Zach Gill (Keys, Accordio… Read Full Bio ↴The Animal Liberation Orchestra (ALO) are:
Zach Gill (Keys, Accordion, Ukulele & Vocals),
Dan Lebowitz (Guitars, Percussion & Vocals),
Steve Adams (Bass & Vocals) and
David Brogan (Drums & Vocals).
“Roses & Clover being the intersection of passion and luck.”
ALO may be describing the inspiration for their forthcoming release Roses & Clover (out May 1st on Brushfire Records) however, it best surmises the band’s newfound approach to their music. For a band accustomed to performing songs live for years, crafting and shaping hundreds of times over before entering the studio, the age-old process of recording an album first was, well… liberating.
On Roses & Clover, ALO explored new methods of collaborating, finding a richer, more mature sound built on their individual songwriting strengths. Recorded in a turn-of-the-century barn in the hills overlooking colonial Santa Barbara, the four musicians holed themselves up for two weeks with little more than their favorite instruments and 40 songs in various stages – 80% of which had never been performed on stage.
“We’re a band that likes to experiment live,” says Dan Lebowitz. “I have a feeling these songs are going to evolve a lot. They’re young songs, like little kids, who over time are going to grow and change. And that’s a really exciting thing.”
Born from a childhood friendship and nurtured on the campus of University of California, Santa Barbara, the four-piece collective of Zach Gill (keyboards/vocals), Steve Adams (bass/vocals), Dan Lebowitz (guitars/vocals) and Dave Brogan (drums/vocals), more commonly known as ALO, found their musical roots in the feel-good vibe of the breezy California town.
After being reunited with collegiate cohort Jack Johnson - who not only invited the band to be the support act on his world tour, but also signed them to his label Brushfire Records - ALO made waves with the successful release of Fly Between Falls in 2006. Influential Triple A radio station WXPN declared them an “Artist to Watch,” while Associated Press touted their unified musical gifts in saying, “Each member of ALO could easily be the musical star of their own band, so it’s nice to see accomplished musicians like these stick together.” Adding to their accomplishments, the guys had the pivotal opening slot on one of the year’s highest-grossing tours with Dave Matthews Band.
“Since we usually develop our songs with the live show in mind, by the time we get into the studio we are used to playing them a certain way and it is often hard to separate ourselves from that,” says Dan. “Listening to a record is a different experience than going to a concert. This time we got to let the recording dictate how the songs would sound rather than the live experience.”
The album’s first track “Maria”, is an anthemic and unabashed pledge of love. From the infectious keyboard hook to the passionate lyrics, “Maria” is instantly catchy and uplifting.
“Zach played ‘Maria’ a year ago,” remembers Dave. “I loved it as soon as I heard it and knew that it had to be on the next album.”
Or take the album’s title track, “Roses & Clover” - a lyrical gem combining a funk heavy back beat and fiery guitar solos depicting a safe haven where all can meet. In many ways, the sound of the band can be summed up in the playful imagery of “Roses & Clover.”
“To me, roses represent maturity and clover youthfulness” says Zach. “After so much time exploring music together, our sound has become a blend of the classic and the contemporary.”
The inspired session produced ten gloriously infectious tunes that cruise through the classic American soundscape from roots rock to bluesy jazz with a hint of 70’s disco. Listen closely and you will hear a guitar that Dan rewired to conjure a sound that mixes Studio One with Motown, or Zach toying with the voice mutator (“All Alone” or “Monday”). Then on tracks like “Plastic Bubble” and “Lady Loop,” ALO dares you to bust out your best dance moves under the “rusty mirrorball.”
For Roses & Clover, the members of ALO shared much of the producing duties, though enlisted the help of veteran producer Robert Carranza (Beck, Los Lobos, Ozomatli) and Dave Simon-Baker. “Robert was like a mentor figure for us,” says Zach. “He has made so many albums and had so much experience. He would tell us we were on the right track, or not, which really empowered us even more.”
With that greater sense of power, the four friends look confidently towards the future when they venture out on another worldwide tour through much of 2007. This new incarnation will give them ample opportunities to shape, mold, and share the new songs on the road with their legions of fans.
