Alberta Cross
Encyclopedia
Alberta Cross is a New York
-based band, formed by Petter Ericson Stakee (vocals, guitar) & Terry Wolfers (bass). Despite their different upbringings - Stakee travelled from an early age between Sweden
and England
with his singer-songwriter
father, whilst Wolfers was brought up in London's East End - they formed what would later become Alberta Cross. After relocating to Brooklyn
, New York
, Stakee and Wolfers solidified the line-up with the addition of Austin Beede, Alec Higgins and Sam Kearney.
The band's sound has been compared to The Band
, Neil Young
, The Raconteurs
and other blues-influenced rock bands.
, UK
and the rest of Europe
, performing with bands such as The Shins
, Bat for Lashes
, Simian Mobile Disco
, and Findlay Brown
on the Latitude
tour in 2007. They have sold out venues in Chicago
, Los Angeles
, Santa Barbara
, San Francisco, and many other cites through the US and Europe. During October 2008, Alberta Cross supported Oasis
on their UK arena tour, playing at both Bournemouth and Cardiff. During 2009, the band appeared at the Coachella Valley Music Festival in April, the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Manchester, Tennessee
in June, and the Lollapalooza
Festival in Chicago, Illinois in August. In June 2009, they were also support for Dave Matthews Band
at the O2 Academy in London and continued as support for their full European Tour in February and March 2010.
The band embarked on their first headlining tour in the United States in early 2010, selling out shows in Los Angeles
, Santa Barbara
, and San Francisco. When the Santa Barbara venue oversold the show, the band offered to play two sets to account for those who were asked to leave the venue. During the spring and early summer of 2010, Alberta Cross also toured with Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
, Ben Harper and the Relentless 7
, and American Bang
. They also opened for Them Crooked Vultures
in Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa, Windsor, Indianapolis, Indiana and Chicago.
The band played several international festivals in the summer of 2010, including the Malmo Festival in Sweden
, the Parkenfestivalen in Norway
, the Fuji Rock Festival
in Japan
, and the Splendour in the Grass
Festival in Australia
. Alberta cross also played several shows in Australia, including two with Mumford & Sons
. On September 3, 2010, the band played at the Gorge, Washington to re-unite with the Dave Mathews Band and open for them. Throughout the rest of September, the band toured the US with Dead Confederate
for 21 dates.
The band's first full-length album, recorded in Austin, Texas
, Broken Side of Time
was released on 22 September 2009. They are currently working on writing and recording their second release.
, Kings of Leon
and Crazy Horse
…but Alberta Cross sets aside those American bands’ redemptive undercurrents of blues and gospel; instead it plunges into the very English despair of bands like Pink Floyd
.” – The New York Times
“…familiar and refreshing...Alberta Cross has taken incredible strides to earn global recognition.” – NPR
“combining wind tunnels of bent guitar riffs and distorted power chords with the haunting melodies of rural American music. It’s all topped by Ericson Stakee’s sweet, high-lonesome voice, which recalls both Jim James
and Neil Young
.” – Rolling Stone
“…fog-clearing pipes nod to MMJ's Jim James, and whose South-of-the-Mason-Dixon guitar chops recall the Followill Bros.” – Spin
“…an intoxicating mix of apocalyptic riffs, sob – worthy singalongs and brooding blues.”
(8 out of 10) – NME
“…as electrically dark as it is electrifyingly determined… these ten songs have a kind of will of their own to reach our eardrums and come out the other side as goose bumps.” – Esquire
“…a hard-hitting, rock-driven affair, with folk and soul undertones.” – BlackBook
, when Karen tells Hank she has to see a man about a horse. This song is also used in episode 2 of Season 2 of the FX show Sons of Anarchy
.
The song "Lucy Rider" is heard in the series premiere of the BBC One
series Survivors, as well as episode 3 of Season 1 of Dirty Sexy Money
.
The band performed "ATX" and "Rise from the Shadows" on Last Call with Carson Daly
. "ATX" was also used as the rejoiner bumper during the telecast of the 2009 BCS Championship Game
The band appeared on the Cinemax
Tour Stories program, which featured an interview and live performance.
