Alpha Rev

This Friday night in Oklahoma Memorial Union's Meacham Auditorium, road warrior Ben Rector will be headlining two shows as part of his spring tour through the American heartland. Along for the ride is Texas band Alpha Rev, an eclectic collection of pop rockers whose latest album, Bloom, was released last Tuesday.

Casey McPherson has been Alpha Rev’s front man since its formation in 2005. His soaring vocals have been the only constant in the band’s shuffling lineup, and his hard work has garnered Alpha Rev positive reviews at festivals like this year’s South By Southwest.

As he prepared for the tour’s first show last week, I talked to a tired McPherson from his home base in Austin. Fresh off the SXSW grind, he shared his thoughts on the festival, Bloom and his role as an advocate.

The Daily: Thanks for taking some time to talk today, Casey. Are you already in Waco for your first show tonight?

McPherson: No, I’m actually in Austin getting all my stuff together. It’s hard to believe the first show is only an hour away from here [in Waco]. But yeah, I’ll be headed out soon.

The Daily: Excited to start the tour?

McPherson: Yeah, for sure.

The Daily: I know you just finished up with SXSW this weekend. How was it this year?

McPherson: I feel like it was nice to play the new record for people and get them excited about it. There’s a lot of hard-core music fans that come to SXSW and the press and stuff. It’s really a big conglomeration of fans and industry workers and musicians. It’s a great place to showcase new stuff. But you get no sleep, and it’s super chaotic.

The Daily: What do you know about Ben Rector as an artist that makes you excited to tour with him?

McPherson: Honestly, I don’t know anything about Ben Rector.

The Daily: [laughing] Well, his style is—I wouldn’t call it similar, but you have a compatible sound. I think people who like his music will like yours, too.

McPherson: Yeah, that’s what I’ve heard.

The Daily: So your new album, Bloom, dropped just yesterday [March 19]. What kind of feedback have you received so far?

McPherson: Well, actually, I feel like people like it a lot better than New Morning [Alpha Rev’s last album] so far. It’s hard for people after hearing City Farm Roots [the last EP] to hear more going on in Bloom, but I think there are more anthems on Bloom. There’s a larger group of people who can find their anthem because it’s more stylistically diverse.

The Daily: Talk about your relationship with Mental Health America of Texas.

McPherson: When I was young, I lost my father and brother to suicide. I mean, pretty much anyone who’s lived any length of time knows someone, or knows of someone, who has committed or been impacted by suicide. It took me many years to get over it in terms of emotionally doing something about it. I got involved in mental health and became a board member of Mental Health America of Texas. Since then, we’ve created a couple of iPhone apps and made awareness campaigns and online resources. People — just like it used to be with AIDS, or with cancer, or like it used to be, or still is with being gay — people are afraid to talk about mental health. They’re afraid to broach the subject, like it’s taboo or something. The fact is, it impacts all of us. We all have varying degrees of anxiety, nervousness, depression, things like that. It’s a pretty untapped source of information in terms of people understanding it and exposing it to the world.

The Daily: In the band’s bio, you talk about recording in Austin. What is it about Austin as a city that fosters such a vibrant music scene?

McPherson: Austin is great because there’s a built-in fan base here of people who are always going to clubs to see live music. So a local band has the ability to learn how to acquire and manage a fan base without ever leaving the city — you can work from here. There are also organizations down here to support musicians and give them health insurance and stuff like that. There’s just a huge support group in the city.

The Daily: I saw on your Facebook page that you performed a set on an airplane on March 15. What was that like?

McPherson: Yeah, it was this cool thing we did for Southwest Airlines during SXSW. It was a promotion for Southwest, and we played a few songs. The people on the plane were very kind. The Southwest demographic is fine with nutty things happening on a plane. We played over the intercom so everyone could hear us — I guess it’s nice to have something other than somebody telling you what to do on those speakers.

The Daily: That’s for sure. Well, we look forward to having you on campus next week, Casey. Have you ever been to OU?

McPherson: I’m not sure — I’ve definitely played in Oklahoma a lot, but I don’t think I’ve ever been to OU.

