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A Lucky Day Later
Interview with Alicia Nancine
Take one third cup Incubus, one half cup Jewel, and three Red Hot Chilli Peppers, throw them in a pot, and what do you get? You get the next big band to come out of Santa Rosa, Calif.: A Lucky Day later.
A Lucky Day Later started as the duo of vocalist Alicia Nancine and bassist Maxx Scherler. The two met the first day of junior year at Benicia High School. Both were taking sixth period art class. It was their mutual passion for art as well as music that brought them together. Scherler was in multiple bands and Nancine was in choir. They began writing music while in high school and it was after high school that both began to take music much more seriously.
“We had all of these songs and we decided to due something about it, so we all moved into a house in downtown Santa Rosa and recorded our EP,” Nancine said.
The fresh EP caught the attention of one grammy nominated producer Curt Cuomo. Cuomo has worked with Eddie Money, Santana, and was behind the title track for Kiss Psycho circus, which went all the way to number one. The band was invited for an acoustic audition.
“We auditioned and he loved it, so he has been producing us and we have six tracks done,” Nancine said.
But before the group landed the studio time, they were two members short. Scherler and Nancine were searching for a guitarist in the area. Scherler’s mother is the owner of the Pomegranate Salon in Santa Rosa, and one of her clients was trying to find a band for her boyfriend to play in.
“He was almost depressed that he couldn’t find a band that he could click with,” Scherler said.
Scherler’s mother gave her client a CD of the band and then he was on the phone pleading for an audition. The duo agreed that he was a perfect fit. Ian Montgomery became the groups lead guitarist.
Drummer Dave Briggs was being dubbed the next Travis Barker. Through some connections at local rock station 101.7 The Fox, Briggs was introduced to the band and instantly clicked with the group. Both styles: meshing completly.
Nancine’s journey into music was forged through shyness and tragedy. She was captured by poetry and had many poems written. Scherler decided to turn the poems into lyrics and Nancine at first was just going to sit back and let someone else sing.
“I was always nervous in front of crowds, so there was no way I was going to get on stage to sing, but when I decided that no one was going to give the words meaning the way I wanted them to, I decided to do it myself.”
But for Nancine, it wasn’t an easy role. Her mother learned to play the drums from grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart. Having spent time with him and the Rolling Stones, Nancine’s mother didn’t want her involved in the music scene. “She was traveling from San Francisco to Los Angeles and she had seen things she didn’t want me to see.”
When Nancine’s mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and was declared terminal, despite her original wishes, she ultimately let Nancine persue her love for music.
“My mom told me that I didn’t really need a degree, just to do whatever made me happy.”
Her mother’s passing on St. Patrick’s Day 2007 gave birth to the band’s name.
Their humble beginnings don’t overshadow the hard work that is involved in trying to make it in the music scene.
“It just comes down to how bad you want it,” Scherler said.
In recent trips to Los Angeles, the band has been sleeping in the car just to save money. All money that is saved is funneled into studio time. But the one resource that has aided the band is the gym.
“When we are staying in the car, the gym is the best because you can shower and work out there and be ready to tackle the day,” Scherler said.
But it’s not always easy. How does one find the mental strength to continue pressing forward?
“At first I thought what I was doing was really crazy. I couldn’t believe what I had gotten myself into,” Nancine said.
But for the band, the notion of becoming a success is the driving force that pushes them forward. Forget the fact that they need $40,000 to produce six tracks. Their passion to make it is unbridled, and right now nothing looks to stand in their way of success.
The band is on the right track and currently has three tracks on iTunes. Look for a full length album later this year.
Photos by Kalyn Ruijters
For more information and for show dates go to
www.myspace.com/aluckydaylater.
/ By Jonas Magana
