Raze The Alarms

Adam left for Illinois in July of 2009, but we all managed to stay in touch. A few years went by and during that time we began to discuss a potential meeting to jam and even record a few songs. We came up with a plan to meet in the fall/winter of 2013. Adam would drive in from Nebraska, we would run through the set a few times to shake off the dust, and then finish things up by heading into the studio. We decided on five songs to record: The Battle Begins, Novels of Your Lies, Silent Prayer, Second Chance and Perfect Design. We found a place in Maryville Illinois called Ambit Studios. Joel Sprenger was the owner and he had just broken ground so we were among the first to record there. He was a fantastic guy to work with and accommodated us in our rusty unpracticed state as well as our meager budget.

It was such a good feeling to be playing music again. We setup our gear in Tonys tiny house and essentially picked up where we left off. After a few days of practice we packed everything up and headed to Maryville. Recording was casual and comfortable, although a bit chilly. We laid down our tracks and Joel got the mixes done a little while later. In the end we were proud of what we accomplished, and we finally had some decently recorded songs to show for it. Adam talks about his experience:

"I hadn't picked up a guitar for a hot minute before that trip. I didn't even have a 7-string to record Silent Prayer and Perfect Design. I actually went to Guitar Center, bought one, and then returned it after we were done. It was such a great time hanging out with Rick and Tony again. I missed our comradery."

We took advantage of our time together and put together a little show for friends and family. Rick and Tony went to high school with a guy who had a band called Pale Horse and they joined us for the night. Tony recalls:

“We had been away for a couple years at that point but made the plan to record and met up for a week of practice and played a small show for about 30ppl before recording at what use to be trinity services in Mascoutah. It felt good to hang with the brothers and again and catch up on how times had passed.”

We were only together for a few days, but we made some great memories such as Adam buying a bottle of Old Crow whisky and every time he took a drink he would let out a loud “Caw!”. It definitely did not get annoying. The overall experience kept that musical fire inside of us going and reminded us that we still had what it took to be a band. Rick told us: 

“Life had pushed each of us into different directions (mentally and geographically). We were given a second chance when the stars aligned and all of us met up again.”

This was the last time we played together until Adam and Tony came back to the Illinois area in 2021/2022. Again, we picked up where we left off and all was right in the world. Our first public show wouldn’t be for almost a year but we'll talk about that later. 

It all started back in 2007 when Tony and some friends got asked if they wanted to start a band by another collegemate. This band would never come to fruition, but its remnants formed a four-piece group called “I Vote No”. Tony’s childhood friend Rick, who he knew from symphony band came to some practices to play keyboard but would ultimately take over on drums. The lead guitarists left the band due to college, so Tony and Rick got Jessica, Rick’s future wife, to fill in on keyboard parts.

Adam and Tony met at a local game store while playing the tabletop game Warhammer 40k. They bonded over music and other nerd stuff. They and another player would jam out to Nirvana covers and some of Adam’s own material. I Vote No would play one show in which Adam came out to watch at the VFW in Mascoutah Illinois. Adam was already drumming for another band but after seeing the creativity that Rick and Tony had he then asked to be a part of the project. The original guitarist would part ways to pursue other interests and Jess left to attend University. 

With the group now a three-piece act, songs were modified and the group decided to rename the band. While working together at Tom’s supermarket Rick had the idea of naming the band with concept of how people must lower their defenses to be able to enjoy and fully see life for what it is and take that risk of bringing down those walls. A small exchange went back and forth and by the end of the shift Tony suggested something like burning down those walls and barriers, thus the concept of “Razing” the Alarms. Rick suggested it be like passing on advice to the next generation and wanted to include the name of Tony’s niece. The group settled on the name Raze The Alarms Deanna.

RAD continued to play shows from 2008-2009 in St. Louis and Mascoutah. They would record all their songs during a living room recording session and burned a handful of CDs with the title “Perfect Design”. Unfortunately, Adam and his family were required to move due to military orders as he and his wife were active-duty Air Force. They played one last official show at the American Legion in Mascoutah with the bands What Once was Eden and Burning Down Oceans. It was a packed house. It was also the last time the friends would play a show together until 2013, but that is for a later post.