A couple weeks ago, Michael Gossard, lead singer of alternative rock band ACIDIC, took the time to chat with me over the phone. We talked about their music, touring and why they’re considered one of the hardest-working bands in Southern California.
Gossard’s love for music goes back to his early days, but his first real opportunity came at the age of 13. He had the chance to tour with a cover band that was put together by Buena Vista Records.
“It was wonderful,” said Gossard of the experience. He added that he was able to tour on a “big old tour bus and all that.” What kid wouldn’t be excited about that?
He also described himself as the kid that was constantly leaving school to tour and was given a bit of a hard time about it. His peers just didn’t understand. However, it wasn’t hard for him to adapt to. It was the first time that he thought he could see himself doing it as a career.
“Here I am 10 years later,” Gossard said, since he is now in the group and living his dream.
When Gossard started the band in 2007, it was mainly as a way to have fun. It was formed with a few friends, and while they are close, it was about their skills and talent as musicians.
Once the band was formed, then came the name, which was actually a bit harder to come up with. Gossard happened to be reading a list of soda ingredients, (though he couldn’t remember which one specifically) and saw the word acidic. It was just one of those things that worked itself out and stuck.
The band recently finished the Vans Warped Tour, which was a “dream come true” for Gossard. “It was something I’ve wanted to do for years, since I was a teenager.”
One day, they got a call from Kevin Lyman, who puts the event together. Lyman told them that there was room for them on the tour and that was that.
“The way Warped Tour is run is perfect in my mind. It’s so professional, everything happens exactly on time, and you know, all the crowds are amazing. Everybody there is like family — one of the best tours of my life.”
While traveling, they were able to hang out and get to know a lot of other bands. They were even able to hang out with Linkin Park, and added that they were really cool guys.
“They played a secret date at Ventura Warped Tour,” Gossard said. They had found out that Linkin Park was going to play earlier in the day, but when it happened, the crowd was stunned by it.
Like many other bands, their music has been influenced by those who have come before them. Goddard noted that bands like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and even Green Day or the Red Hot Chili Peppers have inspired them along the way.
“If we listen to a record, we’re gonna get something from it,” Gossard said.
Every band is so different and each person is able to bring something different to the table. It has also given them a chance to learn and evolve over the years. Goddard said that their willingness to adapt is is their greatest asset.
Working as a band and living together in such tight quarters can have its challenges. But at the end of the day, they’re a family.
“We have our disagreements just like everyone else,” Gossard said. “What I try to do is go for a walk; give myself some distance. Usually the right answer comes to me about what to do.”
With a busy schedule on the road, it doesn’t sound like it would leave much time for much else.
“Today, we drove all night to get to Little Rock, Arkansas, and we were on the local Fox affiliate for a morning acoustic set, live on air. Then, we went to sleep for…until, like just an hour ago, and we’re getting ready to load into the venue right now.”
There’s not much sleep, and as Gossard said, they grab it when they can get it.
“It’s obviously stressful,” he said, but added that they’ve become wired to work that way after doing it for so long.
But, late at night from 12 – 4 a.m. is when Gossard usually feels most inspired. He mentioned that it’s probably because it’s quiet and dark. He doesn’t have a certain plan when he writes though.
“I don’t think there’s any methodology behind writing songs. That is the correct way to write. That’s just one man’s opinion here. I’ve written songs so many different ways at so many different times and because of so many different reasons, that I cannot in good conscience give you a clear definition of what my process is because I don’t really know.”
When the moment is right, it happens. If it doesn’t come right away, then he works with it until it comes.
ACIDIC has gained the reputation as being one of the hardest working alternative bands, but why is that?
“We are always on the road — and I mean always on the road,” he said. “We never stay at home for long. We’re always touring and if we’re not touring, we’re at the studio. We just don’t stop.”
Gossard thinks it’s what they need to be doing if they’re going to be successful.
He laughed when said that he hopes to see themselves “on the side of a big building.”
In all seriousness, he hopes that if they play their cards right they’ll be able to play bigger tours and will be doing bigger things in general.
Over the years, Gossard thinks that their music has become more experience-based.
“Now, it’s not much about that, we’re writing what’s natural. That happens more and more as we age and mature.”
To find out more about the band, check out their official website, acidicband.com. You can also follow their updates on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
