• ••••••• ' " - * vN WillametteWeek PORTLAND'S NEWSWEEKLY I I KNIGHT UBRARY UNIVERSrTY OF OREGON 15Q1 KINKAID EUGENE, OR 97402 Art Alexakis is the hottest rocker in Portland—and the most unpopular BY RICHARD MARTIN P.18 Liberals fight back on screen p.62 Is wearing Birkenstocks a disability? p. 11 Art Alexakis is the hottest rocker in Portland—and the most unpopular BY RICHARD MARTIN ..a ^v^rvrf^^itwwww'wy^ t's one of rock music's best gigs: You stride onto the stage of New York's historic Ed Sullivan Theater, where the Beatles and Elvis once played. The spotlight shines; giddy music director Paul Shaffer thrusts his arm in the air and, with a burst of exag- geration, signals for you to start. From behind a nearby desk, David Letterman is watching. Seated in front of their televisions, millions of people are listening. This Friday, Art Alexakis will become one of the few Portland musicians ever to experience this sensation when his band, Ever- clear, plays The Late Show with David Letterman. And, for the 34-year-old singer and guitarist, along with his mid-20s band- mates Craig Montoya and Greg Eklund, it's another step toward the highest echelon in the music world. So why aren't his fellow musicians in Portland happy for him? CONTINUED ON PAGE 20 U J May I May 7,19% Willamette Week f CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 can live beside the ocean/Leave t's becoming the de ri^ueur the fire behind/Swim out past the biography for alternative rock breakers/Watch the world die." stars in a trend popularized by & Wild I At 22, after a decade of drug Courtney Love: raised in a turbu- use, Alexakis nearly killed himself Reasons to Try lent home; an adolescence plagued after injecting an overdose of co- by drug abuse and failed relation- Mickey Finn's: caine into his arm. That experi- ships; a channeling of the experi- ence scared him straight. In 1987, ence and rage into emotional he moved north to San Francisco. songs. After a period marred by fail- Arthur Paul Alexakis, born ures—of his first marriage, his O U R DUNGENESS April 12, 1962, in Santa Monica, band Colorfinger and his small la- C RAB FEED Calif., is a songwriter, like Love, bel Shindig—Alexakis moved to OrdendFrttU who can siphon years of pain and Portland with Jenny Dodson. The bitter memories into a few two had met during a Colorfinger TOMORROW! poignant verses and a handful of appearance at the East Burnside catchy choruses. THURSDAY Music Millennium store where Fourteen such songs make up N D Dodson worked. She eventually MAY 2 Sparkle and Fade, the 1995 Capi- joined Alexakis in San Francisco, O'KKtr includes C'(a* Cboudw tol Records release purchased by but after the dissolution of Col- and Fr-tsk Sr-md more than 500,000 consumers, orfinger and the discovery that earning Everclear a gold record. Dodson was pregnant, the pair — AN D — The album's popularity surpassed came to Portland for a fresh start the expectations ot Capitol execu- in 1991. tives and even Alexakis. It's also forced him to confront the effects Alexakis decided to found an- of fame—both in his community other band, and he hooked up with B UCKETS OF and in his mind. Montoya and drummer Scott Cuth- bert. The trio played taut, edgy C RAZY CRAWDADS Nearly all rock bands start with rock songs garnished with a type DrdtrtdFrttk/ shoddy instruments and empty of fuzzy distortion similar to that bank accounts. They must clamor of Nirvana. It was 1993, and Alex- SATURDAY for recognition from the media akis had a band and a baby girl, MAY 4™ and from those who book the mu- Annabella. 4-IOPM sic venues. Most important, they have to play great music and build In the early stages of his re- a fan base. birth as a man and musician, Alexakis' lyrics revealed a sharp 4336 SE WOODSTOCK But the progression from a 788-1 587 punk club to the arena stage is a world view. On the 1993 EP Ner- dangerous one that requires ma- vous & Weird and later that year neuvering through a virtual mine- on the full-length World of Noise, field of adulation, attention and in both released by Portland's T/K some cases alienation. Many Records, the writer addressed the Take me don't survive. AIDS epidemic and abortion leg- islation. In "Fire Maple Song," Nick Drake, an obscure yet in- The success of 1995 release Sparkle and Fade, which has sold more than 500,000 coPies, surPassed even Alexakis' exPectations. one of his most heavily melodic to your fluential English singer-songwriter compositions, Alexakis remi- who died of a drug overdose in nisced about his fallen brother. percolator. 