Alta May
I remember when I was in my early 20's listening to guys 10 years older than me talking about bands from the good old days. The bands from "way back when" that rocked harder and better than anything going on now. I always thought to myself, "I'll never be like one of those guys, never live in the past. I'll never talk about the good old days, about bands that rocked harder and better than the bands around now."

Of course, 10 years later, I have turned into one of those guys. Bands during the early '90s did rock harder (as I lean on my cane). The Fluid, Love Battery, and the Screaming Trees played balls-out rock without forgettin' to include a good hook. Alta May has taken that sound, and updated without dating it.

During the early '90s, when Garrett Shavlik was in Denver's Fluid (one of the best bands of the late '80s and early '90s, as well as a personal favorite of mine) he met up with Erik Roper. The two kept in touch, and by '93 when Garrett had left the Fluid and joined up with Spell, Erik was giggin' with his band Cold Crank. The two bands played some shows together (when they weren't out drinkin'). Eventually, Erik and Garrett left Denver, headed to Seattle. They played some music together, but the band wasn't cemented 'til they hooked up with bassist Marcus Pina (who had spent time in Anodyne). The trio formally debuted in 1999 and have been playin' shows since. They recently released their debut album We As In Us on Glazed Records.

The album, which is "simultaneously out of synch with the early 21st century and perfectly distinct because of it," rocks the way "they used to do it" (damn, I hate that line). Alta May plays straightforward rock, inspired by alternative rock when it was still alternative (it's been a long while since those days). It's impressive when a band sounds distinctly different and fresh while sounding familiar at the same time (a rare feat).

Along with the great songwriting are the inspired live shows put on by Alta May. Rockin' hard from their hearts, these guys put everything they've got into their shows.

It's cool when things come full circle.
-Brent


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