Rock Group Everclear to Play Valley Forge Music Fair, 3/25

Valley Forge Casino Resort (1160 First Avenue) welcomes generation-spanning, rock 'n roll powerhouse Everclear to Valley Forge Music Fair on Friday, March 25, 2016. The 90s hitmakers, known for "Santa Monica," "Everything to Everyone" and "I Will Buy You a New Life," will perform songs from their ninth studio album Black is the New Black. Doors open at 7:00pm and the show begins at 8:00pm. Tickets are on sale now for $30.00 to $80.00 on Ticketmaster.

"Valley Forge Casino Resort continues to celebrate indie alternative rock with another big hitmaker from the 90s," said VFCR Chief Marketing Officer Jennifer Galle. "After the sold-out success of Third Eye Blind, we're proud to welcome Everclear to the Valley Forge Music Fair stage. Their show will have us reliving the college rock era with new music that is a return to form -- with an old-school Everclear sound."

Everclear at Valley Forge Music Fair will feature bombastic and hard-driving rock n' roll with instantly memorable hooks from the band's ninth studio album, Black is the New Black. Songs are a supercharged mix of autobiographical and narrative storytelling from Everclear's singer, guitarist, co-founder and songwriter Art Alexakis.

The diverse and timeless sounding collection sets aside the ballads and nostalgia. Instead, Everclear presents a heavy guitar record that is a potent passion and has the urgent delivery of Everclear's heralded indie debut (recorded for just $400), but delivered through a modern lens.

As familiar as the sound of a jet engine, and as visceral as a ride on a speeding motorcycle, Everclear is heavier, darker and more balls-to-the-wall thanever before.

"Hard rock, punk rock, big guitars that swallow me whole - I will never get over that," says Alexakis. "..this is a very honest recording. No gimmicks. No bells and whistles."

Across the album, the insistent kick of drummer Sean Winchester, athletic groove of bassist Freddy Herrera, and skilled guitar shred of Davey French join forces behind giant guitar riffs swinging mightily from song to song. A bit of tasteful keyboards from Josh Crawley add atmospheric punch to songs that could crush a tiny dive bar or destroy the cheap seats in the world's biggest arena with equal force.

"This is not an upbeat Everclear record. It's pretty dark, lyrically and musically," the band's singer/guitarist explains. "When I would sit down with the guitar and start coming up with ideas, it was pushing toward a darker place. Which is kind of bizarre because right now things are really good! I feel safe enough to go to the dark places. And trust me, there's plenty of dark places in me. I've never had a shortage of that."

Alexakis has been candid about his past. His dad split when he was young. He and his mother lived in housing projects. He lost those closest to him to drugs and suicide and nearly lost himself in both, as well. This isn't the stuff of VH1's Behind The Music - this is the man's life pre-music, a life he's cracked open and explored in his art. It's there in the "Heroin Girl," from the band's platinum commercial breakthrough, Sparkle and Fade. The double platinum So Much for the Afterglow produced enduring radio staples like "I Will Buy You A New Life" and "Father of Mine," as ubiquitous on the radio now as then.

"I'm learning to balance those dark places," Alexakis says thoughtfully. "I am learning to respect them, but also, to keep them in their place." Everclear's frontman is 25 years clean-and-sober, with a wealth of darkness to stare into, but a perspective earned through experience, a healthy home life and a kickass band."

Tickets for Everclear are on sale now at Ticketmaster for $30.00 to $80.00 each. Everclear will perform as part of the continued revival of Valley Forge Music Fair, which recently showcased the talents of Third Eye Blind, Kenny Rogers, 38 Special, Whoopi Goldberg, Heart and Artie Lange. The on-going music, comedy and entertainment series showcases top headliners and up-and-coming stars of tomorrow. All performances are held in The Event Center or in The Venue. For more information and the full Music Fair schedule, visit www.vfcasino.com/entertainment/valley-forge-music-fair

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