Music

Larry Dersch returns to St. Louis as part of A.K.A.C.O.D.

Continued from page 1

I was playing with people who I didn't even know were from Boston, but I was aware of their music through college radio — like Roger Miller from Mission of Burma, who I now play with in another band called Binary System. And people like Rich Gilbert, who was in a band called Human Sexual Response who had a pretty well-known hit "Jackie Onassis." But I had a chance to play with [Gilbert] in various projects, so I've really loved being here.

So, what is your vision for the future of A.K.A.C.O.D.?

Well, we're just barely starting our touring now and my friends ask me where we're planning on going and my stock answer is, "Everywhere." And that's basically the plan. It's strange, because I haven't done the "real thing" for a while. I've toured a lot with bands over the years, but I had gotten to a point where I was really happy being a musician in Boston and I was comfortable with the fact that I was never going to "make it." But then this came up it was like, "All right, I'll give it one more shot at reaching a higher level commercially." So we're going for everything.

Well hopefully it's the right time for a "low rock" revival of sorts.

I think maybe it is. You know, if we would have done this five years earlier, it might have seemed like trying to ride the coattails of Morphine. But it's been eight years since Mark died, and some of the mail we get from people is so encouraging. They miss that sound and see us not as a replacement, but something else that brings them back to that — but is new at the same time. I loved Mark and what he did. He not only put together a great band, he invented a sound, and to let that die with him I think would be wrong. I really think he would dig what we're doing.

9 p.m. Monday, February 11. The Bluebird, 2706 Olive Street. $7 21-plus, $10 under 21. No phone. www.thebluebirdstl.com.

• 1
• 2