ALO

The music and magic of ALO (aka Animal Liberation Orchestra) shines vividly on their new album, Frames, on Brushfire Records. Frames embodies the spirit of a band riding a creative wave, sharing art through four unique windows, with a depth and character that feels fresh and vital. There is great joy in listening to this band of lifelong friends, as they playfully meld their distinct musical personalities into one cohesive and beautiful voice.

Inspired by the energy of their live performances, Steve Adams (bass, vocals), Zach Gill (vocals, keys), Dan “Lebo” Lebowitz (guitar, vocals), and Ezra Lipp (drums, vocals) entered a studio wonderland in the summer of 2024, alongside close friend and studio collaborator, David Simon-Baker (aka,“DSB”). Ten tracks were collectively born, exploring themes of connection and reflection, balancing optimism, humor, and emotion.

The concept of Frames emerged organically during the recording process. “The idea of frames – both literal and metaphorical – kept popping up in different ways,” says Gill. This theme is explored in tracks like the Lebo-penned future-pop-disco anthem “Space Between Frames,” which reflects on moments of clarity.

“So often we find ourselves trapped in a warp-speed life with frames of information coming at us faster than fire,” says Lebo. “Some of it’s inspiring and some of it’s scary, but it’s all so rapid paced that we just can’t keep up. The space between frames is about finding that quiet place without so much noise, where we can actually reflect on what we want to be and what we want to offer the world.”

The album’s first single and lead-off album track, “Blank Canvas,” written by Gill, sets the tone with its dreamy, feel-good anthem of optimism and adventure. “It’s about looking at the world with fresh eyes and leaving behind cynicism,” explains Gill. Adams adds, “Sonically and thematically, it felt like the perfect beginning. Bare and vulnerable, yet full of possibility.”

Of his own composition “Separated, Come Together,” Adams ruminates, “after many days of word-wrestling, I ended up with this simple little rocker, depicting a day on the town, people-watching, letting the mind untangle, getting lost in the stars and accepting that life’s connections are just a mess of rubber bands. A song about appreciating our moments together and trusting more will come.”

On “Rescue Our Demons” Lipp explains  “the song reflects the idea of not just confronting our darker instincts, but learning to live with them, even embrace them.” “Hey Hello (Tale Of The Twist and Shout),” another Gill composition, “was inspired by our 2024 summer tour of Colorado mountain towns and all the colorful characters who came out to dance and sing with us under the stars. It’s a greeting, a campfire conversation, and an ole’time-y hoedown.

“ALO is a California  rock n’ roll institution, going on over 30 years, and it is the most egalitarian band I have ever been a part of,” says Lipp. “I think that’s one of the reasons for its longevity.” ALO’s biography is a timeless, feel-good rock n’ roll musical love story. California natives Lebowitz, Adams and Gill joined forces in junior high in the ‘80s, stayed together throughout their years at UC Santa Barbara in the ‘90s, returned home to the San Francisco Bay Area in the ‘00s, and have cultivated a devoted following over the course of decades, keeping the band in high demand at venues and festivals worldwide. Ezra Lipp has held down the drum seat for over 7 years, with Frames being his second full length album with the band.

While all four members of the quartet spend time outside of ALO playing with luminary artists such as Jack Johnson, Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, and Nicki Bluhm, it is within the framework of ALO that these four musicians really shine. Individually, each band member writes and sings, and together they create an eclectic yet accessible blend of heartfelt song-craft, dance-floor booty beats, and expansive improvisations. ALO is more than just a band, it’s the comfort of lifelong friendships, the spontaneity of late-night road trips and the discovery of treasures hidden in car seats, green rooms and buried voice memos.

Frames feels both old and new, fresh and classic. It’s a powerful and engaging statement and step forward for ALO. It’s a beautiful sounding record, with depth and character that balances the emotion, musicality and touches of clever humor in a new way for the group. It holds dreams in its folds, and possibilities in its frames. “Now we get to go out into the world with these 10 new songs, share them with people, and let them develop on stage,” says Lebo. “Getting to know them and letting them grow on the road is really exciting for all of us.

In a world obsessed with selfies and the claims of overindulged individualists, it’s a joy listening to this band of lifelong friends as they work together, playfully melding their distinct musical personalities into one cohesive and beautiful voice. A voice that is ALO.