www.aliensnewyork.com
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INTERVIEW:
ALIENS return after a long hiatus including personnel changes and illness. Blake Sandberg, ALIENS frontman / guitarist suffers from the effects of exposure to 9/11 dust. Blake is healthier now and ready to play shows again. ALIENS debut album Head First reached the CMJ Top 200 via the frequent radio airplay of songs like Reflex Motor, Committed To Wind, Moving Parts, and Stow Away. Called a “an angular hybrid of new punk,” in the press - “ALIENS bring something real to the party!”
During the Covid shutdown Blake reformed ALIENS with Miguel Vela on drums and Kevin Jones on bass forming a powerful trio. Recording new songs during the pandemic with legendary engineer Martin Bisi.
This underground band has played CBGB, The Knitting Factory, The Bowery Electric, Cake Shop, Santos Party House, House of Vans, CMJ Fest, and toured the US.
Blake has recorded with The Rammellzee and DJ High Priest, and Hugh Hopper(Soft Machine). He has shared the stage with Jad Fair and Half Japanese, Broncho, Beechwood, Weasel Walter, James Chance, Peelander Z, Taylor Meade, Daniel Johnston, and opened for OFF!
Blake recorded with drummer Hunt Sales (Iggy Pop/ David Bowie), who appears on two Head First tracks and Enjoy Killing Time, the new single released in 2020 during shutdown.
Bio:
ALIENS are a post-punk band from NYC. Front man Blake Sandberg hails from Austin, Texas but has been a New Yorker since the mid 90's. Blake suffers from chronic ear problems and exposure to the toxic dust of Ground Zero after 9/11. His voice is unique, and lyrics are disjunct poetry and protest informed by his experiences. Writing rock and roll scream - along anthems with searing sci-fi guitar riffs. The band plays “rock and roll as it’s meant – with the guts! ALIENS bring something real to the party.”-(Toxic Pete)
ALIENS debut album, Head First released in 2007 garnered attention and radio play for several years and Head First was in the CMJ Top 200 peaking at #107 in 2008. Surprising for a small independent release. The album featured several singles Committed to Wind, Moving Parts, and Reflex Motor. Half of the songs from Head First were recorded while on tour at “The Birthplace of Rock and Roll” - Sun Studios in Memphis. ALIENS toured across the US multiple times from 2006 until 2010.
During the band's tour for the single The In Side they witnessed first hand venues closing all over America. The tour was also plagued by a wicked Nor' Easter moving across the country causing blizzards in Texas, black ice that made the tour van spin in circles on the highway in Kansas, and monsoon rains in Los Angeles leading to a cancelled show at The Ritz due to flooding, as movie star mansions fell into the ocean. The tour was grueling thanks to mother nature and the financial abyss the US was falling into. Arriving back in NYC during the mortgage crisis and recession Sandberg focused on playing shows locally in NYC with various line ups or solo as the local club scene began to diminish. ALIENS released several singles digitally in 2010-2012, The In Side and Neversleep.
ALIENS new line-up performed at The Bowery Electric Friday, July 2nd 2021 to a loud and enthusiastic New York audience for the first show since the Covid pandemic. A trio again for the first time in years, ALIENS are playing shows and have been recording new songs for a forthcoming album. The band has been playing live again for a year now including shows at The Mercury Lounge, Our Wicked Lady, Trans Pecos, and more.
The new AGORAPHONIC EP is out this Fall combing singles from 2007-2022. Including new singles "Leave Luck to Heaven" and "Tower of Song" plus "Enjoy Killing Time" and "Clean Up Well" plus "Reflex Motor" from Head First and "ThE In SidE" on one limited edition CD.
During the Covid shutdown Blake reformed ALIENS with Miguel Vela on drums and Kevin Jones on bass forming a powerful trio. Recording new songs during the pandemic with legendary engineer Martin Bisi.
This underground band has played CBGB, The Knitting Factory, The Bowery Electric, Cake Shop, Santos Party House, House of Vans, CMJ Fest, and toured the US.
Blake has recorded with The Rammellzee and DJ High Priest, and Hugh Hopper(Soft Machine). He has shared the stage with Jad Fair and Half Japanese, Broncho, Beechwood, Weasel Walter, James Chance, Peelander Z, Taylor Meade, Daniel Johnston, and opened for OFF!
Blake recorded with drummer Hunt Sales (Iggy Pop/ David Bowie), who appears on two Head First tracks and Enjoy Killing Time, the new single released in 2020 during shutdown.