“This is our favorite record we’ve made so far,” Steve says. “Making it was an incredible experience and it’s got us more excited about the band than ever before.”
Wasting Time
ALO Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kickin' back pullin' tubes courtesy of Jeb
When Smootie rang up and he dropped a dime
We're at the Django house and the waves are fine
Dan came back with an ol' lap steel
When he puts it in his hands he's got to be real
If you come around the corner don't forget to turn
I got around the corner, I was half way there
When I met Ted Moore and of course John Hare
They had just got a sack weighing 3.5
It was 4:19, just about that time
So we took a detour to 6703
The house they occupy oceanside D.P.
Got up stairs and locked the door
Jerry and the Dead on the video
They pulled out the binger and I started to drool
It was the 5 foot caustic weapon crystal tool
I caught the fumes and I lost my mind
Happens every time that I smoke the kind, but...
I never learn but I don' mind, I'm just wastin' time
I went to the beach and I picked up a rock
I threw it in the ocean and the waves then
Caught it and dropped it back into the sea
So then I walked away and I let it be
Cause it had been lying there for a million days
Before I picked it up and threw it away
I left the shore, went to the liquor store
Saw crazy Bruce, he was waiting for
Someone to buy him some fine malt liquor
When he gets it in his system he's a real shitkicker
He'll play you a song if you've got the time
And even if you don't, he's liable to try
So I left him there, and went into S.O.S.
Bought myself a bottle of the black cisco death
Drank it down while watching Dave's band
Somebody stuck a doob in my hand
So I took a hit and I passed it on
I woke up on the pavement not before too long
I never learn but I don't mind
But sometimes it takes a couple of tries, but...
The lyrics of ALO's "Wasting Time" take the listener through a day in the life of a group of friends, as they engage in various activities and adventures. The song begins with the singer sitting on a porch with friends, smoking and enjoying some downtime. They receive a call from another friend, who invites them to his house near the beach to enjoy the waves. On the way, they run into more friends and take a detour to buy drugs, ultimately ending up at a friend's place to watch videos and get high.
The second half of the song sees the singer wandering around, picking up a rock on the beach before heading to a liquor store and encountering yet another interesting character. They indulge in more drugs and alcohol before passing out on the pavement. Throughout the song, the singer acknowledges that they are often "wasting time" and not necessarily accomplishing anything productive, but they don't seem to mind.
On a deeper level, the song could be interpreted as a commentary on the aimlessness and escapism of youth culture, as well as the fleeting nature of time and the idea that life is meant to be enjoyed in the moment. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a group of friends enjoying each other's company and living in the present, even if it means temporarily forgetting about responsibilities or the future.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I was sittin' on the porch with Mel and Web
I was spending some leisure time with my friends Mel and Web
Kickin' back pullin' tubes courtesy of Jeb
We were relaxing and smoking with some help from Jeb
When Smootie rang up and he dropped a dime
Smootie gave us a call and let us know of something exciting happening
We're at the Django house and the waves are fine
He informed us that there were good waves at the Django house
Dan came back with an ol' lap steel
Dan returned with an old lap steel guitar
When he puts it in his hands he's got to be real
When he plays it, he puts so much heart into every note that he plays
If you come around the corner don't forget to turn
Next time you come around the corner remember to take the turn
And bring a little fire we got somethin' to burn
Also bring some firewood, as we have a campfire to start
I got around the corner, I was half way there
I made my way around the corner, and I was heading towards my destination
When I met Ted Moore and of course John Hare
I ran into Ted Moore and John Hare
They had just got a sack weighing 3.5
They just obtained a bag of weed that weighed 3.5 grams
It was 4:19, just about that time
It was 4:19 PM, almost time to light up
So we took a detour to 6703
We decided to make a quick stop at 6703
The house they occupy oceanside D.P.
Ted and John occupy a house in Oceanside D.P.