The Daily: Well I hope you enjoy your time here and your entire tour.

McPherson: Thanks! Have a great spring break.
- Graham Dudley, The Oklahoma Daily

This Friday night in Oklahoma Memorial Union's Meacham Auditorium, road warrior Ben Rector will be headlining two shows as part of his spring tour through the American heartland. Along for the ride is Texas band Alpha Rev, an eclectic collection of pop rockers whose latest album, Bloom, was released last Tuesday.

Casey McPherson has been Alpha Rev’s front man since its formation in 2005. His soaring vocals have been the only constant in the band’s shuffling lineup, and his hard work has garnered Alpha Rev positive reviews at festivals like this year’s South By Southwest.

As he prepared for the tour’s first show last week, I talked to a tired McPherson from his home base in Austin. Fresh off the SXSW grind, he shared his thoughts on the festival, Bloom and his role as an advocate.

The Daily: Thanks for taking some time to talk today, Casey. Are you already in Waco for your first show tonight?

McPherson: No, I’m actually in Austin getting all my stuff together. It’s hard to believe the first show is only an hour away from here [in Waco]. But yeah, I’ll be headed out soon.

The Daily: Excited to start the tour?

McPherson: Yeah, for sure.

The Daily: I know you just finished up with SXSW this weekend. How was it this year?

McPherson: I feel like it was nice to play the new record for people and get them excited about it. There’s a lot of hard-core music fans that come to SXSW and the press and stuff. It’s really a big conglomeration of fans and industry workers and musicians. It’s a great place to showcase new stuff. But you get no sleep, and it’s super chaotic.

The Daily: What do you know about Ben Rector as an artist that makes you excited to tour with him?

McPherson: Honestly, I don’t know anything about Ben Rector.

The Daily: [laughing] Well, his style is—I wouldn’t call it similar, but you have a compatible sound. I think people who like his music will like yours, too.

McPherson: Yeah, that’s what I’ve heard.

The Daily: So your new album, Bloom, dropped just yesterday [March 19]. What kind of feedback have you received so far?

McPherson: Well, actually, I feel like people like it a lot better than New Morning [Alpha Rev’s last album] so far. It’s hard for people after hearing City Farm Roots [the last EP] to hear more going on in Bloom, but I think there are more anthems on Bloom. There’s a larger group of people who can find their anthem because it’s more stylistically diverse.

The Daily: Talk about your relationship with Mental Health America of Texas.

McPherson: When I was young, I lost my father and brother to suicide. I mean, pretty much anyone who’s lived any length of time knows someone, or knows of someone, who has committed or been impacted by suicide. It took me many years to get over it in terms of emotionally doing something about it. I got involved in mental health and became a board member of Mental Health America of Texas. Since then, we’ve created a couple of iPhone apps and made awareness campaigns and online resources. People — just like it used to be with AIDS, or with cancer, or like it used to be, or still is with being gay — people are afraid to talk about mental health. They’re afraid to broach the subject, like it’s taboo or something. The fact is, it impacts all of us. We all have varying degrees of anxiety, nervousness, depression, things like that. It’s a pretty untapped source of information in terms of people understanding it and exposing it to the world.

The Daily: In the band’s bio, you talk about recording in Austin. What is it about Austin as a city that fosters such a vibrant music scene?

McPherson: Austin is great because there’s a built-in fan base here of people who are always going to clubs to see live music. So a local band has the ability to learn how to acquire and manage a fan base without ever leaving the city — you can work from here. There are also organizations down here to support musicians and give them health insurance and stuff like that. There’s just a huge support group in the city.

The Daily: I saw on your Facebook page that you performed a set on an airplane on March 15. What was that like?

McPherson: Yeah, it was this cool thing we did for Southwest Airlines during SXSW. It was a promotion for Southwest, and we played a few songs. The people on the plane were very kind. The Southwest demographic is fine with nutty things happening on a plane. We played over the intercom so everyone could hear us — I guess it’s nice to have something other than somebody telling you what to do on those speakers.

The Daily: That’s for sure. Well, we look forward to having you on campus next week, Casey. Have you ever been to OU?

