Alamantra
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Alamantra

Birmingham, Alabama, United States | INDIE

Birmingham, Alabama, United States | INDIE
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"Spotlight On Alamantra"

"What you'll hear when you listen to Alamantra for any length of time ...you'll hear some punk, you'll hear some progressive rock. You'll hear some folk or folkish sounding music. The nice thing about it is the fact that you're not just going to hear one kind of music."
-The Vast Wasteland Podcast, The Vast Wasteland: Spotlight on Alamantra

http://thevastwasteland.podomatic.com/entry/2007-12-12T23_03_30-08_00 - The Vast Wasteland Podcast


"Spotlight On Alamantra"

"What you'll hear when you listen to Alamantra for any length of time ...you'll hear some punk, you'll hear some progressive rock. You'll hear some folk or folkish sounding music. The nice thing about it is the fact that you're not just going to hear one kind of music."
-The Vast Wasteland Podcast, The Vast Wasteland: Spotlight on Alamantra

http://thevastwasteland.podomatic.com/entry/2007-12-12T23_03_30-08_00 - The Vast Wasteland Podcast


"Alamantra: No Easy Listening"

No Easy Listening
by Kenn McCracken
From Birmingham Weekly Magazine (March 25 – April 1, 2004) p.23

Musically speaking, it seems that there are two kinds of bands that find
longevity around here: punk (Lockbody, GNP) and jazz (OK, not bands so
much as soloists with backing bands, such as Robert Moore and Eric
Essix). Alamantra is neither and both. You could call them fusion… but
that's too jazz-lite. You could call them alternative… oops. They're not
really Nirvana either, though we're getting closer.

However you categorize them, you could say that Alamantra is one of the
longer-lasting groups in Birmingham's local music scene. But even that is
only a half-truth: Alamantra as a band has only been around off and on for
the past few years, forming in 2000, then taking a break only to reappear in
2003. As a group of musicians, though, this trio has been around forever, at
least in terms of band life expectancy. It all started with Poor Richard's
Almanack (the band, not the book. To the best of my knowledge, none of
these guys are pushing 250 years old.), and continued through groups with
names like ON and Every Little Flower.
In some ways, it's very apparent that these guys have been around the
block more than once – the splendid chemistry, the solid sound and
production, the technical ability. But the music isn't tired or rehashed. You
won't see any of these members sitting down onstage, and the lyrics, while
thoughtful and mature, concern matters that any audience can relate to.
All of which is to say that there's some short, catchy songs on the disc,
delivered with a lot of raw energy and occasional bits of flashy
instrumentalism. While I'm at the game of pigeonholing, I'll go ahead and mention that there's a whole lot going on underneath the basic structure
here – careful listening reveals influences from jazz and blues to
psychedelia and avant-garde experimentation. It's not an easy listen – don't
expect the familiarity of a Blink 182 or Sum 41 album – but it is a potentially
rewarding one.

While you won't find any songs bemoaning the latest breakup or begging for baby to come back, the band does use music and lyrics to publicize causes like RAINN, the Rape, Abuse & Incest
National Network.
Alamantra brings a real intensity to the stage
through their playing and presence, and it's fascinating to hear a
performance that is both raw and musically complex. At times, you can
imagine the band totally falling apart, only to watch them moments later
snap cleanly back into something more comfortable and predictable; only
at that point do you realize that there was never an real danger of
disintegration. For some reason, it always makes me think of a group like
Yes or the early 1970s King Crimson.
- Birmingham Weekly (March 25- April 1, 2004)


"Alamantra: No Easy Listening"

No Easy Listening
by Kenn McCracken
From Birmingham Weekly Magazine (March 25 – April 1, 2004) p.23

Musically speaking, it seems that there are two kinds of bands that find
longevity around here: punk (Lockbody, GNP) and jazz (OK, not bands so
much as soloists with backing bands, such as Robert Moore and Eric
Essix). Alamantra is neither and both. You could call them fusion… but
that's too jazz-lite. You could call them alternative… oops. They're not
really Nirvana either, though we're getting closer.

However you categorize them, you could say that Alamantra is one of the
longer-lasting groups in Birmingham's local music scene. But even that is
only a half-truth: Alamantra as a band has only been around off and on for
the past few years, forming in 2000, then taking a break only to reappear in
2003. As a group of musicians, though, this trio has been around forever, at
least in terms of band life expectancy. It all started with Poor Richard's
Almanack (the band, not the book. To the best of my knowledge, none of
these guys are pushing 250 years old.), and continued through groups with
names like ON and Every Little Flower.
In some ways, it's very apparent that these guys have been around the
block more than once – the splendid chemistry, the solid sound and
production, the technical ability. But the music isn't tired or rehashed. You
won't see any of these members sitting down onstage, and the lyrics, while
thoughtful and mature, concern matters that any audience can relate to.
All of which is to say that there's some short, catchy songs on the disc,
delivered with a lot of raw energy and occasional bits of flashy
instrumentalism. While I'm at the game of pigeonholing, I'll go ahead and mention that there's a whole lot going on underneath the basic structure
here – careful listening reveals influences from jazz and blues to
psychedelia and avant-garde experimentation. It's not an easy listen – don't
expect the familiarity of a Blink 182 or Sum 41 album – but it is a potentially
rewarding one.

