Alt-rock legends Everclear are celebrating 30 years since their big break with a special tour. The band will perform their iconic album, *Sparkle and Fade*, with lead singer Art Alexakis leading the way. Joining them on the tour are Local H and Sponge.
Fans can expect to hear the full 1995 album along with other hits. “We’re going to play all the songs from *Sparkle and Fade*, but we’re going to break it up,” Alexakis shared. The album was a huge success, selling well in the U.S., Canada, and Australia. Its rise was boosted by heavy rotation of the “Santa Monica” video on MTV. However, the success didn’t come overnight. Capitol Records chief Gary Gersh initially viewed the song as just a stepping stone. Before the album’s release, Alexakis and label rep Perry Watts-Russell debated the timing and the title, which isn’t mentioned in the song itself. “I told him it was about comfort zones — places that make you feel both comfortable and uncomfortable, and that’s ‘Santa Monica’ to me,” Alexakis explained.
The first single, “Heroin Girl,” stirred some controversy due to its title. Fans can likely expect “Santa Monica” to close out the shows. In the band’s early days, Greg Eklund played drums and Alex Montoya was on bass, but both left in 2003. Now at 63, Alexakis continues to perform despite being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2019.
“After all the political stuff going on and the changes in our world, I’ve been writing a lot — poetry, words, and music,” Alexakis said. He also mentioned plans for a new album next year. Stay tuned for more updates!