McPherson: I’m not sure — I’ve definitely played in Oklahoma a lot, but I don’t think I’ve ever been to OU.

The Daily: Well I hope you enjoy your time here and your entire tour.

McPherson: Thanks! Have a great spring break.
- Graham Dudley, The Oklahoma Daily

Formed in the wake of the breakup of frontman Casey McPherson’s previous band Endochine, the stalwart crew of Austin rockers known as Alpha Rev has climbed the Texas indie chart with three full-length LPs built around McPherson’s vocal range. Alpha Rev’s most recent album, Bloom, utilizes his practiced voice against a soothing musical backdrop to bring compelling soft alternative rock into the world.

McPherson boasts pleasant and consistent talent, serving as the force holding the LP together. At times he even matches Coldplay’s Chris Martin for crafting a sweet tone to accompany lighthearted lyrics, driving all ten tracks. Instrumentation takes a clear backseat to singing, occasionally fading behind high-pitched backup harmonies and McPherson’s overwhelming volume.

From the album opener, “Lexington,” the listener cannot escape this dominance. The entire song builds up an increasingly droning musical background to the chorus, broken only by a brief guitar solo near the end.

Though subdued, the instrumentation also manages to demonstrate a palpable virtuosity. The album’s single, “Sing Loud,” for instance, showcases the depth of the band’s rhythm section. Alpha Rev combines an organ, drums, piano, and acoustic guitar to follow McPherson’s triumphant chorus. The rhythm on “Highways” perpetuates this role in a similarly masterful manner as pounding drums provide a welcome contrast to a soft piano pattern.

Lyrically, Bloom is a vivid reflection of Alpha Rev’s Texan origin. Many songs, like the uniquely dark and moody “Lonely Man,” tell of rides across the country and paint scenes of the surrounding natural beauty. For every line of imagery detailing a sprawling countryside, however, there are two romantic eye-rollers. In spite of vocal prowess, this diction lacks the seriousness required to add any manner of emotional depth to Bloom.

While Bloom certainly will satisfy anyone looking for a pleasant soft rock and a focus on varying vocal styles, it can hardly be described as worthy of a second listen. Alpha Rev’s focus on pouring nearly every instrument into the background noise succeeds in creating a complex rhythm, but alternative rock demands more than just vocals and rhythm. McPherson’s knack for singing sweet tunes simply fails to bloom in this hostile environment.
- Ryan Greene-Goergetown Voice

Formed in the wake of the breakup of frontman Casey McPherson’s previous band Endochine, the stalwart crew of Austin rockers known as Alpha Rev has climbed the Texas indie chart with three full-length LPs built around McPherson’s vocal range. Alpha Rev’s most recent album, Bloom, utilizes his practiced voice against a soothing musical backdrop to bring compelling soft alternative rock into the world.

McPherson boasts pleasant and consistent talent, serving as the force holding the LP together. At times he even matches Coldplay’s Chris Martin for crafting a sweet tone to accompany lighthearted lyrics, driving all ten tracks. Instrumentation takes a clear backseat to singing, occasionally fading behind high-pitched backup harmonies and McPherson’s overwhelming volume.

From the album opener, “Lexington,” the listener cannot escape this dominance. The entire song builds up an increasingly droning musical background to the chorus, broken only by a brief guitar solo near the end.

Though subdued, the instrumentation also manages to demonstrate a palpable virtuosity. The album’s single, “Sing Loud,” for instance, showcases the depth of the band’s rhythm section. Alpha Rev combines an organ, drums, piano, and acoustic guitar to follow McPherson’s triumphant chorus. The rhythm on “Highways” perpetuates this role in a similarly masterful manner as pounding drums provide a welcome contrast to a soft piano pattern.

Lyrically, Bloom is a vivid reflection of Alpha Rev’s Texan origin. Many songs, like the uniquely dark and moody “Lonely Man,” tell of rides across the country and paint scenes of the surrounding natural beauty. For every line of imagery detailing a sprawling countryside, however, there are two romantic eye-rollers. In spite of vocal prowess, this diction lacks the seriousness required to add any manner of emotional depth to Bloom.

