As a fan of music in general, my tastes tend to go from 0 to 100 in a matter of seconds. I can easily go from listening to Bright Eyes to Knocked Loose, two very drastically different sounding artists. While fans are entitled to like various genres of music, musicians are entitled to play whatever style of music they like. Their main project may sound one way, while another sounds completely different. I've taken the liberty to find some of my favorite side projects from some well-known musicians so you don't have to.
So without further ado, here are five of my favorite musicians' side projects.
1. Dan Campbell - Aaron West and the Roaring Twenties
I'll start this list off with the king of pop-punk, Dan "Soupy" Campbell's side project, Aaron West and the Roaring Twenties. Campbell, who is well known for being the vocalist in the pop punk group The Wonder Years, started this folksy side project in 2014, as what the band's facebook page calls a "character study through music". The project's first album We Don't Have Each Other, follows Campbell's character Aaron as he navigates a very trying year of his life.
2. Matt Skiba - Blink 182
Our next stop on this tour brings us to someone who is no stranger to side projects, Matt Skiba, but you may recognize that name from the punk band Alkaline Trio. And I know exactly what you're thinking, "But Kirstie, Alkaline Trio doesn't sound too different from Blink 182!" Yes, yes I hear you but the lyrical content is different. Alkaline Trio is particularly known for their darker lyrics, (I mean they have a song about well known Manson Family member Sadie) whereas Blink 182 is more lighthearted. Skiba originally was just filling in for Blink when Tom Delonge departed from the band in 2015, but it was later announced that Skiba was an official member of the band. Skiba can be heard on their most recent album, California.
3. Andrew Dijorio - Afterparty
You can often hearAndrew Dijorio being angry and yelling about political issues in the hardcore act Stray From The Path, but if you can't hear him there you can find him working on his emo project Afterparty. Afterparty is a big change of pace as far as sound goes, with Dijorio trading in his pissed off growl with a softer vocal that is reminiscent of 2000's emo.
4. Tom Delonge - Angels and Airwaves
We covered Tom Delonge's replacement Matt Skiba earlier, so let's go back and give Delonge the recognition he deserves. Delonge is synonymous with Blink 182 and the light attitude that comes with the band in general, but Delonge has a more serious side in his project Angels and Airwaves. Angels and Airwaves has more of a rock and alternative feel with space rock being tied in as well. Delonge has described Angels and Airwaves as more of an art project. The project also includes a film and a graphic novel which completes the space rock vibe the band gives off.
5. Derek Archambault - Alcoa
To complete our list we make a stop at Alcoa, the band, that is. Alcoa is the side project of vocalist Derek Archambault of the hardcore band Defeater. Archambault started Alcoa while he was on the road and in the mood to try something new. Defeater is the perfect band to listen to if you're interested in hardcore and concept albums (it's honestly the perfect marriage of the two), and Alcoa is a nice change of pace from those things. Alcoa is an acoustic, folksy side project, a big departure from Defeater's harsh vocals and relentless heavy music.
