Underoath Drummer Unveils New Solo Project: The Almost

04/11/07 4:00pm

by Natalia Manzocco (CHARTattack)

Aaron Gillespie has a lot to do in his band, Underoath. The Christian post-hardcore outfit rely on the 20 year old for drums, half the lyrics, and vocals sweet enough to temper Spencer Chamberlain's screams.

But though Underoath keep Gillespie busy, a few of his songs remained that didn't quite fit the band's mold — catchier alterna-rock tunes with an occasional country or folk twist.

"I had to have this side outlet for the other songs," says Gillespie. "You can't put a square peg in a round hole."

Gillespie found that outlet in the form of his new solo project, The Almost. The band's Southern Weather album was released on April 3 by both Christian punk label Tooth & Nail and Virgin, which marked the first time that Tooth & Nail had ever released a record in conjunction with another label.

Though there's more than a few good sonic kicks to the teeth to be found on Southern Weather, it's noticeably more melodic — folksy, even — than Underoath's jagged yet tuneful hardcore.

"That was the aim," says Gillespie. "I wanted to make songs that were driving, hard kind of rock, that were an obvious departure from Underoath."

The album was recorded in the spring of 2005, but quickly put on the back burner to make room for the release of Underoath's Define The Great Line album last June.

While Gillespie feels he's developing more as a frontman and becoming more comfortable getting out from behind the kit, being in complete control of The Almost took some getting used to.

"There's two sides to being by yourself," Gillespie says. "It's really great because you don't have to explain patterns and songs stuff to people, but it's also really tough because you're alone, so you don't have people to bounce ideas off of."

But Gillespie maintains that he couldn't have created The Almost or the album without a little help. When faced with the need to slap together a touring incarnation of The Almost on the eve of a nine-week tour with Underoath, Gillespie says he simply found bassist Jay Vilardi and let him work his magic.

"Jay was a childhood friend of my old drum tech from Underoath. I said, 'I need to get this ironed out. I'm not sure how to do it. Can you help me out?' So he basically put the band together himself and taught them the songs."

The current lineup is rounded out by guitarist Nick D'Amico, bassist Alex Aponte and drummer Kenny Bozich.

Gillespie owes a lot of Southern Weather's sound to producer Aaron Sprinkle. Sprinkle also got Sunny Day Real Estate's Jeremy Enigk, a childhood friend, to add vocals to the lilting country ballad, "Dirty And Left Out."

"I feel honoured," says Gillespie. "I feel really bizarre playing the song without him."

Enigk's appearance on the album was a surprise to Gillespie, who only heard his contribution after he'd finished work on the album. Gillespie also recruited The Starting Line's Kenny Vasoli, a friend and former tourmate, to contribute some bass and vocals.

With Underoath still active, Gillespie's slotting in The Almost gigs whenever he can. On Underoath's recent tour with Taking Back Sunday, Gillespie scheduled acoustic solo shows during the day in towns that Underoath played by night.

Gillespie plans to spend the summer taking The Almost across the country with the Vans Warped Tour. Underoath will also play a few dates on the Warped Tour this year, which might seem like a brave move considering their rocky past trips with the travelling punk extravaganza.

In 2003, then-singer Dallas Taylor quit the band in the middle of the tour. Last year, the group abruptly quit the tour due to "unforeseen circumstances," which were rumoured to be linked to internal strife and a disagreement with NOFX's Fat Mike over some of the band's tightly held Christian beliefs. Gillespie explains that Underoath are making up the dates they missed last year, since a band isn't allowed to headline at Warped two years in a row, and that the return to the tour is a sign that there's no hard feelings between Underoath and Warped.

"It's been talked about so much, we just want to put it to bed. It's over now."