Their song "Money for the Weekend" is featured on the soundtrack to Madden NFL 12
.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
-based band, formed by Petter Ericson Stakee (vocals, guitar) & Terry Wolfers (bass). Despite their different upbringings - Stakee travelled from an early age between Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
with his singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
father, whilst Wolfers was brought up in London's East End - they formed what would later become Alberta Cross. After relocating to Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Stakee and Wolfers solidified the line-up with the addition of Austin Beede, Alec Higgins and Sam Kearney.
The band's sound has been compared to The Band
The Band
The Band was an acclaimed and influential roots rock group. The original group consisted of Rick Danko , Garth Hudson , Richard Manuel , and Robbie Robertson , and Levon Helm...
, Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
, The Raconteurs
The Raconteurs
The Raconteurs is an American rock band that was formed in Detroit, Michigan, featuring four members known for other musical projects: Jack White , Brendan Benson , Jack Lawrence , and Patrick Keeler .-Formation:The...
and other blues-influenced rock bands.
Career
Alberta Cross has toured extensively in the USUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and the rest of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, performing with bands such as The Shins
The Shins
The Shins are an American indie rock band comprising singer, songwriter, and guitarist James Mercer, guitarist/bassist Dave Hernandez, Eric Johnson of Fruit Bats, drummer Joe Plummer and bassist Ron Lewis. Their sound draws on several musical genres, including pop, alternative rock, indie rock,...
, Bat for Lashes
Bat for Lashes
Natasha Khan , also known by her stage name Bat for Lashes, is an English musician. She sings and plays the piano, bass, guitar, harpsichord and the autoharp....
, Simian Mobile Disco
Simian Mobile Disco
Simian Mobile Disco are a United Kingdom-based production and remix team formed in 2005 by James Ford and Jas Shaw of the band Simian. Musically, they are known for their analogue production...
, and Findlay Brown
Findlay Brown
Findlay Brown is a British singer, songwriter and recording artist.His debut album "Separated By the Sea" was released in 2007 on Peacefrog Records, England. It was produced by former Simian singer, Simon Lord....
on the Latitude
Latitude Festival
The Latitude Festival is an annual music festival that takes place in Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk, England. It was first held in July 2006....
tour in 2007. They have sold out venues in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
, San Francisco, and many other cites through the US and Europe. During October 2008, Alberta Cross supported Oasis
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
on their UK arena tour, playing at both Bournemouth and Cardiff. During 2009, the band appeared at the Coachella Valley Music Festival in April, the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Manchester, Tennessee
Manchester, Tennessee
Manchester is a city in Coffee County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 10,102 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Coffee County...
in June, and the Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza is an annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop bands, dance and comedy performances, and craft booths. It has also provided a platform for non-profit and political groups. The music festival hosts more than 160,000 people over a...
Festival in Chicago, Illinois in August. In June 2009, they were also support for Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band, sometimes shortened to DMB, is a U.S. rock band formed in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1991. The founding members were singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Matthews, bassist Stefan Lessard, drummer/backing vocalist Carter Beauford and saxophonist LeRoi Moore. Boyd Tinsley was...
at the O2 Academy in London and continued as support for their full European Tour in February and March 2010.
The band embarked on their first headlining tour in the United States in early 2010, selling out shows in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
, and San Francisco. When the Santa Barbara venue oversold the show, the band offered to play two sets to account for those who were asked to leave the venue. During the spring and early summer of 2010, Alberta Cross also toured with Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club is an American rock band from San Francisco, California, now based in Los Angeles. BRMC is known for their garage rock, blues, folk revival, neo-psychedelia sound. They are influenced by bands such as: The Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Verve, The Rolling Stones, Oasis, T...
, Ben Harper and the Relentless 7
Ben Harper
Benjamin Chase "Ben" Harper is an American singer-songwriter and musician. Harper plays an eclectic mix of blues, folk, soul, reggae and rock music and is known for his guitar-playing skills, vocals, live performances and activism. Harper's fan base spans several continents...
