Meet Alana Grace, one of our favorite picks from Warped ‘09.  This Nashville-bred girl’s got a set of pipes, and she sure knows how to use them!  She’s been singing since she was a little girl, and it shows.  We recommend listening to Black Roses Red, and we’re sure you won’t be disappointed.  Check out the interview we did with Alana to find out about tour pranks, what it’s like “behind the scenes,” and more! - Brittany

Band Members (and what you do):
Alana Grace: Singer
Jon Ketchum: Guitar
Bryan Brophy: Bass
Fernando Torreblanca: Drums

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

MySpace/website: www.alanagrace.com
www.myspace.com/alanagrace

Who are you, what do you do, and how do you identify?

I’m Alana Grace! I’m a 21 year old singer-songwriter on this year’s warped tour. I always tell people that my music is a mix of Alanis Morissette, Evanescence, and Tori Amos.

How’s the tour going? What’s your favorite moment so far? On the flip side, have you had any major catastrophes?

The tour has been going great! It’s actually my first nationwide tour
so I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it’s a blast. I don’t really have
a favorite moment to be honest! My favorite performance was probably in Montreal; it was pouring rain so water was everywhere. It was just fun because the crowd got really into the show and every time anyone took a step or hit the drums water would fly. It was pretty epic! I would say the worst moment I’ve had was when the kick drum broke in the middle of the set. I just remember looking back and seeing that the entire drum kit was all over the back of the stage with like three people working on it. We ended up finishing the show acoustically and it was fine, but it’s definitely something I’ll remember!

Do you consider yourself a role model? If yes, how seriously do
you take that responsibility? If no, why don’t you consider yourself
one?

I do consider myself a role model, and I take it pretty seriously.
Honestly, I don’t really factor that into my personal decisions though
I try not to make decisions that I can’t tell my parents about! I
think it’s important for anyone in the public eye, at any level, to
consider themselves role models. The fact is people look up to those
that entertain and perform for them so don’t be stupid.

We want to know what it’s like behind the scenes on tour, especially at Warped. Our campaign this summer is to get people to
think before using homophobic or transphobic language as insults, such as saying, “That’s so gay,” or “You’re a fag.” Do you hear a lot of people making remarks like that on Warped? And if so, what do you do to stop them?

I’m afraid to say that tons of people make remarks like that behind
the scenes. Mainly it’s because as bands there are lot of guys living
together under one roof and spending every second of everyday
together. Because of these two facts people are continually touching
others in inappropriate ways and saying homophobic remarks. There’s
not much you can do other than say “don’t do that” or “that’s rude” to people but I think it’s always worth saying! It makes people do it
less in front of you at least!

We always hear about crazy hijinks that go on during Warped! Have you had any good pranks or adventures this summer? What’s the best one you’ve pulled off or had pulled on you?

I haven’t pulled any pranks on people this year I’m afraid to say, but
I have had one pulled on me! I was sitting with my band at dinner and Madina Lake was at another table behind us. At the end of the meal we were all debating on which desert to get and when we turned to Madina Lake they already had this one ice cream and berry desert at their table. So we asked how it was and they said they didn’t want to eat it and put it on our table. We were all so excited about a free desert that we just dug right in not taking the time to notice that the ice cream wasn’t melting at all in the room temperature restaurant. When we put the spoons in our mouths the berries were real but the ice cream was made of Crisco!! It was disgusting!!

As a musician, how does activism play a role in your life?

I think it’s important to have a few causes that you support as a
musician. I’ve been supporting the Children’s Miracle Network for a
really long time as well as transplant awareness. Because musicians
are capable of bringing a lot of people together it’s our duty to
bring awareness to as many causes as possible.

What was your most memorable concert when you were growing up?

My most memorable concert growing up was actually Elton John and Billy Joel. It wasn’t my first concert or anything like that but it was just an entire concert of hits, and it made me think to myself that I  wanted to get to that point! They are both just such amazing performers!