With Capture The Crown, The Browning, Conquer Divide, The Funeral Portrait
The crowd is still screaming at a sold out show in Anaheim, California as the sweetcore phenomenon known as Alesana exits the stage.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this,” says frontman Dennis Lee as he tips back the last wallow of his water bottle. “Seeing kids go crazy like that thousands of miles away from home reminds me that I have the best job in the world.” Crowd response like this is something that the six-piece from Raleigh, North Carolina is quickly becoming accustomed to all over the country and other parts of the world: and this is only the beginning.
The band’s debut full length record On Frail Wings of Vanity and Wax is built around a dynamic, emotionally charged, three guitar, three vocal attack. “We’re all about dynamics, both musically and vocally,” says vocalist/guitarist Shawn Milke about why the band elected to employ three guitarists and three vocalists. “We don’t try to be like anyone else or to be something we’re not. By having six members we are able to pull off the same guitar and vocal harmonies in a live setting that we have on the record.”
Forming in November of 2004, Alesana has always focused a great deal of their attention on having an energetic and memorable live show. The raw, honest intensity of the band’s performance on stage has played a huge role in their growing popularity over the last year and a half. “Our music is always fun,” says drummer Jeremy Bryan. “There isn’t a single night on tour that I don’t have a blast on stage. We give everything we have each and every night and it is a great feeling to see that same energy increasingly coming back from the crowd everywhere we go…and always play ’til you puke.” Having already completed tours with Chiodos, From First To Last, Bayside, The Devil Wears Prada, and Drop Dead Gorgeous the band is ready to continue hitting the road hard and strong. 2007 saw the band play 325 shows in 365 days and 2008 is looking to be no different. Alesana is embarking on a world tour playing shows in the US, Canada, Mexico, England, Germany, South America, Japan, and Australia. In addition to their international travel, the band is headlining the Vans Warped Tour all summer long on the Smartpunk Stage.