While Bloom certainly will satisfy anyone looking for a pleasant soft rock and a focus on varying vocal styles, it can hardly be described as worthy of a second listen. Alpha Rev’s focus on pouring nearly every instrument into the background noise succeeds in creating a complex rhythm, but alternative rock demands more than just vocals and rhythm. McPherson’s knack for singing sweet tunes simply fails to bloom in this hostile environment.
- Ryan Greene-Goergetown Voice

One of the biggest breakthrough artists of this year's Sunset Sessions and SXSW festival is absolutely Alpha Rev. The band hails from Austin, Texas and joins an exciting list of talent who have previously emerged from the Sunset Sessions including Fun., The Zac Brown Band, and The Black Keys, among many others.

This week Alpha Rev is celebrating the brand new release of their album Bloom and the start of a 30+ date spring tour. And on April 6th the group is performing at Live In The Vineyard and bringing ETonline along for the ride! Watch the video above for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at their Live @ 35 performance aboard Southwest Airlines. Enjoy!
- Denny Directo-ET

One of the biggest breakthrough artists of this year's Sunset Sessions and SXSW festival is absolutely Alpha Rev. The band hails from Austin, Texas and joins an exciting list of talent who have previously emerged from the Sunset Sessions including Fun., The Zac Brown Band, and The Black Keys, among many others.

This week Alpha Rev is celebrating the brand new release of their album Bloom and the start of a 30+ date spring tour. And on April 6th the group is performing at Live In The Vineyard and bringing ETonline along for the ride! Watch the video above for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at their Live @ 35 performance aboard Southwest Airlines. Enjoy!
- Denny Directo-ET

My introduction to Alpha Rev took place when lead singer Casey McPherson fronted fusion rock super group Flying Colors. I couldn’t wait to hear what he was up to now. ”Lexington” starts this disc off with an earthy rocker that is a solid track that keeps the listener engaged. This is alternate rock I can get into. This is rock without the volume turned up to 11 or the sore neck from head banging. ”Crystal Colorado” is another track that keeps the flow started by the original track, except the music seems lighter. The track has a retro feel to it without sounding dated. ”Sing Loud” is a little more subdued and chill, but the chorus comes along and adds a little depth to the track. ”Lonely Man” has a rock-a-billy sensibility to it, especially the way Casey’s vocals play against the guitars. This is a different sound for the band on this disc. ”Black Sky” returns to the vibe created on “Sing Loud” without sounding like the same track. The vocals mesh well with the guitars and piano.

“Highways” is an upbeat track that has soaring vocals and a tribal back beat that makes this one of the high points on the disc. ”Eden Home” has a cool intro that features a vocal and piano duet that transforms into a nice piece that features some great percussion and background vocals. ”I Will Come” is the most ethereal track on the disc, without losing the original sight of the band for this collection of tracks. ”When You Gonna Run” is one of the better pieces here, especially instrumentally speaking. The are so many different sounds blended to create this track, but they seem to work together instead of sounding congested. McPherson flexes his vocal cords a bit on this track, but it works. ”You Belong” brings this disc to a close with a light ditty that features some cool piano and acoustic guitar. The vocals and instruments mix well and produce another great track. This disc prompted me to run out and pick up their last disc as well. It is quite different from everything else I have listened to lately. Maybe that is part of the fun of this disc.
- Todd Star-100% Rock Review

My introduction to Alpha Rev took place when lead singer Casey McPherson fronted fusion rock super group Flying Colors. I couldn’t wait to hear what he was up to now. ”Lexington” starts this disc off with an earthy rocker that is a solid track that keeps the listener engaged. This is alternate rock I can get into. This is rock without the volume turned up to 11 or the sore neck from head banging. ”Crystal Colorado” is another track that keeps the flow started by the original track, except the music seems lighter. The track has a retro feel to it without sounding dated. ”Sing Loud” is a little more subdued and chill, but the chorus comes along and adds a little depth to the track. ”Lonely Man” has a rock-a-billy sensibility to it, especially the way Casey’s vocals play against the guitars. This is a different sound for the band on this disc. ”Black Sky” returns to the vibe created on “Sing Loud” without sounding like the same track. The vocals mesh well with the guitars and piano.

