“Make it your own thing & if it doesn’t hurt, you aren’t doing it right. Knowing & harnessing levels of pain can make a performance very special, positively or negatively”
Photo by Filip Szymanski
Abacus’ music is a smorgasbord of hard genres violently soaked in sweat and barbecue. They are well known and loved in Columbia for their unique sound, aggressive live shows and popular barbecue sauce. Lead singer and local chef, Alex Strickland, is gloriously over the top, seen pulling pork on stage for a recording of At The Addition and playing air hockey while performing at Transmission Arcade. If you want to learn more about him and what the band has been up to, keep reading.
JASPER: You mentioned in a previous interview that music has always been a release for you. What's it been like the last two years not being able to play shows as often and struggling to balance the stress of everything going on in the world, on top of working in the food industry during a pandemic?
STRICKLAND: I personally haven’t had any other release. I have unhealthy coping mechanisms I’ve used to get through the day to day, but other than that, it’s been music & cooking. Luckily, we had band practice the whole pandemic (give or take). We only saw each other & practiced/wrote/jammed with one another. Cooking & music has been it for a long time for me, don’t fix what ain’t broke, ya know?
JASPER: You guys have been a band now for over 11 years. How has the band evolved over the years?
STRICKLAND: We as people evolved & the music definitely evolved with it. We all got serious about one thing or another (professions, relationships, traveling, life experience). We still make time for our music & artistic expression, but with age, shit gets more real & I think our music directly reflects that.
JASPER: We typically ask a food related question, but I feel like you guys get that a lot with the BBQ sauce and all, so anything else you want to compare each of your albums with?
STRICKLAND: Fuck it, 3/4th of us cook for a living. Food is our thing so we’ll steer straight into that. Our EP is a fried chicken sandwich from The Whig: no bullshit, can be done better at many other places but is just right the way it is. “En Theory” is a from scratch strozzapreti with pork ragu, savory & delicate with bite & a hint of spice. “Pellicule” is a BBQ competition smoked rib with no side. Stands alone with nothing else, meticulously cooked for hours & hours with someone constantly monitoring & babying it. Fall off the bone tender but with excellent chew, a perfect smoke ring & makes you want more
JASPER: When do you know something is done?
STRICKLAND: When we all look at each other after the final note with equal parts disbelief & accomplishment. That song is in the bank (swoosh, nothing but net)
JASPER: What things do you like or dislike about the Columbia music scene and how have you seen it change over the years?
STRICKLAND: The friends we’ve made in this town are countless. The experiences & opportunities are endless. The amazing bands we’ve played with push us to be better. I wouldn’t change a thing. So much could be said about “what if we had this or that” etc but all in all, this town is perfectly imperfect. I love it for all that’s wrong & right with it.
JASPER: What is your favorite or least favorite show you've ever played?
STRICKLAND: Uncle Lou’s in Orlando is the least favorite. On tour with Sein zum Tode, we were double booked with another touring package (sun genres of metal/punk didn’t mesh at all). They didn’t stay to watch us, the local left after their set for us to headline, we played to a depressed bartender & we couldn’t wait to get the fuck to the next town.
Any of the battle shows with Vorov and/or Sein zum Tode, opening for Daikaiju at NBT before the pandemic, our shows at SXSW, house shows at QPP, Puuphaus & 88 Spring, opening for Thou in Greenville at Radio Room, playing the Whig & the Bask show pulling pork on stage are all way up there. Couldn’t pick just one for sure.
JASPER: Do you have any kind of special pre-show ritual or tradition?
STRICKLAND: I stretch, do vocal warms ups & get my blood pumping through super basic cardio (jumping up & down while spitting a bunch). Most of us smoke weed before to get ready, but I need the opposite.
JASPER: What is your favorite dance move?
STRICKLAND: THE JAMES BROWN
JASPER: What tips can you offer other musicians (in similar genres) about dealing with the physical and emotional toll of performing?
STRICKLAND: Make it your own thing & if it doesn’t hurt, you aren’t doing it right. Knowing & harnessing levels of pain can make a performance very special, positively or negatively. You just have to know what’s right for you.
JASPER: What is the best way to listen to your music, like the ideal scenario?
STRICKLAND: If you get in a horrible car accident & the brief moment you have of clarity before impact (the life flashing before your eyes moment) is overcome with pure panic so you flail your arms to protect yourself without knowing you were doing it, your arms accidentally hit a dial/phone/radio & it switches your music to “Disclaim”, that’s the ideal scenario to hear us.
JASPER: What are you listening to most these days?
STRICKLAND: As far as aggressive music goes: Ulcerate, Soul Glo, Gel, Demiser, Imperial Triumphant, Sumac, that new Cave In, The Armed, God Mother.
Non aggressive: I almost exclusively listen to ratchet ass trap, east coast hip hop classics, funk, afro beat & Bob fucking Seger (mostly at work which is 80% of my time)
JASPER: Any non-metal, hardcore, punk etc. bands that you draw inspiration from?
STRICKLAND: James Brown & Bob Seger. Showmen of the highest order. The other guys have tons of other people. Josh & Kevin has jazz backgrounds & Paul loves the Weather Channel music so sky’s the limit.
JASPER: What's the "most metal" thing you've ever seen?
STRICKLAND: A guy holding his kid on his shoulders during Gwar, huge ear protectors on, getting completely soaked in fake blood from a decapitated George W Bush prop. Metal as fuck.
You can see Abacus Saturday, August 27th at New Brookland Tavern with Monolord plus Dorthia Cottrell (of Windhand). More details & tickets on New Brookland’s website.