This coming Friday, local band All Else Fails kicks off their third tour at The Taphouse — the first stop of a five-week zigzag across Canada that will take the metal/punk band all the way to Prince Edward Island.
Lead singer Barrett Klesko is making sure the What Was, Is and Could Have Been Tour is a party few will forget. Also playing at the launch are four other metal bands — Endast, Vivisect, In the Midst of Murder and Randy Graves.
“Although we’re still in the lower rungs of our career, we’re trying to win over as many fans as possible and playing as many venues as possible. Over the years we’ve grown. Our musicianship is stronger and we’re getting bigger and better. We’re eyeing Europe next year,” says Klesko, the only original band member left.
The tour was precipitated by the recent release of the band’s new seven-track EP, a concept album titled The Oracle recorded on Klesko’s Suicidal Bride Records indie label. “There’s a handful of new material, we have some that predate the first album and we have covers.”
A hardcore fan of grunge band Alice in Chains, Kelso just had to add Sludge Factory. “We didn’t change it a lot. We just put our own sound to it.”
There’s also World in Flames, once recorded on the first self-titled album. “It’s been out of print for so long. But we loved it and wanted people to hear it.” There’s also an acoustic version of World in Flames. “It’s light and unplugged.”
And in Monster Eats the Pilot, the metal rage waxes philosophical on religious persecution while in Twilight of Mankind two people stumble through life as the world collapses around them.
The band, comprised of Klesko, bass player Seedy Mitchell and guitarist Mike Sands has gone through a revolving door of musicians since its birth in 2006. In fact, they lost a drummer on their last tour and Okotoks musician Tom Wolf is stepping in to fill the hole for the tour’s duration.
“A lot of guys love playing with buddies,” Klesko says. “But as soon as they discover the realities about becoming a rock star, they don’t want to put in the time or effort.”
However, this foursome is loading all their gear and merchandise into Betty, a converted yellow school bus with four pods, a table, TV and video games. “As you weed through the guys who don’t want to do it, you find those who like it. The test is coming home and hearing them say they’re homesick for the bus.”
Cover charge is $15. Advance ticket holders receive a free album. Email [email protected].
