Alibi

ALIBI guitarist JAMES CHEETHAM talks to JAKEB SMITH about their upcoming tour, scene snobbery and the anatomy of the world's biggest bands.

Brisbane band Alibi are about to embark on a Queensland tour that covers a lot of rural towns. It's not what you'd expect from an urban pop band, but as the Kingaroy-raised Cheetham explains, it's about giving something back.

“We just know what it's like living in those rural communities and we're keen to go back. A lot of those towns don't often get to see bands. What we're trying to do when we go to those towns, when we set-up an all-ages gig, is try to get some of the local bands that exist within the high schools (and are effectively what we were five years ago) to come and play support. As well as getting the local bands along we also try and get onboard with a local charity, for example up in Hervey Bay we're working with an organisation called Reconnect, which helps aid disadvantaged youth in the community, gives them something to do. It's not very well funded so it's good to donate a bit from the door to them. It's something that we're trying to make a bit of a focus on this tour.”

Playing widescreen pop-rock isn't always the hippest thing however. In a music scene enthralled by kitsch and counter-kitsch, the ambitious and forthright Alibi have been perceived as outsiders. Yet Cheetham is suprisingly unfazed by the criticism.

“It's definitely been an attitude that we've come across. You go to these gigs and sometimes you get the feeling that bands are there doing their thing and kind of take the attitude that ‘this is what I do, I don't care if you don't like it, I'm different’. If that's what they love doing I certainly don't want to pay-out a particular genre or anything like that. But we definitely cop a bit of flak for having that commercial sound. It doesn't weigh too heavily on our minds because that's what we really enjoy doing. You've got to stay true to what you love.”

Alibi follow a tradition of big rock bands like U2 and Coldplay, something that becomes evident when listening to their Rise EP. It's this knack for melody and story that the band try to emulate, not bothering with any technical masturbation.

“As musicians, we're not gun players or anything and we certainly don't profess to be particularly accomplished. But one thing that we do really try and get right is melodies. So we try and write lyrics that resonate and have melodies to support that. It's something that really excites us about those bands, it's those sounds that when you hear them you're like ‘oh man, why didn't I think of that’. It's because they resonate within you, when it's coupled with lyrics that do the same thing then that's songwriting and that's connecting with a person and that's exactly what we want to do. We don't want to be clones by any means, we just want to find our voice as a band and go from there.”

Alibi launch their new EP, Rise, at the Zoo on April 19, which also kicks off the tour. They’ll be playing to readers within Rave at the Sands Tavern, Sunshine Coast on April 21; Tattersalls Hotel, Toowoomba on May 5; and the Miami Shark Bar on May 10. - Rave Magazine

Local quartet Alibi aren’t resting on their laurels following the release of their sophomore EP Before the Early, Before the Late earlier this year - in fact they’re jumping straight back on the horse to prepare new material.

“The new songs have taken us to a more creative and distinctive place musically,â€? vocalist Matt Folker says. “We are always aiming towards finding new sounds and melodies that haven’t been established or heard before, and elements of the new songs certainly show this. So we’re really happy and excited about the new material and what it means for the future of our band.

“We have progressively matured our sound and have begun to create a more independent image through our songs and melodies. We no longer feed off and try to replicate our musical influences. Rather, we are beginning to stand up on our own feet and develop our own individual strengths and sounds.�

Folker explains that the band source inspiration from artists who pioneer their own sound, rather than just borrowing a sense of musical style from the palette of other bands.

“We draw a lot of inspiration from ambitious and pioneering bands such as U2 and Coldplay, for the way they have broken ground in creating individual and ongoing unique sounds,� he says. “The great thing about playing with these guys though, is that although we share common interest in these bands, we also have our own individual tastes in music which we share with each other.�

The band are determined to provide the audience with a live show that is, above all else, energetic - helping the band present a sense of vitality to keep the punters interested.

“From our live show right now, people can really expect the thing that we’ve tried to present from the start - energy,â€? drummer Matt Fairhurst says. “Every show we try and play and perform in the way the songs sound, which can be described as uplifting and energetic.â€? - Time Off Magazine