Alice - Gone but not forgotten...
Alice is a band from the St. Joseph/Kansas City area with a unique sound comprised of strong female vocals and harmonies and pounding energizing songs. Alice was originally the brain-child of band members Erika Foulk and Rachel Hoffman. Hoffman and Foulk met in college choir, both singing harmonies in the alto section, but did not really talk or sit near each other or talk much in that setting. The real magic happened when the two students both found themselves at the local open mic night at Cafe Acoustic, in fall of 2004. They started out singing back up harmonies for each other's solo singer/songwriter music, and were very welcomed and appreciated by the crowd. It was this recognition and appreciation that lead the girls to think bigger. Neither played the bass guitar, but both were up for learning, and started right away. And with that, the song writing and music making began, and Alice was born.
The girls had already been invited to play a show before they had even found a drummer. Sit in drummers had come and played a few times, but nothing permanent, until a mutual friend introduced Bobby Floyd, who had recently left the band Roister Harbinger. Floyd agreed to sit in with the girls for their show, February 2005 at the United Ballroom in St. Joseph, MO, The Holiday Bill. After the show, Floyd was excited about the future of the group and agreeing to stay on as their permanent drummer.
After this, the band began writing a collection of original songs some of which (at first) had a poppy, upbeat vibe with sort-of a dreamy, surfer-esque feel. All of the music held true to the girls' love of singing harmony with one another, as their vocals danced around each others' within the songs. The band played all over St. Joseph, MO and surrounding areas including Lawrence, KS, Kirksville, MO, Kansas City, MO, and at local music festivals, Spring for Green and Gaea Retreat. With a steadfast following, the band was happy to be playing busy shows in the area for several years.
The group began recording their first and only full length album in 2007, called Curiouser. This album is mostly comprised of songs the band wrote in their first couple of years playing together. As time went on with the recording process for this album, the band continued writing new music and changing/growing as musicians and people. The recording process was long and tedious as it was expensive and paid for mostly out of money the band made while playing out, and from their own pockets. To get cheaper studio sessions, the band would schedule to come in and record during the overnight shift, sometimes starting at 10pm and working until 5 or 6 in the morning. During their recording process, the engineer they were working with changed businesses, so in order to keep working with the same person, who had done so much for them already, they were moved over to Chapman Studios, also in Kansas City, MO. This studio was bigger and very impressive, a much welcomed change of location. The album was finished in 2009 and Alice was asked to play on the radio in Kansas City, for Afentra's Big Fat Morning Buzz. They played a few more shows, including a "final" show prior to Rachel moving to Eugene, Oregon in early 2010 to pursue lifestyle interests.
Prior to Hoffman leaving town, the band stepped into a friend's living room studio to record some of their most recent songs, for a limited release EP titled, "...and Curiouser". This recording represents more accurately the band's live sound, with a collection of their more progressive-rock influenced songs, which were written after recording of the first album began.
Since Rachel's moving away, the band has continued to play shows when Hoffman is in town for the holidays, in December of 2010, 2011, and 2012. Drummer Bobby Floyd continues to play music with his band Dsodean. Hoffman continues to play and write music in Eugene. Foulk also continues to write and play music, sometimes with her husband Scott Foulk, of the band Amenazar Thrush in their side project, Moonhead.
The girls had already been invited to play a show before they had even found a drummer. Sit in drummers had come and played a few times, but nothing permanent, until a mutual friend introduced Bobby Floyd, who had recently left the band Roister Harbinger. Floyd agreed to sit in with the girls for their show, February 2005 at the United Ballroom in St. Joseph, MO, The Holiday Bill. After the show, Floyd was excited about the future of the group and agreeing to stay on as their permanent drummer.
After this, the band began writing a collection of original songs some of which (at first) had a poppy, upbeat vibe with sort-of a dreamy, surfer-esque feel. All of the music held true to the girls' love of singing harmony with one another, as their vocals danced around each others' within the songs. The band played all over St. Joseph, MO and surrounding areas including Lawrence, KS, Kirksville, MO, Kansas City, MO, and at local music festivals, Spring for Green and Gaea Retreat. With a steadfast following, the band was happy to be playing busy shows in the area for several years.
The group began recording their first and only full length album in 2007, called Curiouser. This album is mostly comprised of songs the band wrote in their first couple of years playing together. As time went on with the recording process for this album, the band continued writing new music and changing/growing as musicians and people. The recording process was long and tedious as it was expensive and paid for mostly out of money the band made while playing out, and from their own pockets. To get cheaper studio sessions, the band would schedule to come in and record during the overnight shift, sometimes starting at 10pm and working until 5 or 6 in the morning. During their recording process, the engineer they were working with changed businesses, so in order to keep working with the same person, who had done so much for them already, they were moved over to Chapman Studios, also in Kansas City, MO. This studio was bigger and very impressive, a much welcomed change of location. The album was finished in 2009 and Alice was asked to play on the radio in Kansas City, for Afentra's Big Fat Morning Buzz. They played a few more shows, including a "final" show prior to Rachel moving to Eugene, Oregon in early 2010 to pursue lifestyle interests.
Prior to Hoffman leaving town, the band stepped into a friend's living room studio to record some of their most recent songs, for a limited release EP titled, "...and Curiouser". This recording represents more accurately the band's live sound, with a collection of their more progressive-rock influenced songs, which were written after recording of the first album began.
Since Rachel's moving away, the band has continued to play shows when Hoffman is in town for the holidays, in December of 2010, 2011, and 2012. Drummer Bobby Floyd continues to play music with his band Dsodean. Hoffman continues to play and write music in Eugene. Foulk also continues to write and play music, sometimes with her husband Scott Foulk, of the band Amenazar Thrush in their side project, Moonhead.