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Everclear, Summerland acts don’t wanna do your sleepwalk dance anymore – Metro US

Everclear, Summerland acts don’t wanna do your sleepwalk dance anymore

In 2012, Everclear front man Art Alexakis launched the ’90s-revisited Summerland Tour, which is named for a song on his band’s 1995 album, “Sparkle and Fade,” and lined up 1990s powerhouses such as Gin Blossoms and Sugar Ray. But with “Invisible Stars,” a brand-new album to promote, Everclear wasn’t just dusting off old hits. That can also be said of the other bands along for this year’s trek: Soul Asylum, Eve 6 and Spacehog.

“Yes, these are giants of ’90s alternative rock radio,” says Alexakis, “but they are real bands; no mothballing, no coming out every summer to eat and then hibernating for the winter.”

Hit singles do help build career longevity, and Everclear reaped great success with “Santa Monica” and the autobiographical “Father of Mine” as well as selling millions of albums.

“Yeah, we were rolling,” says the 52-year-old singer. “It was a blast, and I was blessed. But when I think about those days, I felt like I didn’t allow myself to enjoy them enough. I was so busy working and had many balls in the air. I really didn’t take the time to savor it.”

Even as alternative rock gave over to indie rock and the sparkle of Everclear’s stardom faded, Alexakis says he remained busy.

“I wouldn’t know what to do if it was quiet,” he says. “I’m the kind of guy who creates drama everywhere I go. … Even though we don’t get played on the radio all the time now and we don’t have hit records, we’re still busy.”

That’s clear: During this conversation, Alexakis excuses himself twice to deal with logistics for the 30-date Summerland spree and is putting the final touches on a new album due out before year’s end.

“I still work really, really hard at what I do, both creatively and from a business point of view,” Alexakis says. “I still love it all.”

Everclear, Soul Asylum, Eve 6 and Spacehog bring the Summerland Tour to Irving Plaza in NYC on June 17, to the House of Blues in Boston on June 19 and to the House of Blues in Atlantic City on June 21.