THE ALCO BEAT
Story
Theresa Norsworthy: Keys and Vocals
The Alco Beat is a 5 piece rootsy rock and roll band from
Southern Ontario. Its songs rich with melody, jangly
guitars, close harmonies, and bittersweet lyrics bare
comparisons to those of an early Tom Petty, or Neil Young.
The swing of the rhythm section would suggest homage to
The Beatles or The Stones, with bass lines that dance
gracefully along with sparse soulful drumming.
The Alco Beat began life as a trio in fall of 2005; co-led
by singer/songwriter/guitarist Stephen Corbett and
singer/songwriter/bass player Steve Mills. Along with
drummer David Saylor the trio played a few well received
shows throughout the Niagara area and recorded a 6 song
demo before disbanding in September of 2006. Each
member went his separate way reuniting to record 1 song in
hopes of finding "the magic" but it was not to be, and The
Alco Beat was dead.
Then fate stepped in.
While committing rock and roll suicide playing classic
rock covers, Corbett found himself killing time at work by
writing a song. "It was new and exciting, it felt better than
everything else I had done, and I just needed a band to play
it with!" Knowing that 1 song does not a band make, and
not wanting to tread old ground, Corbett began to write
furiously. "It happened very fast, within 2 weeks I had
enough good songs to get started."
So in February 2007, he called former Alco Beat
drummer Dave and some new friends discovered in his
cover band. Dave and Theresa Norsworthy are a husband
and wife, bass and keys duo from the Hamilton area. "I
wanted to enjoy myself more than anything else," says
Corbett, "Dave and Theresa are the easiest going musicians
I have ever met. Plus they can play like madmen!"
The foursome rehearsed sporadically for 2 months then
hit the studio. Their 5 song demo was completed in 4 days
at Sound Decision studio in Port Colborne, Ontario co-
produced by the band and B.R. Ventura. Plans were made,
and then put off...
"I wanted something bigger, something meaner;
something that could sing like The Byrds but played like
The Stones." Corbett explains. "So I called up the biggest,
meanest most singingest sombitch I could think of!"
Enter Steve Mills, fresh off rediscovering his first love,
the guitar. “It was incredible. The band was tighter than
ever and we sang better than we ever had. Did I mention
his guitar playing blew me away." says Corbett "I knew we
were on to something." The new 5 piece band called itself
The Alco Beat and started to line up gigs.
Within a few weeks, drummer Dave bid farewell to
pursue other interests. Gigs were postponed, but spirits
remained high. The Alco Beat hired drummer 2 Ben
Schlitz and went back to work. Ben had to leave for
personal reasons after 6 short weeks.
Feeling cursed at best, The Alcos decided to take some
time off. "We needed to rest, and recharge. We were playing
who is our drummer, and that can get you down pretty
fast," says Corbett,” I didn't want anyone to give up, I felt
like we were really close . So we took December off."
The Alco Beat reconvened in January 2008 with
drummer 3 Jason Gautier. "It was really funny," says
Corbett, "the day after I had hired Ben; J sent me an email
asking if I needed a drummer. So I emailed him 30
seconds after getting Ben's resignation...Hopefully the rest
becomes history." The Alco Beat was reborn, and is now
looking forward to a lot of work; shows, recording, and
making a ton of new friends!
But in the end Corbett offers these thoughts,” If
coming back from the dead was easy, everyone would do it."
Southern Ontario. Its songs rich with melody, jangly
guitars, close harmonies, and bittersweet lyrics bare
comparisons to those of an early Tom Petty, or Neil Young.
The swing of the rhythm section would suggest homage to
The Beatles or The Stones, with bass lines that dance
gracefully along with sparse soulful drumming.
The Alco Beat began life as a trio in fall of 2005; co-led
by singer/songwriter/guitarist Stephen Corbett and
singer/songwriter/bass player Steve Mills. Along with
drummer David Saylor the trio played a few well received
shows throughout the Niagara area and recorded a 6 song
demo before disbanding in September of 2006. Each
member went his separate way reuniting to record 1 song in
hopes of finding "the magic" but it was not to be, and The
Alco Beat was dead.
Then fate stepped in.
While committing rock and roll suicide playing classic
rock covers, Corbett found himself killing time at work by
writing a song. "It was new and exciting, it felt better than
everything else I had done, and I just needed a band to play
it with!" Knowing that 1 song does not a band make, and
not wanting to tread old ground, Corbett began to write
furiously. "It happened very fast, within 2 weeks I had
enough good songs to get started."
So in February 2007, he called former Alco Beat
drummer Dave and some new friends discovered in his
cover band. Dave and Theresa Norsworthy are a husband
and wife, bass and keys duo from the Hamilton area. "I
wanted to enjoy myself more than anything else," says
Corbett, "Dave and Theresa are the easiest going musicians
I have ever met. Plus they can play like madmen!"
The foursome rehearsed sporadically for 2 months then
hit the studio. Their 5 song demo was completed in 4 days
at Sound Decision studio in Port Colborne, Ontario co-
produced by the band and B.R. Ventura. Plans were made,
and then put off...
"I wanted something bigger, something meaner;
something that could sing like The Byrds but played like
The Stones." Corbett explains. "So I called up the biggest,
meanest most singingest sombitch I could think of!"
Enter Steve Mills, fresh off rediscovering his first love,
the guitar. “It was incredible. The band was tighter than
ever and we sang better than we ever had. Did I mention
his guitar playing blew me away." says Corbett "I knew we
were on to something." The new 5 piece band called itself
The Alco Beat and started to line up gigs.
Within a few weeks, drummer Dave bid farewell to
pursue other interests. Gigs were postponed, but spirits
remained high. The Alco Beat hired drummer 2 Ben
Schlitz and went back to work. Ben had to leave for
personal reasons after 6 short weeks.
Feeling cursed at best, The Alcos decided to take some
time off. "We needed to rest, and recharge. We were playing
who is our drummer, and that can get you down pretty
fast," says Corbett,” I didn't want anyone to give up, I felt
like we were really close . So we took December off."
The Alco Beat reconvened in January 2008 with
drummer 3 Jason Gautier. "It was really funny," says
Corbett, "the day after I had hired Ben; J sent me an email
asking if I needed a drummer. So I emailed him 30
seconds after getting Ben's resignation...Hopefully the rest
becomes history." The Alco Beat was reborn, and is now
looking forward to a lot of work; shows, recording, and
making a ton of new friends!
But in the end Corbett offers these thoughts,” If
coming back from the dead was easy, everyone would do it."
Steve Mills: Guitars and Vocals
Jason Gautier: Drums
Dave Norsworthy: Bass
Steve Corbett: Vocals and Guitars