Bio:
ALIENS are a post-punk band from NYC. Front man Blake Sandberg hails from Austin, Texas but has been a New Yorker since the mid 90's. Blake suffers from chronic ear problems and exposure to the toxic dust of Ground Zero after 9/11. His voice is unique, and lyrics are disjunct poetry and protest informed by his experiences. Writing rock and roll scream - along anthems with searing sci-fi guitar riffs. The band plays “rock and roll as it’s meant – with the guts! ALIENS bring something real to the party.”-(Toxic Pete)
ALIENS debut album, Head First released in 2007 garnered attention and radio play for several years and Head First was in the CMJ Top 200 peaking at #107 in 2008. Surprising for a small independent release. The album featured several singles Committed to Wind, Moving Parts, and Reflex Motor. Half of the songs from Head First were recorded while on tour at “The Birthplace of Rock and Roll” - Sun Studios in Memphis. ALIENS toured across the US multiple times from 2006 until 2010.
During the band's tour for the single The In Side they witnessed first hand venues closing all over America. The tour was also plagued by a wicked Nor' Easter moving across the country causing blizzards in Texas, black ice that made the tour van spin in circles on the highway in Kansas, and monsoon rains in Los Angeles leading to a cancelled show at The Ritz due to flooding, as movie star mansions fell into the ocean. The tour was grueling thanks to mother nature and the financial abyss the US was falling into. Arriving back in NYC during the mortgage crisis and recession Sandberg focused on playing shows locally in NYC with various line ups or solo as the local club scene began to diminish. ALIENS released several singles digitally in 2010-2012, The In Side and Neversleep.
ALIENS new line-up performed at The Bowery Electric Friday, July 2nd 2021 to a loud and enthusiastic New York audience for the first show since the Covid pandemic. A trio again for the first time in years, ALIENS are playing shows and have been recording new songs for a forthcoming album. The band has been playing live again for a year now including shows at The Mercury Lounge, Our Wicked Lady, Trans Pecos, and more.
The new AGORAPHONIC EP is out this Fall combing singles from 2007-2022. Including new singles "Leave Luck to Heaven" and "Tower of Song" plus "Enjoy Killing Time" and "Clean Up Well" plus "Reflex Motor" from Head First and "ThE In SidE" on one limited edition CD.
New Releases:
AGORAPHONIC EP
New EP includes singles "Leave Luck to Heaven" and "Tower of Song" and complies singles from bandcamp
and the Head First album"Enjoy Killing Time" and "Clean Up Well" plus "Reflex Motor" and ThE In SidE"
Limited Edition of 100 hand numbered CDs
Available at shows and Bandcamp only:
and the Head First album"Enjoy Killing Time" and "Clean Up Well" plus "Reflex Motor" and ThE In SidE"
Limited Edition of 100 hand numbered CDs
Available at shows and Bandcamp only:
NEW VIDEO:
Read press release for new singles Leave Luck to Heaven and Tower of Song
ALIENS HEAD FIRST ALBUM
The Head First album is available everywhere for download and streaming again!
PRESS:
HR of Bad Brains, Aliens and Public Nature At The Kingsland In Brooklyn
Review and Photos by Robert Tellerman
Review and Photos by Robert Tellerman
SURVIVOR STORY:
BLAKE SANDBERG’S ALIENS ATTEMPT SECOND LANDING
BY KURT GOTTSCHALK
BLAKE SANDBERG’S ALIENS ATTEMPT SECOND LANDING
BY KURT GOTTSCHALK
NEW RELEASE:
ALIENS "Songs For Daniel" EP
Click the image to stream and download!
Click the image to stream and download!
Songs for Daniel by ALIENS - Honors Daniel Johnston
Available 10/11/2019, the EP contains two songs never released until now. It was recorded at Johnston's request in 2003 at Noise New York, the same studio where producer Kramer famously captured Johnston's classic album 1990.
ALIENS will perform these 3 songs as tribute to Daniel Johnston at The Knitting Factory on 10/21, see show details below.
SONGS:
1. Love Wheel
2. Psycho Nightmare
3. Alien Automatic Mind Control
Recorded by Blake: guitars, vocals, keyboard Tam: Drums
Like many of us, ALIENS frontman Blake Sandberg was hit hard by Johnston's passing. Read his words about Daniel here...
ALL CONTENT c. ALIENS 2019