While you won't find any songs bemoaning the latest breakup or begging for baby to come back, the band does use music and lyrics to publicize causes like RAINN, the Rape, Abuse & Incest
National Network.
Alamantra brings a real intensity to the stage
through their playing and presence, and it's fascinating to hear a
performance that is both raw and musically complex. At times, you can
imagine the band totally falling apart, only to watch them moments later
snap cleanly back into something more comfortable and predictable; only
at that point do you realize that there was never an real danger of
disintegration. For some reason, it always makes me think of a group like
Yes or the early 1970s King Crimson.
- Birmingham Weekly (March 25- April 1, 2004)


"Alamantra's Symphonette Is Garageband's Instr. Track of Week"

As a result of some very enthusiastic reviews from GarageBand.com members, "The Symphonette" will be Instrumental Rock Track of the Week at GarageBand.com.

For 7 days starting on Monday, the 14th of December, 2009 (PST) "The Symphonette" will be featured on our site! It will also be featured in our special instrumental_rock Track of the Week podcast

http://www.garageband.com/alamantra

http://www.garageband.com/song?|pe1|S8LTM0LdsaSgaFOwZmhzV8xuY1GSIsw_
- Garageband.Com


"Alamantra's Symphonette Is Garageband's Instr. Track of Week"

As a result of some very enthusiastic reviews from GarageBand.com members, "The Symphonette" will be Instrumental Rock Track of the Week at GarageBand.com.

For 7 days starting on Monday, the 14th of December, 2009 (PST) "The Symphonette" will be featured on our site! It will also be featured in our special instrumental_rock Track of the Week podcast

http://www.garageband.com/alamantra

http://www.garageband.com/song?|pe1|S8LTM0LdsaSgaFOwZmhzV8xuY1GSIsw_
- Garageband.Com


Discography

Alamantra: Workingman's Bread 2012 (Alamantra Media: Released through CD Baby)
Alamantra By Turns: 2009 (Alamantra Media: Released through ReverbNation)
Alamantra 2004: 2004 (The Orchard)

Photos

Bio


Alamantra began in Birmingham, Alabama in 2000. Rather, that was the year the music stopped changing its brand name every few years. Songwriter/Guitarist/Vocalist, Bobby Shiflett, had begun using the name, Alamantra, as early as 1995, for an online persona. The general meaning is derived from Ala (Latin for “wing” ) + mantra or “prayer.” “Alamantra” is a play on the phrase “a wing and a prayer;” which is certainly an apt description of how they've managed to stick around. Though some pronounce the name, Ala –mon- tra, the band pronounces it, Ala –man- tra.

The Members:

Bobby Shiflett: Guitar, Vocals: Bobby is the primary songwriter and lyricist for Alamantra. He has been writing and playing for a generation. First inspired by The Beatles, Bobby has been on a musical odyssey of immense proportions. This is reflected in his broad musical interests. Both his lyrics and music have an introspective, undeniably spiritual element to them.

Steve Casteel: Guitar.

Steve comes from a musical family and grew up in the Florence/Muscle Shoals area. While growing up, he spent time in the studios around the area and sharpened his chops in touring bands like Radio Tokyo. He has hung out, roomed and played with people like Rob Malone (Fiddleworms, Drive-by Truckers). Steve is an intuitive, fluid guitarist, who is easy to play with. We’ve been jamming together in one thing or another since the mid 1990s. Alamantra’s secret ingredient is in the nearly seamless weaving of the guitars and Steve makes this possible.

Brandon Allison: Drums.

Alamantra’s original drummer was Bobby's brother, Ken Shiflett. He had played with the band since its official debut in 2000, and well beyond that, in other projects going back to 1993. In 2009 he scaled back his participation, though he occasionally sits in on percussion.

The drums are the heartbeat of any band, and it took a while for Alamantra to find a new heart for its ancient spirit. In Brandon Allison we found just that. At 32, Brandon is the youngest member of the band. Brandon, with his easy going demeanor and pocket drumming, has beat new life into the band.

Rick Glaze: Bass, Vocals.

Andrew ‘Drew’ Reid had played bass for Alamantra (and earlier projects) since 1993. When he left in 2009, it created a space in Alamantra that proved challenging to fill. Alamantra went through over a dozen talented musicians in the attempt. Finally they found Rick Glaze. Rick is a gifted, versatile, experienced bass player and a strong vocalist. Though he is laid back and possessed with an indispensable sense of humor, he has stepped into the work with purpose, made it his own, been a real team player and taken on a lot of the vocals…for which the rest of us are grateful.

Epilogue

Though the term “indie” has been reduced to being a misnomer, Alamantra truly is an indie band. From the beginning, it has been built on a DIY ethic. In 2003, Alamantra helped to organize and present a series of shows in the Birmingham area to raise money and awareness for RAINN. (Rape, Abuse, Incest, National Network).

Band Members