“Highways” is an upbeat track that has soaring vocals and a tribal back beat that makes this one of the high points on the disc. ”Eden Home” has a cool intro that features a vocal and piano duet that transforms into a nice piece that features some great percussion and background vocals. ”I Will Come” is the most ethereal track on the disc, without losing the original sight of the band for this collection of tracks. ”When You Gonna Run” is one of the better pieces here, especially instrumentally speaking. The are so many different sounds blended to create this track, but they seem to work together instead of sounding congested. McPherson flexes his vocal cords a bit on this track, but it works. ”You Belong” brings this disc to a close with a light ditty that features some cool piano and acoustic guitar. The vocals and instruments mix well and produce another great track. This disc prompted me to run out and pick up their last disc as well. It is quite different from everything else I have listened to lately. Maybe that is part of the fun of this disc.
- Todd Star-100% Rock Review

"The most obvious difference between this band and its zillion competitors in Austin is the instrumentation. The sextet has the typical keyboards-drums-bass-rhythm guitar thing going, but there is very little lead guitar work and the band also features a cellist and violinist. The result is a more deeply textured, often orchestral sound that allowed the band to take a variety of approaches to its material. This band certainly deserves to be heard." - Punch Shaw - Fort Worth Star Telegram

"One detects remnants of U2 and Radiohead in Alpha Rev’s daedalian mesh of sound, but honestly, I haven’t enjoyed an Austin club concert more than the Rev’s set at Antone’s on Saturday. Employing a capacious touring mix, the fivesome could not be more charismatic and their combination of voltaic guitar, undergirding rhythms and electronicized strings had a full house pulsating with social connection. (It helps that the Rev’s lyrics often deal with the way that people cohere, socially.)" - Michael Barnes - Austin-American Statesman

"Austin's Casey McPherson has played ACL Fest before with his former band Endochine. Since then, the Bono-meets-Jeff Buckley crooner has earned a devout following with a newfound solo career and mastery of the networking site MySpace." - Matt Dentler / Austin Chronicle

"Austin's Casey McPherson has played ACL Fest before with his former band Endochine. Since then, the Bono-meets-Jeff Buckley crooner has earned a devout following with a newfound solo career and mastery of the networking site MySpace." - Matt Dentler / Austin Chronicle

"Alpha Rev have "hit makers" written all over them and are easily the most accomplished and polished artist that the Heart Of Texas has to offer, offering something unique to many bands these days - a real soul and simultaneously a radio-friendly presence. It can only be a matter of time before they're all over mainstream media and everyone is claiming to have seen them first." - Rob Malton / ATX Magazine

"Alpha Rev have "hit makers" written all over them and are easily the most accomplished and polished artist that the Heart Of Texas has to offer, offering something unique to many bands these days - a real soul and simultaneously a radio-friendly presence. It can only be a matter of time before they're all over mainstream media and everyone is claiming to have seen them first." - Rob Malton / ATX Magazine

"Atmospheric and dreamy pop with lots of Beatles influences is what we're dealing with here...this is a beautiful produced EP with big orchestral sounding pop tunes. Truly something for all hi-fi lovers out there!" - Kaj Roth / Melodic.net

"Atmospheric and dreamy pop with lots of Beatles influences is what we're dealing with here...this is a beautiful produced EP with big orchestral sounding pop tunes. Truly something for all hi-fi lovers out there!" - Kaj Roth / Melodic.net

"McPherson...introduced the world to Alpha Rev. With sweeping, grandiose melodies backed by a violin, a cello, and lusty background vocals, McPherson's achingly sweet voice has finally found a musical context that does him justice, and the result is both exhilarating and sobering. Simply, undeniably, and overwhelmingly beautiful." - Soundcheck Magazine

"McPherson...introduced the world to Alpha Rev. With sweeping, grandiose melodies backed by a violin, a cello, and lusty background vocals, McPherson's achingly sweet voice has finally found a musical context that does him justice, and the result is both exhilarating and sobering. Simply, undeniably, and overwhelmingly beautiful." - Soundcheck Magazine