Big BIG show, for us wee little band that is
On Friday night, December 12th, at about 9pm Life After Darla is going to be performing at the Galaxy Concert Theater. The sound is superb, and the food is great...well, okay the food is good. Bring a date, and be ready to enjoy a great night of music, and interesting people. For more information check out:
www.lifeafterdarla.comTickets are cheaper if you buy them in advance, so tell your friends!
If you'd like to read a short history of my band read here.
A Short History of
Life After Darla
A simple beginning
In the eighth grade,1989, at a small private school in Huntington Beach, California during fourth period Michael and Jeremy determined that they would form a band. Using an electric guitar that Michael had recently received as a gift, and by convincing Jeremy’s parents to let him rent a drum set. Within about two weeks, Michael and Jeremy did just that. With a school friend named “Six-string Joe”, who also had a guitar, they began to rehearse in Jeremy’s parent’s garage. Though these rehearsals were sloppy, and fruitless in and of themselves, the rehearsals did serve one valuable purpose: they gave Michael and Jeremy a taste of what might one day become a feast of musical involvement and creativity.
Perhaps the most important and valuable thing that came from those loud and abrasive rehearsals was that two doors down lived a boy named Scott Key, whose father was a veteran musician on both guitar and bass. Scott, being Jeremy’s friend, asked to join the group. His addition to the band ended up being a link that within two years would be the glue holding together the emerging band's music.
Parallel universes
Just two residential streets away from Jeremy lived Gregoryallen, who was himself discovering his own interest in music with his friends Zinn and Jason Kist. Sequestered inside Gregoryallen’s small bedroom Zinn and Gregoryallen spent endless hours creating music. Gregoryallen’s strength was his insatiable appetite for creating new music (a trait that has not waned to this day). With an old acoustic guitar and an even older bass guitar Zinn and Gregoryallen with Jason on drums (when he could come over) embarked again and again into uncharted territory.
Surprisingly, or perhaps not, Gregoryallen, and Zinn, despite sharing the same high school had not even met Scott or Jeremy. Jason Kist, a mutual friend of both parties, introduced Jeremy to Gregoryallen. After their introduction Gregoryallen invited Jeremy over to his small bedroom to play bass on a U2 cover song that he and Zinn had been working on. With Zinn singing, Jason on the drums, Jeremy playing bass, and Gregoryallen on guitar it proved to be nothing short of a disaster. However, they had a blast trying, and a bond was quickly forged.
Before long, Jeremy introduced Gregoryallen to Scott (who by now was almost fluent in the ways of the guitar). It was not long after that fateful event, two musical minds joining in creation, that in Jeremy’s bedroom the seeds of Life After Darla were planted deep in fertile soil.
Three imaginary boys
High school Senior Gregoryallen and Juniors, Jeremy and Scott, day after day stuffed into Jeremy’s 8 X10 room with amps, guitars, drums, friends, and lots of anxious excitement. Michael was no longer in the picture for no other reason than “I didn’t have a way to get there." Zinn was another casualty of geography-- he’d show up to sing as often as he was able, but he lived too far away to make it on a regular basis. Jason Kist was occupied with many things, including his girlfriend. Maybe that’s why most teen bands don’t last more than a few months, they fall prey to the numerous responsibilities and distractions that arise from ordinary life. Yet, despite the obstacles, Gregoryallen, Scott, and Jeremy, having an advantage of close proximity, as well as a love for music, were able to keep their band together.
Scott’s learning on the guitar assured him the lead guitarist position, Gregoryallen, who always had a knack for bass guitar, gladly handled the low end, and Jeremy, of course, was the drummer.
The three hammered out cover songs incompletely performed with whomever happened to be present filling in to sing. The boys had a great time playing music together, there was no doubt they had a connection, the only thing lacking was someone who could carry a tune. The band needed a vocalist.
