Avalon Drive seems intent on wrapping up on a high note what has already been a very successful year. Off the back of their over 18s tour, the boys are also just about to get started on their All Ages Encore tour. Ryan says that when it comes to gigs for the band’s under-age fanbase, Avalon Drive has plenty of reasons to return for another taste.
“The over 18s crowd don’t get have as much fun or get as much out of shows,” he says. “I guess, the Australian show crowds are mostly beer guzzling, and the kids are just there for a good time. So it makes sense to end the year with an all ages show, to give some back to the younger crowds.”
While it was their triumphant show with Yellowcard in Sydney that got the fans talking, this doesn’t mean Avalon Drive haven’t earnt their credibility in other areas too. Their support slots for the All-American Rejects and US power pop-group Hellogoodbye showed they can work the crowds in whatever context they’re thrown into. Touring with so many different bands would surely mean you’d have a lot interesting stories to tell, and Ryan nominates Tyson Ritter, the singer/bassist of the All-American Rejects, as the most memorable character he encountered on the road. Even better, Ritter said he enjoyed watching the Avalon Drive shows, a compliment that would count for a lot to any up and coming band.
Looking back at his musical heritage, it appears Ryan has his roots in nu-metal. His first bass was a five-stringed Ibanez, just like the one used by Korn, and he claims that as a teenager he was classed as a ‘nu-metal kid’. While his jeans and five-string bass are still waiting patiently at home for the inevitable nu-metal revival, with a musical background like that it may surprise fans to discover that Ryan draws inspiration from everything from the political preaching of Anti-Flag to the Christian leanings of Undertone. He even counts Australian Idol contestant Lee Harding as one of the most genuine guys he’s ever met. While his band doesn’t necessarily preach positive values, they definitely reflect them in their attitude and not-so-dark lyrics.
Ryan is looking forward to his upcoming tour and hopes that everyone who sees them live will put ‘Avalon Drive’ and ‘good show’ in the same sentence. He says fans can expect a high-energy show with minimal injury (besides the odd bass guitar being thrown at the vocalist).
With some critics calling them one of the most promising rock acts of the coming year, expectations are high. But the boys from Avalon Drive are stepping forward proudly with a positive attitude that even has room for Australian Idol. They’ll soon be hitting a town near you with their All Ages Encore Tour, even if one of the dates is for boring old over-18s punters.
Check them out. It’ll be worth it.
Tour dates:
November 17: Old Bendigo Jail, Bendigo, VIC (All Ages)
November 18: TLC Bayswater, Melbourne, VIC (All Ages)
November 18: Bang Nightclub, Melbourne, VIC (18+)
November 19: Sodens, Albury, NSW (All Ages)
November 25: Princess Theatre, Brisbane, QLD (All Ages)
December 3: The Chophouse, Surfers Paradise, QLD (All Ages)
