Idaho, Alaska more than a band but attempting to revive Lexington music scene

Idaho, Alaska is a part of a place where the music scene is growing and the bands are multiplying. That place – which is 2,000 miles from Idaho, twice that from Alaska – is Lexington.

Idaho, Alaska is actually a four-piece indie-rock group, and not some remote city that’s closer to Russia than an Interstate or a Starbucks. Having been around for about two years, they have seen the closing of two of the city’s premier venues, Buster’s and The Dame, but also a number of bars pop up and a music scene that has quickly adapted, possibly even improved.

“You got different built-in crowds in different venues,” said Chris Soulis, the band’s lead voice and guitar. “Al’s Bar really took off when The Dame closed.”

Soulis may be one of the first musicians to make such a claim, but give him credit. If it’s true, the falling apart of these bars may have given his band a chance to compete against some of Central Kentucky’s more thriving acts such as Wax Fang, The Swells, Sexual Disaster Quarter and countless others.

And it’s not like those bars are dead. Buster’s may be back soon, and The Dame has been back since last fall, which Soulis and Co. played on the second opening night.

Not only can those bands that already existed get more attention in an assortment of venues, but new bands are popping up all over Lexington, Soulis said.

“I’m not sure how many bands there were in existence, but there’s more bands saying, ‘Shoot, we’ll do this too,’ and throwing their hat in the ring,” he said.

The ring is Lexington. And it may be flying under the radar for what is a quickly developing and rapidly diversifying music scene.

Diversity is coming from band members like Soulis who are basically saying take it or leave it, this is our style and we’re not budging.

“We’re genuine,” he went on. “What we play is what we’ve grown up around,” Soulis said, adding they’re not trying to be hip. “We don’t want to play something we don’t like.”

Admittedly not following a formula, the group of mostly 30 year olds isn’t out to please, an attitude that can only add more range to a music scene many claimed would die after the closing of The Dame during the summer of 2008.

Idaho, Alaska sees around 80-100 people showing up for their gigs, but the people there seem to appreciate their sound, which is more along the lines of Built to Spill’s version of pop with raw vocals, raunchy guitar solos and faint drums and bass than the generic “straight pop” Soulis mentioned. Still the same, Idaho, Alaska isn’t out to please by appealing to anyone’s taste. Well, besides theirs.

Idaho, Alaska even stuck to their taste and experience when choosing the name. Soulis said his mom used to sing him a song when he was young, and he never forgot it.

“There’s a song about a state. ‘If Mississippi were to go to New Jersey, what would Delaware?’ ” he said. “Idaho, Alaska.”

Then he quickly follows up with he’s not really sure if that’s how it goes or not, the only part he can remember is Idaho, Alaska.

Come out to their next show on April 11 at The Dame and you might leave with “Idaho, Alaska” on your mind as well.

For fans of: Built to Spill, Modest Mouse, Eastern Conference Champions