TONY MACALPINE Talks New Album - "Totally Different Than Something Like Edge Of Insanity Or Maximum Security"

August 26, 2015, 8 years ago

Greg Prato

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TONY MACALPINE Talks New Album - "Totally Different Than Something Like Edge Of Insanity Or Maximum Security"

Note: This interview was conducted shortly before an announcement was made that Tony MacAlpine had to postpone tours of Asia and Australia due to health reasons (in a statement at this location), MacAlpine explained that he may be dealing with cancer, and is scheduled for surgery).

One of the worst feelings that a touring musician can experience is when their instruments get stolen. And that is precisely what happened to Tony MacAlpine in the early morning hours of June 11th, when his band's tour trailer was broken into in Austin, Texas. The items stolen included 4 guitars, 3 basses, drums and cymbals, electronics and accessories. A complete listing of the missing items (including makes, models, and serial numbers) can be viewed here [ http://www.tonymacalpine.com/news/tony-and-bands-gear-stolen-in-austin-tx/ ]. On a happier note, MacAlpine recently issued his latest solo effort, Concrete Gardens, which is available as both standard and special edition versions - the special edition version comes with a bonus DVD of Tony and band performing the album live at EMGtv. Speaking to BraveWords correspondent Greg Prato, Tony discussed the missing instruments, as well as what sets Concrete Gardens apart from his previous recordings.

BraveWords: What exactly happened with the guitars being stolen?

Tony MacAlpine: "We came up to the trailer in the morning, and it was broken into. No information really. But we lost a lot of guitars."

BraveWords: All of the guitars that are missing are listed online, right?

Tony MacAlpine: "The guitars are out there on Facebook and there are photographs of the bass guitars and the actual guitars and the serial numbers of the guitars. All that information is really floating out there on the web. It's just one of those unfortunate things, but y'know, life goes on. That's where we are."

BraveWords: Were you able to get replacement instruments and equipment?

Tony MacAlpine: "We didn't lose really any equipment, it was just guitars. All the amps and everything were fine. But Ibanez stepped up and provided other stuff for the run, and we were able to get through the tour unscathed."

BraveWords: So whoever may have tips should just get in touch through the info that's posted online, right?

Tony MacAlpine: "Yes, absolutely. We'd appreciate that, and it would be nice to get to the bottom of that if anything comes about."

BraveWords: Let's discuss Concrete Gardens.

Tony MacAlpine: "Each record is very different, and the nomenclature, the secret words of that is it's a different time. The other records came out in a different time and were written with a completely different appeal and a different ideal. And this is a new record. We focused on different ideas I had in mind and different things that I wanted to say and incorporated different bass players - primarily through some of the record, which is not something that I haven done in the past. And really wanted to experiment with that. This is really a record that has a lot of pieces on top of pieces. It's something I really wanted to get into doing when I composed this record. Totally different than something like Edge of Insanity or Maximum Security. The compositions are more singular and this has a lot of 'mini-suites,' if you will. There's a few songs that are very simple in nature, but most of this stuff has a lot big movements and things going on."

BraveWords: How have the shows been going in support of the album?

Tony MacAlpine: "They've been cool. The people have been great - coming out and digging the stuff. We play songs that they don't know - we play a lot of the new stuff - but it's really cool. We really are thankful that the people are behind the progressive movement and into hearing some of the new stuff that we do."

BraveWords: How is the new material going over live?

Tony MacAlpine: "It's great. We actually recorded the whole record for EMGtv before we ever really even played it live. And that gave a chance for people to really get an idea of what it would sound like live. It was a great way to get the record out there and get some songs familiar in people's ears. So when we actually went out to do the record, people wanted to hear some of the songs that they actually saw on the EMGtv video. So that was really cool - really helpful."

 

(Photo credits: Alex Solca)



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