, and American Bang
American Bang
American Bang is an American southern rock band from Nashville, Tennessee. The group was founded by two former members of Llama and one of The Kicks, along with a fourth member, in 2005. They initially formed under the name Bang Bang Bang and self-released an album under this name in 2005, but...
. They also opened for Them Crooked Vultures
Them Crooked Vultures
Them Crooked Vultures is a rock supergroup formed in Los Angeles in 2009 by John Paul Jones , Dave Grohl , and Josh Homme . The group also includes guitarist Alain Johannes during live performances...
in Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa, Windsor, Indianapolis, Indiana and Chicago.
The band played several international festivals in the summer of 2010, including the Malmo Festival in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, the Parkenfestivalen in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, the Fuji Rock Festival
Fuji Rock Festival
Fuji Rock Festival is an annual rock festival held in Naeba Ski Resort, in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. The 3 day event, organized by Smash Japan, features more than 200 Japanese and international musicians, making it the largest outdoor music event in Japan...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and the Splendour in the Grass
Splendour in the Grass
Splendour in the Grass is an annual Australian music festival held in July at Woodford, Queensland, and previously held at Belongil Fields, outside Byron Bay...
Festival in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Alberta cross also played several shows in Australia, including two with Mumford & Sons
Mumford & Sons
Mumford & Sons are a British folk rock band. The band consists of Marcus Mumford , Ben Lovett , Country Winston Marshall , and Ted Dwane...
. On September 3, 2010, the band played at the Gorge, Washington to re-unite with the Dave Mathews Band and open for them. Throughout the rest of September, the band toured the US with Dead Confederate
Dead Confederate
Dead Confederate is an American alternative rock band formed in Augusta, Georgia and based in Athens, Georgia.The band's sound has been described as a mix of alternative country and grunge and has drawn comparisons to Nirvana and My Morning Jacket.-History:...
for 21 dates.
The band's first full-length album, recorded in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, Broken Side of Time
Broken Side of Time
- Press :“…a British take on Southern rock…the seismic guitars and high vocals look to My Morning Jacket, Kings of Leon and Crazy Horse…but Alberta Cross sets aside those American bands’ redemptive undercurrents of blues and gospel; instead it plunges into the very English despair of bands like...
was released on 22 September 2009. They are currently working on writing and recording their second release.
Press
“…a British take on Southern rock…the seismic guitars and high vocals look to My Morning JacketMy Morning Jacket
My Morning Jacket is an American rock band from Louisville, Kentucky.The band consists of Jim James , Tom 'Two-Tone Tommy' Blankenship , Patrick Hallahan , Carl Broemel , and Bo Koster .-History:My Morning Jacket was...
, Kings of Leon
Kings of Leon
Kings of Leon is an American rock band that originated in Albion, Oklahoma but formed in Nashville, Tennessee in 1999. The band is composed of brothers Anthony Caleb Followill , Ivan Nathan Followill and Michael Jared Followill Kings of Leon is an American rock band that originated in Albion,...
and Crazy Horse
Crazy Horse
Crazy Horse was a Native American war leader of the Oglala Lakota. He took up arms against the U.S...
…but Alberta Cross sets aside those American bands’ redemptive undercurrents of blues and gospel; instead it plunges into the very English despair of bands like Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
.” – The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
“…familiar and refreshing...Alberta Cross has taken incredible strides to earn global recognition.” – NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
“combining wind tunnels of bent guitar riffs and distorted power chords with the haunting melodies of rural American music. It’s all topped by Ericson Stakee’s sweet, high-lonesome voice, which recalls both Jim James
Jim James
James Edward Olliges Jr. , professionally known as Jim James or Yim Yames, is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter of Louisville, Kentucky-based rock band My Morning Jacket. James grew up in the Hikes Point neighborhood of Louisville, attended St. Martha grade school and graduated...
and Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
.” – Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
“…fog-clearing pipes nod to MMJ's Jim James, and whose South-of-the-Mason-Dixon guitar chops recall the Followill Bros.” – Spin
Spin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
“…an intoxicating mix of apocalyptic riffs, sob – worthy singalongs and brooding blues.”
