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Local Band |
In a town that has not really much going on, but a
beach-like easy going attitude, there’s bound to be rising talents and
unlimited interest in music and starting a band. In the mainstream music
business, edgier, rock-oriented groups are getting airplay and
recognition, and making a name for themselves. But let’s come down to
reality, there is one band that has that edgy appeal, and easy going
attitude. Not long ago, I had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing a
local band here in town that consists of five El Segundo residents, all of
them are in their teens, and are quite amusing people.
Dreaming of a Better Day is a metal/hardcore
band that is really into music, gets along with each other, and has played
many shows and has a growing fan base, including here at school. All five
members of the band are unique and respectable individuals. The line-up
includes: Matt Bristow and Charlie Moore on guitars, Beau
Balek on bass, Chris Alas on drums, and Dean Adjukovic on
vocals. Their music is a compelling and well-worth listening to. They
blend hardcore music with a mixture of each band member’s own personal
styles and skills. All five of their own talents combined is a well
produced, artful mix of good quality music and something to get you up and
keep you going all day.
While talking to the band, I noticed a lot
about them together as a group, and as themselves; together, they are a
good group of friends and are laid back and relaxed and often joke around
a lot, and have very amusing things to say, whether to each other, or as
an individual talking for themselves. In a single profile, each band
member has a “role,” so to speak. Moore is a wordy, social, and
good-humored guy, and brings up good intelligent points on his own to what
someone would be saying, and keeps it calm. Adjukovic is also like this,
but more of a mystical guy, knowing what’s going on, but putting in his
say when it is needed. Bristow is the shy and quiet one, but when spoken
to, he’ll talk to you. Alas is the rowdy one and fools around a lot, but
in a good way. He’s not afraid to be himself and is a clever person. He
has a lot of ideas as well. Balek is a bit reserved, but once you start to
talk to him, he’s a funny guy and has very interesting views that he
brings up in his discussions. Altogether, they are cool, relaxed, and not
afraid to express their opinions and views on any topic, and can do what
they want with ease. They are respectable and intelligent, and those are
all good things to have within a band.
Getting to know the history of Dreaming of a
Better Day, I learned that they were all in other bands prior to this one,
and have vast musical backgrounds. They formed in October 2001 and have
been working together ever since, and it has been an enjoyable time for
all of them. “Many different band names were considered for the band,
but Dreaming of a Better Day came up and that was it,” explained Moore.
He continued about how they come up with material; “We play what we feel
and if it works, and if we all like what we have come up with, we’ll
continue to work with it and improve it until it is finished and we have
all agreed on it.”
Most of the band is vegan (Bristow likes
meat, just in case you were wondering who is the carnivore in the group),
yet all are one-hundred percent straightedge. They all have “profiles”
as well, based on a nicknames they have, their ages, favorite band, and
personal quote. First off, Adjukovic is known as “The Croatian
Sensation”, he is 17, favorite band is AFI, and his personal quote is
“You better watch out or the insects might get you.” Alas is called
“Christraper”, he’s 16, favorite band is Eighteen Visions, and
personal quote is,” Even Heaven has black days.” Balek is “Xbox,”
he’s 18, favorite band is Thursday, and his quote is, “Vegans are so
cool.” Moore is known as “Chunk,” he’s 18, favorite band is
Between the buried and me, and personal quote is “Go vegan
straightedge!” Bristow is called “Malck Bristow,” he’s 18,
favorite band is Heartscarved, and his quote is “Winner eats steak.”
The band has many influences, including such
acts like Prince, Pink Floyd, and Led Zeppelin, and draw their own
inspirations from their unanimous love for music and the idea to start a
band. “We just got together and wanted to make a band, since it was
something we liked and were already doing, and since we were all such
great friends, it was a good idea,” explains Bristow on how the band
first formed.
The band has a big following already in the
hardcore world, and of course here in El Segundo. When asked about the
reception they get at their shows, they agree that people like them and
appreciate their music greatly. Moore said, “The reception is always
loud and good, people like us, and it is a thank you to us that people
enjoy our music, dance and mosh to it, and it is a reward to us, and
encourages us to go on with our band, and it is a payment in gratitude
since every show we’ve done we’ve never been paid once for doing them,
so it feels good to us, and we get exposure too.” When asked how much
she liked Dreaming of a Better Day, Senior Ashley
Millar exclaimed, “They rock my world!”
Adjukovic said about the crowd’s acceptance of them, at
their last gig on March 30 at Suzy’s Cafe. “Everyone really liked our
set and even though we played a few songs, it still was great and we did
really well, and the crowd’s reaction at the end is what really counts,
and it makes us feel really proud of what we are doing.”
When asked about what he thinks of Dreaming
of a Better Day’s music, Sophomore Adam Castle stated firmly,
“Their music is nice, and it sounds good.” Also present at the
interview were two important people to the group; the Toothless Roadie
(Senior) Marc Pepe and Super Senior John Vigil. Vigil is the
“Merchboy,” meaning he helps to distribute their demos and leads the
“Dream Team,” which is the band’s moshing crew. Pepe jokingly told
me,” This Norwegian sloth rock band (Dreaming of a Better Day) makes me
want to take off my shoe, throw it off the balcony, and poop on it.”
Vigil expressed, “Dreaming of a Better Day
makes me want to rip my face off, slam it on the wall, and kick it.”
Dreaming of a Better Day’s music can be
defined as speed picking, full of harmonies, melodic, and super heavy,
emotional stuff. They currently have eight songs, and one cover, making
that a total of nine. “When we made our demos, we sent a few off to the
record labels, and we keep a lot more for people to buy,” explained
Moore. He continued, “We sold fifty demos in two days, and that shows
how much people support us and the quality of our work.”
Adjukovic said, “ We are trying to get off the one [Tuff Guy
Records] we are on, since they aren’t doing that much with us. We are
trying to get signed with another label, preferably we would like to go to
Tribunal or Life Force records, they are really good labels.”
When asked about any memorable performances
or shows that they’ve had, Alas said, “Playing with Strife was really
cool and memorable, and that was an incredible thing that we did to be
featured in the same show as them, that was awesome.”
The negative reaction that they may get really doesn’t
matter to them. “It really doesn’t matter to me, as long as other
people like us,” said Balek.
“That kind of thinking is so minimal to us,
and we couldn’t care less about if people don’t like us. So many
people think we are good, so that matters,” said Bristow.
“It’s a matter of your personal
preferences and tastes; if you don’t like hardcore, then that’s your
own thing. If you like us, then it’s cool, “ said Adjukovic.