,
if they’re open minded enough, once they check it out, that’s it.
Do you have time for any hobbies, something you’re really into, besides music?
No. I was at first; Snowboarding, just hanging out with the wife and family. Now
there’s no time for that. We have plenty of time to watch DVDs. That’s our new
hobby.
Yeah, I heard you were into snowboarding. So if you guys make a stop in Seattle,
I'll have to take you up to the legendary Mt Baker and see what you've got.
Oh man. Yeah. I would love to. The last time we were home, over Christmas, we
went up to West Virginia. The place was pretty cool, up there. I got a little
injured, but it was all fun.
As long as you can still sing, right?
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Nothing broke. We had stupid jumping things. And, I went a
little too high, and a little too far forward, and “phew.”
You guys have spent quite a bit of time on the road. What's your favorite road
food? What are you guys living on?
Man. You know what the best thing that we’ve had on the road so far? Last night,
we stopped by Wal-Mart and got a roasted chicken. Dude, you just have no idea
how great that tasted. Wendy’s is gourmet. We’re sick and tired…I mean, we ate
so much McDonald’s we should be endorsed. But, it’s all ninety-nine cent crap.
But, last night was great, dude.
If you could go back in time and do a show with any one of your favorite
artists, who would it be?
Man. Man. Man. I don’t know. Probably Korn. You know, that’s not really going
back. But, probably Korn in the beginning. You know what I mean?
I love the story about Gian walking up to the band, saying he knew Allele needed
a drummer, and he wanted a shot. That's not normally how it's done. Did you guys
think he was totally crazy?
Yeah. He’s a dork, dude. No, he’s cool. No, it’s not how’s it’s normally done.
It was weird. I laughed every time that happened. But, it ended up working out.
For him, especially. Definitely a different scenario.
I've read a couple times that your wife, Courtney is a biology teacher. That's a
pretty "normal" everyday job. So, whose job would you say is harder? And,
remember...she may end up reading this.
Man. I don’t know. Honestly, I probably have to say hers. Yeah. Thirty kids per
class. Yeah. Definitely.
Seriously, though. She encouraged you to sing. She helped you come up with a
name for the band. Sounds like she's been a huge influence on you?
Oh yeah, man. One of the biggest.
That’s awesome to have a supportive woman like that.
Oh it is. ‘Cause that’s very rare. Yeah, it’s rare man. But, lucky.
Allele owes a lot of its success to its amazingly strong "family". I know you
don't like the word, “Fans.” If you could only say one more thing to them, what
would you say?
See you at the show. Just tell everyone we appreciate them. Seriously. People
say that, but we really really mean it. We were watching this Machine Head DVD
the other day and they said the coolest thing. They were somewhere and there
were like ten thousand kids, sold out. And, right before they went onstage they
said, “It’s because of these kids that we’re playing this, instead of some shit
hole bar in Concord, California.” That was so awesome to hear someone say that.
People need to know that they’re really appreciated; that they’re supportive.
That’s important to us.
Alright, man. Good luck tonight. Thanks for taking our call.
Thanks for making it.
No problem. Congrats on the album, too. I only wrote one five star review last
year and 'Point of Origin' was it. So, very nice job.
Man. You are awesome. Thank you so much. (laughs) That’s so cool. We can’t wait
to get up there.
Looking forward to it.
Alright, well cool, man. I really appreciate it again. Give us a call, any, any,
any time, man.
I will. Thanks a lot.
Alright, brother.
Alright, see ya.
Late.
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