Jason Smith, Alkari

HEY - WHAT KIND OF COLA WOULD SHASTAKOVITCH DRINK? Shasta. If you’re retching and reaching for a mouse with which to exit this site due to that awful Dad joke, you know it’s that time again - DUMB QUESTIONS/SMART ANSWERS. Yep, that occasional column where we dig deep into our bag of dumb and pull out the sort of questions not even Palin could find a talking point to pivot towards. This time around, we’ve scored the scoop from Jason Smith, Bassist for H-town though-rockers Alkari. KICK IT.

What is an Alkari?
The Alkari are a race of bird people. They posses leathery wings which enables them to fly for short distances. They are from a role playing game called MASTERS OF ORION. So yes, our name is from Science Fiction. One fan has figured that out so far and that made Mike’s day when he came up to us and asked us if our name came from a video game.

Alkari sounds like it could be the name of a planet in a please please please yes third Chronicles of Riddick movie. Which are the best three Vin Diesel films?
Saving Private Ryan, Fast and Furious, and Boiler Room

If Vin Diesel was in a Houston band, which one would he be in and why?
I think Dune.tx would be a good band for Vin because he seems like a no nonsense kind of guy and they are a no nonsense kind of band. They are also pretty fast and furious.

You’re a bass player - get wonky on your gear setup for a minute - what do you use?
Like most bass players, I love to talk about bass gear. I settled on a Fender Precision Deluxe because it has the widest variety of tone, from the Music Man growl to the smooth bass tones of an old Precision. I play through a Mesa Boogie 400+, which is 12 tubes of bliss. I also play a Microkorg and have just started playing midi bass pedals through virtual synths on my computer. So it’s almost a Geddy Lee setup. I also use a Muff Fuzz pedal.

Which is more soul crushing - listening to kids play metal at Guitar Center or listening to KPFT?
The sound of Boom Boom Cars booming their way through Westbury is the most soul crushing sound. There’s nothing you can do about it. You are helpless. And as a bass player it’s ten times worse because I tune right in on it and there’s no escape. I just want to take a sledgehammer to their windshields and introduce them to the much more pleasant sounds of KPFT. Jeffrey Thames of KPFT has been quite good to bands I’ve been in, so I can’t complain about KPFT, though wouldn’t it be great if they had 10 Jeff Thames?! You guys deserve a show on there, “Skyline radio” (like you’re not already busy enough?) or The Skyline Sessions, like they have with Sugar Hill…

What are some records you’ve been rocking on lately?
I’ve been listening to a lot of the new stuff by Rose Hill Drive, Dungen, Fleet Foxes, The Raconteurs, The Poison Arrows, Dredg and Whiskeytown’s Stranger’s Almanac. Shudder to Think is reuniting so I’ve been rocking out with PONY EXPRESS RECORD. I was obsessed with Joy Division and Black Sabbath all summer. After Rick Wright from Pink Floyd passed on I listened to Dark Side and The Wall and Wish You Were Here for a few days and I’m still not quite over it.

Who should we, the music interested hacks, be paying attention to around town?
PuraPharm (Tessa and Paul from 61 Cygni) have been criminally ignored by the music people in Houston for years. 61 Cygni is/was my favorite band from Houston of this decade but they broke up awhile back opting to start again with new songs. Pale deserves your attention. Maybe since they’ve been around awhile people take them for granted. The Riff Tiffs and Ton Tons are getting some well deserved praise. I wish we still had Penny Royal. They were going to be my favorite band and then poof it was over. Others worthy of your attention - Orents Stirner, The Gold Sounds, News on the March, Hearts of Animals, Heist at Hand, Wild Moccasins, Something Fierce, The Soarce, Earnie Banks, Bright Men of Learning, Dune.tx, Antarctica Starts Here. I’m sure I’m forgetting a fave or two.

I’m excited about the music press these days. We’ve had several really cool local festivals this year, the Hootennany/Twotennany, Houston Press Awards, Secret Show Fest, and now Free Press Houston Westheimer Block Party. Festivals are a great way to bring a lot of people together to hear music, and it looks like people are going to them. You guys have a lot of bands to write about, and there are several bloggers/music writers for us bands to try to get the attention of.

Alkari put out an EP recently, talk about that.
We recorded with our friends, Lynsey and Robin Moore (of the band Slivered). Alkari has been in the studio before, but in a previous form, and each of us has recorded plenty. We had a great time over there and would recommend them to anyone who needs a “good value” place as you get more than what you pay for with them. They recorded quickly and efficently and added in some nice production touches. We just did an EP because we were dying to get something OUT THERE quickly. Currently we are writing material for an album and considering studios. You can hear the new songs live and let us know what you think.

What have you done lately to keep San Antonio lame?
I’m not going to say anything bad about San Antonio! NEXT!

Which question should we have asked you and what is the answer?
Q: How does Alkari thrive as a band with a right wing conservative and a liberal vegetarian in the same band?
A: We laugh at each other a lot! Then we shut up and rock!

YUSS SHUT UP AND ROCK!  You have TWO CHANCES to catch Alkari and pick up a copy of their EP this weekend:  Friday night at Rudyards with Hearts of Animals and Orents Stirner or at the Free Press’ Westheimer Block Party playing 4:30pm on the Avante Garden Upstairs Stage.