For fans of Jimmy Eat World and Death Cab fo… Read Full Bio ↴[Press Release - 5.11.2010]
For fans of Jimmy Eat World and Death Cab for Cutie
The debut full-length album from Los Angeles based indie/rock group Act As If, entitled “There’s a Light,” is now available on iTunes, Amazon mp3, Lala, and Zune.
The band’s singer/songwriter Peter Verdell wrote and produced the 11-song album, and also performed all drums, guitars, piano, synths and vocals. The album was mixed by Nick Baumhardt (of The Class of 98 [The Militia Group], Thousand Foot Krutch [Tooth and Nail], and FM Static [Tooth and Nail]), and mastered by Troy Glessner (Death Cab for Cutie, Pedro the Lion).
The band is currently unsigned.
[Full Bio]
After self-recording and releasing Act As If’s first EP in 2006, frontman Peter Verdell spent some time running the gamut of singer/songwriter ups and downs.
Needing new breath, he quit his job as A&R assistant at Drive-Thru Records in 2007, began retaking music classes at a community college, and temporarily traded Los Angeles for Chicago in 2008 to drum and tour with friend/musician Andrew Ripp. In the fall of that year, Verdell made the decision to move back to LA and refocus on Act As If.
By the spring of 2009, the band had recorded and self-released a limited edition 5-song EP (“More Birds with Fewer Stones”) for a west coast acoustic tour with Stacy Clark (Shangri-La/Vanguard Records). In June, Act As If began tracking 11 new songs that would become their debut full-length album, “There’s a Light”.
The sonic result of “There’s a Light” is most easily described as a mix of Death Cab for Cutie and Jimmy Eat World. Verdell performed all the drums, guitars, pianos, synths, and vocals, while band mate Derrick Wong performed bass. The album was self-produced, mixed by Nick Baumhardt (of The Class of 98 [The Militia Group], Thousand Foot Krutch [Tooth and Nail], and FM Static [Tooth and Nail]), and mastered by Troy Glessner (Death Cab for Cutie, Pedro the Lion).
Recent activity has found Act As If playing such notable LA venues as The Troubadour, and with esteemed bands including The Daylights [Epic/Sony], Everybody Else [The Militia Group], The Higher [Epitaph], Barcelona [Universal], and Stacy Clark [Shangri-La/Vanguard]. A song from their self-titled EP, “Please Catch Up,” was licensed for a primetime ABC reality show entitled “Greg Behrendt’s Wake Up Call.”
You'll Be Alright
Act As If Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You washed my fears away
The sirens glare was blinding
You found me anyway
You said alright, alright, you'll be alright my love
They held me down, you held my hand
You cleaned my bloody knees
A traffic jam at 1am
You said alright, alright, you'll be alright my love
Alright, alright, you'll be alright my love
You said baby you're the one
It took a car crash to make me let you know
I cannot let you go
I said maybe it's just a head rush
Adrenaline, calls, the lights the whiplash
I cannot let you go, I will not let you go
The lyrics of Act As If's song "You'll Be Alright" speak of the reassurance of love amidst chaos and turmoil. The verses describe a moment of fear and pain, presumably as a result of a car crash, where the singer is comforted and cared for by their partner. The first verse talks about how the partner found them despite the chaos of the accident and held their hand to comfort them. The second verse talks about how the partner is the one for the singer, and how the accident made them realize that they cannot let them go.
The chorus repeats the reassuring phrase "alright, alright, you'll be alright my love," emphasizing the comfort and security that the partner provides. The singer seems to be struggling to believe that their feelings for their partner are real, perhaps attributing them to the adrenaline and the aftermath of the accident. However, the resolution in the final line of the song shows that their love is real and enduring, and they will not let go of it.
Overall, the lyrics of "You'll Be Alright" convey the power of love to provide comfort and reassurance even in the most challenging of circumstances. The singer's experience of the accident serves as a symbol for the challenges and uncertainties that life can throw at us, but the constant presence of their partner reminds them that they are not alone.
Line by Line Meaning
You ran towards me
You came towards me with an intent to help
You washed my fears away
You helped me get rid of my worries
The sirens glare was blinding
The sound of sirens was too loud and distracting
You found me anyway
You still managed to locate me despite the difficulties
You said alright, alright, you'll be alright my love
You comforted me with your words and assured me everything would be fine
They held me down, you held my hand
Others tried to restrain me, but you supported me
You cleaned my bloody knees
You tended to my injuries
A traffic jam at 1am
There was a lot of obstructing traffic at an inconvenient time
Could not keep you from me
You persisted in your efforts to reach me
Alright, alright, you'll be alright my love
Your comforting words were repeated to me
You said baby you're the one
You expressed your love for me
It took a car crash to make me let you know
The accident was a pivotal moment that made me realize my affection for you
I cannot let you go
I refuse to lose you
I said maybe it's just a head rush
I tried to give a plausible explanation for my feelings
Adrenaline, calls, the lights the whiplash
The rush of adrenaline, phone calls, and flickering lights had me reeling
I cannot let you go, I will not let you go
I am determined to keep you by my side
Contributed by Kennedy B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Brenda Sanchez
Love listening under the moon on this special summer night
Act As If
Love this.
bobi gardner
excellent
Act As If
Thank youu :) :)
Dark Orbit King
Interesting! Subbed!
Chase Storm
Not enough comments
bobi gardner
Chase Storm I agree. This group is amazing.