ALEXSUCKS Might Not Know Where They’re Going, But They’re Going to Have a Lot of Fun Getting There
The LA foursome discuss their quick rise through the industry, being on tour for the first time, and selling out the iconic Roxy Theatre.
All photos by April Massey
Gulping down paper cups of stale coffee, ALEXSUCKS are desperately trying to stay awake. The LA-based foursome has been on the road since 4 a.m., and the uncomfortable van nap they managed to squeeze between shows is wearing thin. “We’re excited to sleep in real beds tonight,” drummer Ethan Demoulin says as he pulls his long curls away from his heavy eyes. Slumped in their chairs with exhaustion, the band still looks like young budding rock stars from the Hollywood strip. Lead singer Alex Alvarez’s wavy hair is cut into a bleach-patched mullet, and his hands are covered in rings. He’s probably one of the only people I’ve met who can pull off sunglasses indoors. An attribute he shares with bassist Garrett Orseno, who himself has managed to turn gray pajama pants and a white t-shirt into a fashion statement. Guitarist John Luther’s dark eyes and '90s-style jean shorts look almost innocent in comparison. I wonder if the motley group of musicians knows how out of place they look in Idaho.
The skatepark cohorts have been experiencing the kind of fast-moving trajectory most outside the music industry fantasize about, but few inside rarely see. Two years ago, Alvarez’s solo efforts started garnering attention after a fan-released live recording, credited under the singer’s self-deprecating social media handle, blew up on YouTube. “I probably never would’ve done anything if that hadn’t happened,” he explains, “but making alternative music by yourself isn’t really the move.” So, with a handful of self-produced bedroom recordings, Alvarez set out to find a band. “We all know each other from skateboarding,” he continues. “We haven’t even played ten shows together,” Orseno interrupts; “But this band happened very organically. Alex wasn’t putting up Instagram posts looking for musicians. That’s why the name fits so well. We’ve improved, but we fu— sucked when we first started playing together.” Alvarez is more than happy to let his bandmate take over narration. His voice is cracking, and the singer is concerned about his vocals holding up through tonight’s show.
While writing off ALEXSUCKS as inexperienced 20-somethings with the right look might be tempting, the band’s genuine authenticity is undeniable. The group calls back to a time when the music industry was willing to take risks, and it wasn’t unheard of for a band to go from grungy bedroom recordings to selling out West Hollywood’s iconic Roxy Theatre in the span of a year. A considerable feat that isn’t lost on the foursome. “We were worried about selling 200 tickets,” Orseno grins. “There was no expectation to sell out.” Luther adds, “All our friends waited until the last minute and couldn’t get tickets. But they also thought that was really cool.” “They took down the sold-out sign,” smirks Alvarez. “The show was over capacity, and they didn’t want the fire marshal stopping by.” The group recently embarked on their first cross-country tour, supporting their debut album, The Gutter. Although the harsh day-to-day of being on the road has set in, they’re obviously still enamored. “We’re with each other all day, every day, so we’re not seeing the outside perspective. We’re still processing and taking it all in,” says Luther. “It’s all happening really fast,” adds Orseno. “But we’re learning as we go.” “We’re ready for it,” Alvarez chimes in.
ALEXSUCKS is already being touted as the unexpected wildcard that could usher in a new era of indie sleaze. Their sound has been compared to heavy hitters from New York’s early 2000s dance-rock revival. “We get The Strokes a lot, but we’d rather get that than an MGK reference.” But, the similarity in sound isn’t entirely by accident. “We’re huge into LCD Soundsystem,” Orseno says. “I opened for them, DJing in LA and San Diego. It was fu— amazing. The best performance we’ve ever seen.” While the band’s sound may harken back to the days of catchy, dance-punk beats, Alvarez’s lyrics add a layer of raw poignancy. The group’s breakout single, “6 Pack and Cigarettes,” delivers a rowdy energy overlaid with personal confessions like “Now I'm cutting my face with a broken bottle, I need to feel something. I know I got problems.” While discussing the song, Alvarez admits the lyrics are “All based on true stories.” but the conversation doesn’t go much further before Orseno, somewhat protectively, cuts in to lighten the mood, “Alex just needed a six-pack and some cigarettes. But he’s a sober boy now, so he needs a non-alcoholic six-pack.”
The afternoon is wearing on, and it’s clear the band is done talking; they really need to sleep. As we wrap up our conversation, the guys can’t help talking about their Seattle show the night before. “Last night was the first time it was like, holy sh— we’re really doing this,” Orseno says. “We’re in Seattle, Washington, John’s hometown. The album came out two months ago, and these kids already know every word to our songs.” Luther adds, “All my grandparents pushed up to the front to take videos of me. It was so much fun.”
Whether ALEXSUCKS is LA’s new alternative powerhouse or the leaders of a dance-rock revival has yet to be seen. They are four friends who dig playing music and enjoying their success together. For now, they don’t need to be anything else.