Enter Elevator
A sturdy youth, both popular and well respected (who sang in his church choir) Elevator emerged out of the thousands who might have chanced on filling the vocal throne. As fate would have it, Jason Kist served as another invaluable bridge. He mentioned to the three that, his girlfriend's brother, Evan Ford (not yet known as Elevator) may be interested in singing for the band. Within days an audition was set up.
The reader may recall that during this time “grunge rock” was all the rave; bands like Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, and Nirvana owned the air-waves. Elevators first test was to sing a band favorite, “Alive” by Pearl Jam. Elevator loved Pearl Jam so it was to his advantage. To the pleasant surprise of the three present, he pulled it off rather well. After a few rehearsals it was apparent that Elevator was the one. Jeremy and Scott were sold after the first rehearsal but Gregoryallen wanted Zinn to sing. Zinn could never make rehearsals and Elevator was always there and after Gregoryallen got over his pride he realized that Elevator was truly the better singer. Gregoryallen is supremely grateful for Jeremy and Scott steering him in the right direction.
Elevator was asked to go in the other room while the boys talked it over. In reality there was nothing to talk over. Elevator's love for music was very strong, and his talent was undeniable. Another obvious factor was that Elevator loved to sing, even as nervous as he was, it was clear he was compelled to sing for an audience. That passion drives him still. Thankfully, Elevator was just as excited to be in the band as the three were to have him. So, the union was formed-- WintersburG, as they called themselves, had arrived.
Training ground
For the next several years these four youths pushed their music on the Southern California market. Thanks to the work schedules of Jeremy’s parents (and forgiving neighbors) WintersburG was able to rehearse nearly six days a week, 3 to 5 hours a day. On weekends it was not uncommon for the boys to play both Friday and Saturday night parties.
As the band matured they began to play in Los Angeles and Orange County clubs. They recorded demos, live recordings, and even tested their abilities in the studio. WintersburG had defined its sound, realized its talent, honed its live performance, and finalized its signature in stereo after stereo. The boys had an impact, and the feeling was something they could never have anticipated. One anecdote from this time period should suffice. Two girls, who shall go unnamed, testified that each time they were in their cars listening to WintersburG and the songs “L” or “Whatever Happened To Us” came on they would pull over to the side of the road, turn off their engine, listen intently, and then break down into tears. It is a true story.
Time waits for no one
WintersburG eventually became Life After Darla. Drugs, the military, university, relocations, and girls, the band survived them all; yet, those realities did leave their mark. Scott Key is currently a Christian missionary in Scotland, hence he is no longer in the band. Gregoryallen took over on lead guitar, filling the vacancy left by Scott's departure with his own unique style. For a time Zinn filled in on bass guitar, and even added his signature by penning two fantastic songs . His endeavors eventually led him out of state. Upon Zinn's departure, Tim K. (no longer with the band) took over at bass, his memory still present in a couple clever bass riffs. Michael, after years of following his own path, has been led to his love of music once again. Michael's input increasingly helps to evolve Life After Darla's sound into the diversely sober array it is today.
Life After Darla are now as you see them. Elevator on vocals, compelling audiences at every turn, Gregoryallen on lead guitar and vocals, forever writing songs and trying to find some new sound, Jeremy on drums, pounding wood on skins with ferocious intensity, and Michael on rhythm guitar, keyboards, and bass, doing all that is asked of him, and then some.
Touch the flame
Life After Darla is now building on its collective experience. They have seen what needs to be accomplished if they are ever going to take their music to the world. Using their talent, skill, insight, and the help of some very generous and loyal fans, Life After Darla are taking their music to anyone willing to listen. They have a message, their goal is sure and they’re not looking back. Along the way they are attempting to make the journey as fun and meaningful as possible. Incredibly, the song writing continues at break-neck pace; live performances are more ferocious than ever; and day by day the music, indeed the life of Life After Darla becomes that much more meaningful. For Life After Darla realizes that today could be the last day of their lives, or their life as a band, so they must fulfill their call, they must live and learn today.
(written by Gregoryallen and Jeremy Stock)
November 24, 2003