The members of ASU are from all points of the U.S. They've spent time in Bosnia performing for U.N troops. Their lead singer has traveled around the world. They met Punky Brewster on their photo shoot. They love to skate and snowboard. Their van logged 60,000 miles last year. Their songs betray the pain and beauty ofself discovery and can still make you laugh. AllStarUnited's self-titled and self produced debut will be preceded by a 65 city tour just to get the band in shape for another 60,000 miles once the record is released.
"We've got an empty van covered in bean bags, a TV/VCR plugged into the lighter and a ton of caffeine... "what more can you ask from life on the road?" asks AllStarUnited lead singer Ian Eskelin. Indeed, Eskelin and his cohorts have logged plenty of time on the highways and byways of America in the 18 months since they've been together. Formed in late 1993 to back up Eskelin and his songs, the core gelled quickly and soon took on a family identity, sharing housing, transportation and equipment like siblings.
Eskelin, a Charlotte, NC native, played in the east coast club band Business & Industry while in high school,opening for such '80s club music stalwarts as Information Society and C&C Music Factory. He then went to college in the Chicago area where he formed the band Brand New Language with Hovie Beno (13 MG). At the same time he devised a techno project (Zero) and an afro-wig blown out of proportion outfit called Funky Viral Invasion. It was at an FVI gig in 1993 that he met Brian Whitman, who was then playing guitar for the band Ideology. Eighteen months later, when Eskelin returned from an around the world adventure and had moved to Nashville, he called Whitman, who was through with Ideology and ready to start a new adventure."
As Eskelin began to look for a band in Nashville, drummer Christian Crowe was the first to join up. The two had met through various friends in Nashville and hit it off immediately. Crowe's jazz-funk drumming and love for travel was a perfect match for Eskelin's smart pop and relentless energy. They soon found a bassplayer to join them and Whitman and began their road adventure. While playing several shows with Albuquerque based band Echoing Green, the band met Patrick McCallum who was playing with EchoingGreen at the time. The two parties got along famously and soon McCallum and his keyboard abusing stagetactics were on board. Bass player Gary Miller was the last link on board, He came to the band from Floridian band Spin Cycle after original bassist Rob Wayner returned to Chicago to start his own band.AllStarUnited was in full swing.
AllStarUnited's album is produced by the band, with technical assistance from local engineer/sixth member Marc Chevalier. The record is mixed by Mark Freegard, know for his work with Nine Inch Nails, Manic Street Preachers, Ride, Compulsion and others. It is a wondrous mix of dynamic pop songs and smart, revealing lyrics. Songs such as "Savior Of My Universe" and "Torn" display honestly the process of maturation."Drive" and "Lullaby" show a strong and tender take on friendship and fidelity, while songs such as "La La Land", "Smash Hit" and "Beautiful Thing" humorously expose the foibles of fringe issues while encouraging listeners to look for the heart of life's matters.
"Lyrically, this record stretched me to write from a very personal point of view" says Eskelin. "I really had to find ways to be vulnerable with emotions. And at the same time we've got some things that remind us not to take ourselves too seriously."
AllStarUnited owes (as the name might suggest) a bit of homage to British pop bands that concentrate on melody and memorable hooks. At the same time, it is Eskelin's past experience writing keyboard based songs that help give the music a distinct identity apart from the quirky, stiff edges of much of the current Brit-pop bands. "After playing in keyboard bands for so long, it was a real eye opener to hear those songs played on guitars, and I think it adds a different spin on the layers of music that are blended in our songs, It helps to round them out a bit more," says Eskelin. "It's a great challenge to take a song written in such a mechanical way and try to give it a human, emotional feel live. I hope we've done it; I think we have," says Crowe.
ASU has finished work on their new project, "International Anthems for the Human Race", and has already released two singles from the new album, 'Welcome to Our Big Rock Show' and 'Thank You, Goodnight'.
Discography
Go to All Star United's Website
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