Awolnation: Worldwide

The Indie-Pop Band Awolnation was put together in 2010. Today they are on a worldwide tour, and one of the biggest sensations on Youtube. In this month alone they will hit several major cities in Europe, including London and Paris. As I began to look at their tour dates, they will hit Paris on May 25, and London on May 26. I wonder what their means of transportation are, because getting around Europe can be quite difficult. However, this band has made it to the big leagues, so I am sure they are well managed. They will literally be everywhere in Europe this summer (Warsaw, Nierenberg, Prague). Sometime in July the band will head back to the U.S. Their stops include Seattle and Las Vegas. The group has created quite a name for themselves in a short time. I mean, how can a dream come to life so quickly? This band has had no growing pains. Now they are doing shows in different countries on consecutive nights. I do not want to put down this kind of music, but I really do not enjoy listening to it at all; however, listening to Indie-Pop at a concert on the weekend is a totally different experience. Rap and Rock are noble arts, but Indie-Pop possesses an energy that I have never witnessed before. I could name about three bands in this genre, yet I would not hesitate going to a show (even if it was a little no-name  group).

Indie-Pop has had a major effect on the London music scene, and in the United States the culture is growing exponentially. Awolnation has put out two albums under the Red Bull Record Label: “Back from Earth” and “Megalithic Symphony.” The group has five members. Drew Stewart on lead guitar, Kenny Carkeet on vocals and keyboard, Hayden Scott on drums, Aaron Bruno on lead vocals, and David Amezcua on bass guitar. This recently configured band has had their music on some very successful television shows as well, including “Sons of Anarchy.” Their biggest hit so far is a song called “Sail.” When front man Aaron Bruno was asked about how the song came together, he replied: “It was written at a time where myself and my keyboard player Kenny, were supposed to be writing songs for a small amount of money, little pop songs little jingles, for aspiring thirteen year old pop stars, whose parents had money to pay for them.” This is a perfect example for anyone who wants to make something real with their life. These guys were born into greatness late in life and it will stick with them forever. In this interview, Bruno goes on to talk about the incredible show they do virtually every night, “We’re just like every other band, when I fall in love with a record, I want to go see it a little better live, I want the songs to come across even better, and like on steroids, and all the different drugs with no side effects or bad effects, that’s what I want the songs to come across live, I want it to be an experience, sort of the spiritual experience without getting hackey-sack on you, I just think that all the best shows I love going to see growing up were the ones that I went home giddy inside and not being able to sleep that night.”

By this point you are probably wondering what the Red Bull Record label is. It is a small outfit in Santa Monica, California that records Indie bands for free. David Burrier (formerly of Atlantic Records) is the manager of the label. Futuremusic.com commented on their launch in 2007, “Red Bull, who favors branded experiences over traditional advertising has tapped several engineers, producers and record executives for the music endeavor. The ramp up is nearing completion with most of the major staff positions filled. The proper studio is said to consist of the best gear available with no expense spared.”

My question to Awolnation is: where is Indie pop headed? Will they be able to compete in the larger markets in the same style that rap and rock and roll have? Awolnation is certainly expanding their skills to this next level.

-Stan Walters