(8 out of 10) – NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
“…as electrically dark as it is electrifyingly determined… these ten songs have a kind of will of their own to reach our eardrums and come out the other side as goose bumps.” – Esquire
Esquire (magazine)
Esquire is a men's magazine, published in the U.S. by the Hearst Corporation. Founded in 1932, it flourished during the Great Depression under the guidance of founder and editor Arnold Gingrich.-History:...
“…a hard-hitting, rock-driven affair, with folk and soul undertones.” – BlackBook
Popular culture
The song "Low Man" is heard at the end of episode 8 of Season 2 of CalifornicationCalifornication (TV series)
Californication is an American comedy-drama that premiered on Showtime on August 13, 2007. The show was created by Tom Kapinos. The protagonist, Hank Moody , is a troubled novelist whose move to California, coupled with his writer's block, complicates his relationships with his longtime girlfriend...
, when Karen tells Hank she has to see a man about a horse. This song is also used in episode 2 of Season 2 of the FX show Sons of Anarchy
Sons of Anarchy
Sons of Anarchy is an American television drama series created by Kurt Sutter about the lives of a close-knit outlaw motorcycle club operating in Charming, a fictional town in Northern California...
.
The song "Lucy Rider" is heard in the series premiere of the BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
series Survivors, as well as episode 3 of Season 1 of Dirty Sexy Money
Dirty Sexy Money
Dirty Sexy Money is an American prime time drama series created by Craig Wright, which ran on the ABC from September 26, 2007 to August 8, 2009. The series was produced by ABC Studios, Bad Hat Harry Productions, Berlanti Television and Gross Entertainment...
.
The band performed "ATX" and "Rise from the Shadows" on Last Call with Carson Daly
Last Call with Carson Daly
Last Call with Carson Daly is an American late night talk show that is broadcast on NBC. The show is hosted by Carson Daly, the half-hour show featuring celebrity interviews, documentary-style coverage of a topic, and musical performances. Last Call airs weeknights at 1:35 a.m. Eastern / 12:35 a.m....
. "ATX" was also used as the rejoiner bumper during the telecast of the 2009 BCS Championship Game
The band appeared on the Cinemax
Cinemax
Cinemax, sometimes abbreviated as simply "Max", is a collection of premium television networks that broadcasts primarily feature films, along with softcore erotica, original action series, documentaries and special behind-the-scenes features. Cinemax is operated by Home Box Office, Inc., a...
Tour Stories program, which featured an interview and live performance.
Their song "Money for the Weekend" is featured on the soundtrack to Madden NFL 12
Madden NFL 12
Madden NFL 12 is an American football video game based on the National Football League published by EA Sports and developed by EA Tiburon. It was released on August 30, 2011 in North America and September 2, 2011 in Europe...
.
Discography
- The Thief & the Heartbreaker (mini-album) (April 2007)
- Leave Us Or Forgive Us (7"-EP) (October 2007)
- Broken Side of TimeBroken Side of Time- Press :“…a British take on Southern rock…the seismic guitars and high vocals look to My Morning Jacket, Kings of Leon and Crazy Horse…but Alberta Cross sets aside those American bands’ redemptive undercurrents of blues and gospel; instead it plunges into the very English despair of bands like...
(September 2009) - The Rolling Thunder (limited edition EP) (September 2011)
Band members
- Petter Ericson Stakee - vocals, guitar
- Terry Wolfers - bass guitar
- Sam Kearney - lead guitar
- Alec Higgins - keyboard
- Austin Beede - drums, percussion
- Patrick Ball - bass guitar
External links
- Alberta Cross on ATO RecordsATO RecordsAccording to Our Records was founded in early 2000 by Dave Matthews , Coran Capshaw, Chris Tetzeli, and Michael McDonald as a division of RCA Records...
- Guardian Band of the Day article
- Drowned In Sound Album review
- Music OMH live review
- LMFM live reviews, photos and up coming UK gigs
- Ark Recordings