Somewhere between their various gigs with Andrew Bird, Arcade Fire, Bon Iver, Brother Ali, the Cloak Ox, Dean Magraw and the Pines — to name just a few — the members of Alpha Consumer managed to become a real band with a newly released real album.
Not that there was anything artificial about the sonically madcap, New Wavey, crash-and-burn art-rock trio, but its quirky sound and sporadic existence always seemed to be more for fun than work. Perhaps because the guys always had plenty of the latter.
With last month's release of "Meat" — which the band will promote with a release party Saturday at 9 p.m. at 7th Street Entry, where it had its first gig nine years ago — Alpha Consumer got more serious about its fun approach.
"There's definitely something a little more tangible about this record," said singer/guitarist Jeremy Ylvisaker, he of the Cloak Ox, Bird and Ali notoriety. "One big reason is having the record label involved this time."
The label is Totally Gross National Product, the Minneapolis operation run by Poliça drummer Drew Christopherson and producer Ryan Olson, which itself has risen to a new level of validity following the success of Lizzo's record. TGNP also put out the Cloak Ox's album last year, a record whose needling guitars and calmly maniacal songs make Alpha Consumer's album a worthy companion piece.
It was Ylvisaker's Cloak Ox mate, drummer Martin Dosh, who can take credit for bringing Alpha Consumer together. Dosh heard some experimental home recordings Ylvisaker had been making with friends, and he booked Jeremy to open for him at the Entry without really asking permission.
"I guess I'll form a band then," Ylvisaker remembered thinking at the time.
He enlisted the two guys who are with him to this day, bassist Mike Lewis and drummer JT Bates. Each had performed together — Lewis and Bates going back to their teen years — and they jelled quickly. "We have turned into really close friends," Bates said, "and that certainly helps in any band's chemistry."
