The Blue Alien Mystic Band- A Really Cool Vibe (Rising Band & Musicians) (January 2022)

Issue Twenty One- January 2022:

By Mercedes Barreto

Why do aliens seem so incredibly interesting? And what makes music on the theme of aliens even more exciting? The Blue Alien Mystic Band discusses its latest successes in this guided yet informative article.

What is that one special moment that unified you as a band? Why and how so?

“There were really two events that unified us. When I say “us,” I mean myself and Doug Franck, our co-lead vocalist and bass player. The first was when we recorded our second EP, The Universe Is Mental, back in the fall of 2017. The first album was pieced together with a drummer from an old band who did studio tracks for us, but this was the first time we were recording in the studio together as a band. Unfortunately, it was both a positive and negative way of bonding, because our drummer and I got into a huge argument at the end of the recording session, and that was the last time we worked with him. The second was the first gig we played after that was an acoustic set for a church’s holiday bazaar. It was such a weird gig, but we had as much fun as we could, and that was when Doug, our bass player and co-lead vocalist and I decided we were going ahead with this band no matter what.”

What is one original song that you feel most resonates with your listening or performing audience? Why is this?

“It’s interesting, because we’re known for songs with a positive message, but our song, “BlackLight” goes over huge at live shows. Thematically, it’s darker than most of our other songs, but I think the crunching power chords and the pounding rhythm just works well in a live setting and gets people in a groove. It’s a go-to closer for our live shows.”

If you could pick two top venues to perform, knowing you would be playing three full house nights, including a heavily demanded encore each night, what are those venues of choice, and why so?

“First we’d have to go with the obvious and easy choice of Madison Square Garden, just for the history and the glory of it all. There are so many great venues, but our second choice is Red Rocks, because it’s so visually stunning and also has a rich history of great shows by great artists there.”

Where is the place where you feel your band has grounded itself, or found its roots, musically or historically, in a way of speaking?

“We played our first gig together at the Freight House Café in Mahopac back in September 2016. Since that first gig, we’ve played many shows there. It’s kind of been our home base for all these years. We’ve brought other bands with us to share gigs there, and we shot our music video for our song, “Will,” there. Unfortunately, they haven’t been able to have live music there for a couple of years now because of issues with their landlord. We’re hoping that changes soon, because it’s a great local live music venue with awesome staff and a really cool vibe.”

What does music mean to you all? Why so?

“In a word: transcendence. Music provides both the moment and the medium to connect with something larger than yourself, to connect with your true self, and to connect with everyone else around you at a live show, feeling “oneness.” It’s an artist or band creating something that’s both personal and universal. You feel it when you hear lyrics in a song that resonate with something you’re going through, and you think to yourself, “Oh, I’m not alone. Someone else in this world gets it.””

Where can we find your music, and why should we?

“Go to our website: www.bluealienmystic.com. Links to all of our music and social media are there. You should check us out, because we like to call ourselves “Westchester’s most original band.” See the answer to the next question for more: What makes your band an iconic one? We strive to push the boundaries of rock music. We describe our sound as having the vibe of the seventies, the fun of the eighties, and the edge of the nineties. We step outside of our rock roots to delve into jazzy songs like “Laughing in the Rain” or “The Other Side of Space,” but it’s still recognizably and undeniably Blue Alien Mystic.”

Anything you’d like to add?

“It’s been tough dealing with pandemic life as a band, especially since I was pretty sick with covid-19 back in 2020. We’re once again “between drummers,” but we’re working on new music and looking forward to returning to playing full-blown, cranked up live shows again! Look for new music from us in 2022!”

Questions For The Photographer-

What was it like photographing/filming this band, and how highly would you recommend to all who are interested in their music, in every way possible?

“I worked with this band a few years ago doing an electric set, and this show was an acoustic set. Barry and Doug do a great job no matter what type of show they put on. Very professional, and they work so well together, so you can tell they have performed together for quite some time…Barry is very animated with his guitar playing and that makes for a good shoot.”

Do you feel genuine music in their performances? What is the emotion there, or sensation, one which you can describe?

“The music they perform is very unique and they have several recordings and I highly recommend you find them to take a listen for yourself.”

Photography Courtesy of Joe Mack’s Event Photography