Alisium

Alisium is a hard working, sultry Rock & Roll band based in the Pittsburgh area. The band features well crafted songwriting mixed with a high energy retro rock attitude. Alisium crates an earthy, soulful, and organic experience tinged with a vintage rock quality.

Formed in the summer of 2000, Jay Wiley took the driver's seat as lead singer and main songwriter of the band. Also drafted into the lineup were longtime cohorts Chris Gray on guitar and brother Corey Gray on bass guitar. The team was solidified with writer, drummer Andrew Brown and guitarist Kevin Ritzert. The idea was to create a sound in the vein of Wilco, and Ryan Adams, textured with the starkness of the Rolling Stone's Exile on Main Street. The band, in a surprisingly short period, has amassed an impressive collection of great material and great gear. "One of the coolest things about this band is our passion for classic gear'" Said Jay WIley over a cup of coffee. "We all love the classic Fender sound, as well as iconic guitars such as the Les Paul And Rickenbacker." The band pushed through two years of dingy club shows, and brushed up it's act on the local college and festival circuit. "We really worked hard from the get go in order to make this album a reality'" says lead guitarist Chris Gray. "We learned allot in that short time about what works and what doesn't." Move ahead to 2003 and the band is forging through it's debut album "Bread & Circus" at Mr. Small's Funhouse in Millvale, PA. With a memorable and timeless sound, the album proved to be both a difficult but rewarding project. "Part of the reason it turned out so cool is because of Larry, " said bassist Corey Gray speaking of Larry Luther who engineered and co-produce the album. "Larry made us pay particularly close attention to tone in order to make the vibe so classic." Mr. Small's was also essential in capturing the energy of the group with it's freewheeling environment and fun loving staff. "We had allot of fun, albeit late nights at Small's,"banters drummer Andrew Brown with a wink. The result, a n"ever intrusive brand of original rock that seamlessly meshes acoustic and electric guitars," as observed by the Beaver County Times. the music of "Bread & Circus" has slight hints of country (Monday Night, Growing Old) mixed with some old fashioned rockers (Take Time, Not My Way) that manages to marry a timeless sound with crafted song writing. The Scene Magazine calls it "an amalgam of classic southern rock, alternative country, and contemporary; similar to the Counting Crows. The rhythms are earthy, soulful and organic." Mix this classic sound with an electrically charged live show and the result is Alisium.

The band is based out of the Pittsburgh area and do the majority of our shows in the area. We have also played around Youngstown and Cleveland, and we venture to Erie, PA on occasion.

Ryan Adams, The Rolling Stones, Jet.

Alisium uses all vintage gear: Lead Guitars - Chris Gray uses Fender SRV Strats, and Gibson 58' reissue gold top Les Pauls through Dr. Z - Route 66 Amplifiers - and Bogner cabinets. Guitars and Vocals - Jay Wiley plays a little bit o' this and that Fender Strat through vintage Music Man combo amplifiers. Guitars - Kevin Ritzert plays Taylor acoustic guitars, and Rickenbacker electric guitars. Bass - Corey Gray plays Rickenbacker 4003 basses through Ampeg SVT amplifiers and cabinets. Drums - Andrew Brown plays vintage Roger's and Ludwig drums.

Check out our debut release "Bread & Circus"