Loud & Proud Aloud mixes pop smarts with hard rockin'
by Chris Parcellin
Back in the mid-'90s Henry Beguiristain and Jen De La Osa met up in a band called Rain. One of the big problems the duo faced was trying to rock out amidst the white sand beaches and palm trees of their native "dirty city" Miami. They realized a change was in order so the two singer/guitarists loaded up the U-Haul truck and moved to Boston--hoping for a chance to hone their poppy hard rock songs in front of a like-minded crowd. And the tough, garagey sounds of the Boston scene proved much more inviting for the ambitious rockers than their former tropical setting.

Shortly after arriving the expatriate Floridians met bassist Roy Fontaine who joined them in the band that was first called Feedback before they settled on their current moniker Aloud. The band has recorded a CD as well as gigging around the Boston area. A recent show at Somerville's Abbey Lounge (with drummer Eric Anderson sitting in) showcased the band's ability to come up with tunes featuring heavy guitar riffs as well as pop hooks that should get them noticed around town (and elsewhere) in a big way. So, we decided to throw a few questions their way to see what they had to say for themselves.

How did the members of Aloud get together?
HENRY: Jen and I met about five years ago in Miami. After playing in a band down there for awhile and not really getting anywhere, we packed up and moved to Boston a few years ago. After a couple of months of searching for band members, we met Roy through a mutual friend. We've been playing with Roy for close to two years now, and it's been madness ever since.


How would you describe the band's sound?
ROY: We sound like the Beatles. Only better.
JEN: What Roy is trying to say is, uh, I don't know. No, really it's just quality rock n' roll. Someone once said it was "edgy pop" and I guess that's kind of right. The songs are real solid and they have some great changes, but we still rock the hell out of them. I like it, anyway.

What can you tell us about your CD?
ROY: The songs are good. As far as the way it sounds, I think it sounds good, for what it is. But it doesn't reflect our best work. We'll be recording something new in a few months with a new drummer that will clear any doubts. It'll be a very tight recording.

Who are some of your influences?
JEN: The ultimate for me are the Beatles. The songwriting and arranging or production, whatever you want to call it was just the most amazing ground breaking stuff. Their music was more about great songs than a great sound which is the kiss of death that makes most band's songs sound the same. I love U2 for the same reason. The Who are big time especially when it comes to performance and I'm a big Oasis fan.
HENRY: My big five- The Beatles, U2, The Who, Oasis, Dylan. I'll give any good tune a chance, but those five are my reference points.
ROY: Sublime, P-Funk, John-Paul Jones, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Coldplay, McCartney, Styx, Steve Miller Band. Yeah. All those. Except for Styx. They suck.

What's the songwriting process like for you guys?
JEN: Henry and I do the writing. We'll write once a week, usually on Saturdays. Henry or I will bring in a snippet of a tune we'd been working on to be finished. I'll look at Henry's tunes and see what I can add to it. That could be adding a whole new section, having different ideas for what the arrangement should be like, or taking something out that shouldn't be there. The great thing is we're not afraid to say "That's not very good. Let's take that out". Or even "I don't think the song is strong enough to bother with." We're real honest to each other about it. When Henry works on something I'll bring in it'll end up sounding more rounded out. He fills in the gaps. It's a good partnership.

What can you tell us about yourself and your bandmates?
HENRY: This band wouldn't be able to function as well as it does with anyone else. We all click very, very well. As players, we're constantly pushing each other, and getting better every day. I couldn't imagine not being in a band with these crazy mofos. The three of us are real close friends, tied to a common belief that being in this band is where we belong. Plus, they won't go away. I'm still dealing with that.

Have you played a lot of shows around Boston?
ROY: Yeah. We've played several shows around Boston, twenty-three this year. We've played T.T the Bear's twice, played the Abbey a bunch of times, the Middle East Downstairs... Getting set to play the Middle East Upstairs next week (11/20), and the Abbey again on December 6. It's been a real good year for us. Our booking agent, Carey Sue, has been helping us out a lot.

How would you describe the average Aloud fan?
ROY: Enthusiastic.
HENRY: We have some real supportive people behind us. The thing I love about our fans is that they're just as excited as we are about this band, the music, and where it's all going. There's this sense the whole thing is something special, and it's something they make themselves a part of.
JEN: The songs draw them in, then when we talk to them after the shows, our own enthusiasm just kind of hooks them in.

Are you still looking for a permanent drummer?
HENRY: I'm pretty certain we've found the right man for the job, but it's still not 100% yet. So, yea, we're still looking. I have to say that Eric Anderson has been doing a phenomenal job filling in while we've been looking. When we lost our original drummer, we thought we'd be struggling for awhile to get back on our feet. Instead, this has turned out to be a real turning point for us, and the best time for the band. This is the best we've ever sounded, morale is at an all time high, and we're moving along at a better pace than before. We really owe him one.

What do you think of the overall state of music today?
JEN: I'm not particularly pleased. I like the Strokes, and Coldplay a lot. That first B.R.M.C. album was pretty good too. However I can't think of anyone else really who's come out in the last couple of years and been honest rock n roll music. Those were the last albums I remember buying whose members weren't over 30 or dead. I'll just go through the rock n' roll history lesson when I listen to music. Radio is complete garbage for the most part. I think it has been getting progressivly better though and I do believe things will change when the time is right.

What's your message for America's youth?
HENRY: Don't sweat the petty stuff, don't pet the sweaty stuff. And buy more Aloud records.
JEN: Don't listen to Henry, but buy more Aloud records.
© 2003 Chris Parcellin & D-Filed, All rights reserved.
Photos © 2003 Aloud, All rights reserved.