Got up stairs and locked the door
We went up the stairs and locked the door behind us
Jerry and the Dead on the video
We started watching Jerry and the Grateful Dead on a video
They pulled out the binger and I started to drool
They brought out the 5-foot water pipe, and I found myself wanting to smoke
It was the 5 foot caustic weapon crystal tool
The water pipe was a big, powerful tool used for smoking crystal meth
I caught the fumes and I lost my mind
I inhaled the fumes from the pipe and started to feel out of control
Happens every time that I smoke the kind, but...
This type of thing happens every time I smoke, but it's still appealing to me
I never learn but I don' mind, I'm just wastin' time
I know it's not good for me, but I don't really care, I'm just relaxing and taking it easy
I went to the beach and I picked up a rock
I decided to go to the beach and collect some rocks
I threw it in the ocean and the waves then
I tossed it into the ocean and the waves carried it away
Caught it and dropped it back into the sea
The waves brought it back to shore and washed it back into the ocean
So then I walked away and I let it be
I left the rock alone and walked away
Cause it had been lying there for a million days
I realized that the rock had probably been there for a very long time
Before I picked it up and threw it away
And that it was perfectly fine being where it was before I disturbed it
I left the shore, went to the liquor store
I left the beach and went to the local liquor store
Saw crazy Bruce, he was waiting for
I saw my friend Bruce, who was waiting for someone to buy him alcohol
Someone to buy him some fine malt liquor
He was looking for someone to buy him a high-quality malt liquor
When he gets it in his system he's a real shitkicker
He becomes a rowdy and aggressive person when he drinks too much
He'll play you a song if you've got the time
But he's also a talented musician and will play a song for you if you're willing to listen
And even if you don't, he's liable to try
Even if you're not interested, he might still try to play for you
So I left him there, and went into S.O.S.
I left Bruce where he was and walked into S.O.S.
Bought myself a bottle of the black cisco death
I purchased a bottle of a strong liquor called black cisco death
Drank it down while watching Dave's band
I drank the liquor while watching a band play at the venue
Somebody stuck a doob in my hand
Someone gave me a joint to smoke
So I took a hit and I passed it on
I took a puff and then passed the joint to someone else
I woke up on the pavement not before too long
The combination of alcohol and drugs made me pass out on the ground
But sometimes it takes a couple of tries, but...
Despite the negative consequences, I still enjoy doing these things and will continue to try them again
Contributed by Micah T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
B H
I'd already stumbled upon this song a while ago. Man, I had forgotten how good it was!
Gerard Boelstler
Saw these guys in Nashville in ‘12, show was off the hook. Maybe a crowd of 60. tickets were $15 and lucky enough to talk with the band after the show. Memories I’ll never forget.
Marcus Berrios
Never gets old...this tune is my anthem
Mark Najarian
Always brings me back to my great memories of living in Isla Vista. Some of the best times of my life.
M714
Still so dang good.
Brian O'Shea
He most definitely did not. I've been following them since '98 at my days on the UCSB campus. Zach and Jack are friends, which instilled their touring together. Zach is now an official band member in Jack's band as well, but ALO is a crew of guys that's been playing for many years and have known each other since their early days in the Bay Area.
Teutonica
@FLDeadHead actually it was started by Zach Gill whose the lead singer and keyboardist of the band "Forming the band (1989)
Childhood friends Lebowitz, Adams and Gill (aka, LAG) formed their first band in junior high school in 1989 with drummer Matt West. Originally called Django, they recorded their first album entitled "Contact" the summer before their senior year in high school, and then moved to Santa Barbara together to attend college. When West returned home after a couple years, music mentor Brogan filled in. In the summer of 1996, the band moved to Augusta, Georgia, to tour the South and meet James Brown, achieving both. Upon their return to Santa Barbara, Brogan decided to move to Seattle, Washington.
A new band name and drummer followed in 1997 – Magnum Family, with Josh Yafa on drums. The band was short-lived but funky, and grew a modest following in Isla Vista, California, where UCSB students mostly lived."
sonja miller
I love it!!! I will be listening to more....I love being Pleasently Surprised ;) ;) ;)
Nicholas Thompson
Who ever met who first, this is some pretty bad ass shit
Fernando Lopes
great song