DEVOUR THE DAY–Joey “Chicago” Walser (bass, backing vocals, songwriter) and Blake Allison (singer, guitarist, producer, songwriter)–is definitely one of music’s biggest Cinderella stories of 2013. The first single, “Good Man,” reached the Top 10 on the “Active Rock” chart, the Top 15 on the “Mainstream Rock Tracks” chart. They have sold over 100,000 downloads on iTunes and “Good Man” was the 36th most spun track of 2013 on Active Rock stations nationwide. The video for “Good Man” garnered over 900,000 views on YouTube. They’ve toured with Theory of a Deadman, Hinder, Sevendust, Sick Puppies and others. All this while on the independent label, Fat Lady Music. We caught up with Blake while Devour The Day was in Pittsburgh on The Hellpop II Tour to talk to him about all that is happening with the band…
All photos ©2014 AWeldingphoto and Pittsburgh Music Magazine
Thanks to this initial success and groundwork laid over the last year, DEVOUR THE DAY and Fat Lady Music have now joined forces with Caroline to help usher in the next phase of their evolving journey. As part of this new partnership, a new version of TIME & PRESSURE is being re-released on January 14 and will include an acoustic version of “Good Man,” as well as a brand new song, “Check Your Head.” Legendary producer/mixer Brian Malouf (Queen, Michael Jackson, Dave Matthews Band) revamped the entire album and has brought a new sound and life to DEVOUR THE DAY’s music. The first release had previously only been available digitally, while the updated album will be sold at both online and major retailers nationwide.
Not one to shy away from confrontation of his own demons and personal tribulations, Walser candidly explains the meaning behind the second single, “Move On” (which is being serviced to Rock and Alternative radio this week): “I remember myself standing outside of a downtown Chicago apartment, freezing in the snow without socks or shoes, waiting on a ride from anyone that would come get me. I had just been removed from my house by the police, in front of my crying children. My wife, who I discovered was having an affair with her drug dealer, was screaming and hurling hatred at me, to combat her guilt, as the officers and apartment staff pulled me into the elevator. As I stood there in the snow, chained to my confusion and pain, I received a call. John, the singer of the band I had put ten years of hard work into was quitting. No real explanation, just the end. Everything was over. I had discovered my wife’s infidelity at 7am, and by 9am, my marriage, my home and my career were over. I was empty. I watched my breath as it hit the frozen air and drift away. But I was still alive. After months of hurting in a way only those of us who have experienced real tragedy would, I remembered that simple fact: I was still alive. I wanted to write a song about that moment, when you stop crying and hurting and feeling bad for yourself. The instant when you stop allowing everything that has been piled on you, to crush and destroy you. After all that devastation, I had two choices. I could let the circumstances overcome and conquer me, I could let this swallow me whole or I could refuse and keep fighting. I would not give in. I will move on. That is honestly what the song personally means to me. Nothing better than the truth.”
Iconvsicon.com described the album as a “…powerful wall of sound,” while Metalholic.com noted, “TIME & PRESSURE does justice to their reputation for crafting great rocks songs with an empowering message” and Ampkicker raved, “This is a brutally good record.” AndEmurg.com agrees: “TIME & PRESSURE is an album filled with in-your-face lyrics, guitar driven tracks, and an energy that keeps the listener on their toes throughout the entire duration of the album.”