Music Style Art Pop

Musical Influences Pixies, Flaming Lips, The Beatles, and The Who

Similar Artists The Pixies

Artist History ..... The Alice Rose were formed in Austin, Texas in the summer of 2001. The band's members (singer/songwriter/guitarist JoDee Purkeypile, bassist and vocalist Sean Crooks and drummer Chris Sensat) had been part of another local band named PigGie Hat. That group, along with bassist Paul Murray, had existed from November 1997 to May 30, 2000, when the band performed live for the last time at Flamingo Cantina. PigGie Hat had performed at SXSWs 1998-2000, as well as NXNW in Oct. 2000, after playing the final night of the original Steamboat on 6th, which was owned by Sean's father Danny Crooks. ..... PigGie Hat released their only album, titled IRISH RAIN, in late 1998, and promoted the record on KLBJ FM and the Austin Music Network, for which they taped a number of in-studio performances. The album's songs were in the traditional Austin blues-rock style, with production by scene veteran Mark Hallman at Congress House Studio. By late 1999, Purkeypile's songwriting was evolving and encompassing more Indie-influences like the Pixies and Sleater-Kinney, which, obviously, resulted in the band's change in sound (the best songs from this period can all be found on Emerald Wood Records' 1999 Demos cd, along with early versions of Alice Rose songs like "Bright & Early" and "Lamoine"). ..... After the band's last concert at Flamingo, JoDee, Sean, and Chris took time to re-group and decide what they wanted to do. JoDee continued to write and record his songs, as he always had, at home, while Sean went on the road with Austin's Sister 7 as a tech. In late 2000, JoDee and Chris held a number of rehearsals with bassist Rachel Loy and keyboardist Rachel Solomon, but this line-up never truly fit. Crooks returned to Austin and in early 2001, the three began rehearsing new songs and talking of a new group. Names floated around like the Ashes and even Nervine Perfume (the title of one of JoDee's new songs !), but, inspiration arrived through dire circumstances with the death of an artist. The artist in question was Sadie Warren, a close friend of JoDee's ex-girlfriend, who died tragically in a car accident in June 2000. Warren's niece, named Alice Rose, was inspired by her to become an artist, which hopefully one day she will, as she is still very young. JoDee was intrigued by the girl's name and felt it somehow linked up with the songs he had recently written, and wanted it to become the new band's name. ..... With the band's new name came other changes. One night, JoDee and Sean were talking about where they could find a bassist when JoDee suggested that Crooks, who had previously played guitar, take up the role. Although hesistant at first, Sean did take on the challenge and in May 2001, The Alice Rose debuted at Fat Tuesday's on 6th as a three-piece. That summer, Rachel Solomon returned to the line-up, performing with the band until the fall, when she was sadly asked to leave. JoDee felt the classically-trained and award-winning Solomon was being held back, since the new songs featured sparse keyboard parts, leaving Rachel to shake a tamborine for the remainder of the set. JoDee really wanted a guitarist/keyboardist for the band. ..... They did find a guitarist in Rob Seale, who met the band around this time and began performing with them in October. Seale remained with the band for a year, taping three AMN performances and performing at SXSW 2002 and a number of odd gigs at art galleries, outdoor festivals, and college gatherings. In late 2002, JoDee, Sean, and Chris found themselves unhappy with the group, and even considered breaking up the band. But now, in early 2003, The Alice Rose has returned to performing as a three piece, but are still searching for a bassist and guitarist/keyboardist to complete the band. JoDee began Emerald Wood Records in Feb. 2003. The home-made label will offer cd's of The Alice Rose and demos by JoDee, as well as the countless side projects that JoDee has recorded since 1997.

Albums Phonographic Memory

Location Austin, Tx. - USA

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