Who is Arlo Aldo and how did you get together?
Arlo Aldo is
David Manchester - Guitar, Vocals
Ariel Forbes - Vocals, Keys, Bells, Melodica
Susanna Meyers - Vocals, Bass
Brandon Forbes - Percussion
I moved to Pittsburgh about three and a half years ago from Baltimore, MD. I wanted to start a new band, but I didn't really know anyone yet, so I took to the magic of the internet. Ariel and I were the black sheep of Craigslist. It seemed everyone on there was looking for heavy metal guitarists, or death metal bassists, and here I was putting up a post for female harmonies in a mellow, alt-folk band. My intention was to just be a two piece. I've always been intrigued by the male/female harmony dynamic in contemporary bands like Low, and classics like Jonny and June Carter Cash. After playing together for a few months, Ariel mentioned that her (then) friend (now husband) Brandon was really interested in playing drums. So, we all got together, hung out, played some music, and presto, we became a three piece. Slowly, Ariel started adding more instruments to her repertoire, first keys, then bells, and finally melodica, to really round things out. After recording Zelie, our producer Jay Vega, mentioned that he thought we could really benefit from having bass as part of our lineup. We had been pretty married to the three piece setup, but after listening to how lush things sounded with bass on the record, we decided to give it a shot. Jay suggested we get a hold of ex-Boca Chica bassist, Susanna. After one practice we were sold, and just like that, we became a four piece super group, featuring three part harmonies and a bevy of instrumentation. Personally, I've loved every rendition of the band, but think that what we have now is spectacular.
Where does your name come from?
I have no idea, really. When trying to come up with band names, I got stuck on the "aldo" part, and was trying to come up with words that went with it. Finally, at 3 am on the way back from Children's Hospital with our son, and tossing out every word that came to mind, my wife says "how about Arlo Aldo." Arlo was a name I had wanted to use for our son, but never made it onto my wife's maybe-list. But Arlo Aldo together had such a great flow. Plus, after doing some research, I learned that Aldo Rossi is a well renowned Italian architect who did a lot of cemetery design. He viewed them as "meeting places for the deceased." I think there is something beautifully poetic about that.
What are you up to at the moment?
A lot. We're finishing up a summer-festival-fiesta having played Ligonier's Arts & Crafts festival, Greensburg's Summer In The City, and Mt. Lebanon's First Friday. After a crazy summer, we're going to hunker down for a bit. We are hoping to do a few videos' for songs off of Zelie, as well as start working on some new songs, a few of which have found their way into our live sets. This fall we're hoping to start playing in and around Pittsburgh, as well as looking to venture on the road for some small mini-tours. I've always loved the idea of doing Living Room shows, too. So, maybe we'll put some of those together.
What was the process behind Zelie like?
Amazing. We recorded at J. Bird Studio in Zelienople, PA, about an hour outside of Pittsburgh. It's an old converted farmhouse with acres of land, an old barn in the back, five cats, and a fantastic husband and wife team of Jay and Stephanie. Immediately they welcomed us in like it was our own home, so there was a comfort to everything we did. While recording, we did a lot of "what if we try this," and "how do you think this would sound?" The studio had some great, vintage equipment, too. So, if you hear something that sounds like an old organ, it's an old organ. No computer plugins or anything like that. I think the snow covered farmland, friendly atmosphere, and comfortable amounts of whiskey being shared between us all, helped shape the entire sound of the album.
Do you think the album has any particular themes?
Relationships? Maybe? Yeah, I think that would be accurate. Whether it's love, loss, birth, or the passing of a loved on, each song tends to focus on the relationship between people in some way or another. Galileo is all about the relationship between a parent and child, while Highway is about the experience of a funeral. So, the theme tends to run the gamut.
How do you approach writing lyrics? What inspires them?
Writing lyrics has always been a mystery. I have no clue where they come from. Usually, I'll sit down and start tinkering around on the guitar. Eventually, a song will come together. Most times, it evokes a feeling with me, and I just start singing what comes to mind. I find my better songs I have an easy time remembering. The ones I forget I think were never meant to be. After I have a general sense of what I want to say, I start editing and rewriting, usually on whatever scrap of paper I have laying around. I have piles of old envelopes with lyrics scribbled on them. There are occasions, though, where I do sit down and really try and write to something specific, like the Balad of Monsieur Petit, which is a song about Phillipe Petit, and his amazing feat of walking a tightrope between the World Trade Towers. I watched the documentary, Man on Wire, and it just spoke to me.
What is an Arlo Aldo show like?
Pyrotechnics, live dancers, and lasers galore! Well, maybe not. I think it's like having a whole bunch of friends over to a front porch for whiskeys and beer. It's mellow, comfortable, friendly and relaxing. They're just fun.
What bands inspire you and why?
Low, Magnolia Electric Co., the Low Anthem, just to name a few. I love they're lyrical and storytelling abilities. The beautiful simplicity of their songs and the different instrumental arrangements. A great song doesn't have to have the most difficult chords and amazing guitar solos. It just has to resonate. That's what I love about music. It evokes such strong emotions in people. You can hear a song and remember a summer from 12 years ago. It's so amazing.
What are your plans for the rest of the year?
September, we're laying low as a band. I'd love to do some quiet living room shows, and in the fall, we're hoping to start playing the Pittsburgh scene again. We're going to work on some new songs and get ourselves ready for a killer 2014.
If Arlo Aldo was a novel, what would it be?
I'm torn between the oddities of a Tom Robbins novel, with his american landscapes and unique characters, and the fantasy-like, interpersonal play of Haruki Murakami. I also think I need to read more.
Brandon, our drummer, says "I would say "Angle of Repose" by Wallace Stegner."
Final words?
Just, thank you. Thank you to all of the fantastic family and friends who have really been supportive of us on our adventures to this point. The Pittsburgh alt-folk/americana music scene is a fantastic little group of musicians that have made us feel right at home. Also a thank you to all the fans who come and see us when we play and help every performance be the best one we've done.
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