1974 at the age of 26, wrote, for this article, but in an October In "Heroin Girl," Alexakis The track caught the attention of "Some men of fame can never find 1994 discussion with this reporter, shrieks, "Just another overdose," record executive Gary Gersh, the the way, till the time has flown far he said, 'The thing I want to do is repeating the phrase he heard a man who had signed Nirvana to from their dying day." reach as many people as possible." police officer utter when reporting DGC Records—making him, un- Nirvana is credited with shap- That's a lofty goal for a guy the death of 12-year-old Art's old- officially, the smartest man in ing the rock music world as it ex- who grew up in a Southern Cali- er brother. At 13, Alexakis' girl- the record industry—and who ists today, yet its skittish leader, fornia housing project, raised by a friend also died of a drug over- had moved on to become presi- Kurt Cobain, couldn't cope when single mother. Yet poverty and its dose, which stirred Art to attempt dent of Capitol. his audience grew from a group of effects have come to serve Alex- suicide by jumping off the Santa friends in a Seattle club to millions akis well. Everclear concert T- Monica pier. The song "Santa With Gersh interested, other of people worldwide. Two years shirts read "White trash and proud Monica," currently No. 3 on the labels began to pursue Everclear. ago, he committed suicide. of it." And his lyrics, mining Billboard mainstream rock chart, Alexakis' business acumen sur- Alexakis, however, relishes the themes of modern-day blight, have perfectly captures the bleak out- faced. He fired drummer Cuth- opportunity before him. He de- critics hailing Alexakis as the look of such a troubled young bert and replaced him with the clined requests to be interviewed Bruce Springsteen of the '90s. man. In the chorus, he sings, "We more eager Eklund, whose hip. AMERICAN SILVER c ; I IORECXJR API IHRS SHOWCASE AUCTIONS SPRINGING SOARING SHAl'INCi THh DANCE.. Great Car Buys! MAY 10-24 Saturday Only, May 11 CALL Complete bicycle Expo Center 2-BALLET tune-ups by our Doors Open 8am, bid 10am-7pm Spring Greens TK'KITMASTKK experienced staff 7«XVARTS For consignments check-in Asparagus • l ettuce • Plants • Onions from just $30. Fri, noon-7pm Hot Foods • Baked Goods • Crafts KSPKIXS0 • HU H A HIM Bicycle Repair Every Saturday IIMilSPHIM.S• (H IMW SUTIM. " Sell April - October from 9-3 * *M CLASS Collective 5tlt & Broadway in 2I3SSI IHUSKft • 23I-3SM • r f l * I l VMt CkNcx G"MPANY 233-0564 Downtown Vancouver 0PE\ 7 DAYS A MF.K! 4438 SE BELMONT • PORTLAND 1-800-255-4485 |7i| May I-May 7. 1996 Willamette Week FREE!... SHUTTLE SERVICE TO DOWNTOWN PORTLAND TOYOTA Toyota mufflers, exhaust pipes, shocks and strut cartridges are guaranteed to the original purchaser of m^lUdSaillliUiUd the part for the life of the vehicle when installed by youthful look added to the Commitment to Quality an authorized Toyota dealer. See us for full details. band's aesthetic appeal. In a 1994 interview shortly Toyota Quality after the contract with Capitol was signed and the band had I SPRING COOLING recorded Sparkle and Fade, 10DISCOUN%T I SYSTEM SERVICE Alexakis told this reporter that I • Includes 1 gallon coolant With this coupon you receive the above | • Pressure test system he turned down higher sums of discount on any service and/or Toyota | • Check hoses and belts money than what he received parts purchased One to a customer . • Excludes Vans One per transaction Not valid with any in favor of artistic control—a 1 advertised or house specials Excludes MR2s and 9JII Jj measure that many naive musi- oil & filter service This coupon valid at I Landcruisers cians fail to insist on, then Broadway Toyota only Not valid on previous repairs Otter Expires 5/15/96 WW Alexakis turned MUFFTIR " TIMING BELT down higher sums REPLACEMENT SPECIAL I I Come Audition The New KAV-300i Integrated Amp of money in favor Lifetime muffler | TiminG Belt FatiGue cannot be detected Made expressly for your Toyota I Replace every 60.000 miles to avoid of artistic control. Gaskets and hanGer extra costly breakdowns 300 Watts ofKrell Performance at}2350 All non-stainless steel | • '85- 89 Corolla applications | Excludes Diesel S GTS Models (Most Toyota Vehicles! Genui $ 78 95 Installed 134 jj.J164 Toyotas only Valid only HI the Broadway Toyota Service Dept. Toyotas only Valid only in the Broadway Toyota Service Dept. Coupon must be presented at time of write up to qualify I Coupon must be presented at time of wnte up to qualify Not valid on previous repairs.