Interview with Mike Cosgrove

    Mike Cosgrove's drum set is his palette. From behind the kit he creates art, gracefully yet powerfully providing the beats that drive the music of Alien Ant Farm. It's uncommon to hear a rock drummer play with such precision and attention to detail, but in Mike's case, his job is more than just keeping time. Mike and his band mates have definitely put in the hard work, touring the western United States and Europe over the last six years, while releasing an independent album entitled "Greatest Hits" that struck a chord with fans and garnered them critical acclaim. In 1999, they won Best Rock Album at the L.A. Music Awards, and were added to Southern California radio playlists. Now, with a major record deal and increasing visibility, comes the real test of whether or not Alien Ant Farm can fulfill their own expectations.
    I have known Alien Ant Farm (AAF) for years, and tonight I caught up with them at a small club show in Santa Cruz, California. The band, consisting of Tye Zamora (bass), Terry Corso (guitar), Dryden Mitchell (vocals) and Cosgrove, is a quartet of highly talented musicians with even more surprising personas. Dryden continually jumps on and off stage, roaming the concert hall with his wireless microphone, chatting with the crowd about God, basketball, and his eight-year-old sister between songs. While Terry spins in circles and gyrates to the music, Tye provides the crowd with entertaining faces and stares, relentlessly slapping away with astounding precision on his custom six string bass guitar. As the set closes, Mike appears from behind his drum set, and excitedly talks to eager fans, all the while smiling and engaging them joyfully. Without a doubt, they are the fan favorites tonight, sending most everyone home with either shirts, hats, or two-song sampler CDs from the merchandise table.
     About an hour after the show, Mike and I walk over to the bar adjacent to the concert hall and wade through the mass of people, taking a seat underneath a giant statue of a Rhinoceros head. The ceiling of the bar is decorated in fake plastic vines, and in the corner is a small stage, with what looks to be an ancient Greek fresco behind it. Mike is truly pleased with the fan response that he has been getting and speaks about what the band has in store:

"Man, it's so weird, but cool. You know, we really don't know what to expect. None of us have ever been through this, and we don't know what it will be like. There is this buzz, this hype, and the exciting part is not knowing how big this will get. We hope it all blows up, but it's definitely fun for us right now."

Recently, AAF was signed to DreamWorks Records, and in December they finished their first major label album entitled "Anthology," which is a mix of a nine new songs, three songs off of "Greatest Hits", and two songs from their first recording, "The $100 Demo." The first single, "Movies," is being played on radio stations all across the country, and soon, the video will appear on MTV. "Recording this album was a dream come true," Mike says emphatically, "we got to do what we always wanted." He speaks highly of their deal with DreamWorks, and of the studio experience:

"We planned out all the changes to the songs, and really improved them. There was no limit, no boundary, so we went with it. For example, it was great to be able to bring in our friends, you know, and guest musicians."

It's been interesting to watch AAF get to this point. While the present holds much potential, it's been a long road for the band since their inception. Formed in 1995 from the dissolution of several different bands in Riverside, AAF has been a major musical presence in the Southern California underground scene ever since. Mike speaks warmly of the past:

"We were all in our own bands, you know, Dryden was in Dragonfly, Tye was in The Color Red, and Terry and I were in Brother Vibe. We all decided to get together and jam, and it was like we were cheating on our other bands, but it just felt great to make music together. From the start we knew it was special, so we just decided to play together for good."

"Our first song sucked, so we trashed it. "Wish" was the first song that we wrote that we liked, and look, we still play it. In fact, it's on the new record."

We continue talking about the past, much of which I have heard before. Even at their first live show they were met with high expectations. AAF was the super group of Riverside, and just like now, a similar hype surrounded the band. "Everyone loved Brother Vibe, so at the first show, the fans really expected us to perform well." That buzz grew into a solid fan base, most of which still supports the band today:

"The fans have always been great. Right after that first show at the Barn (a Riverside club), everyone loved AAF, even if it was a shame to lose Brother Vibe, something better came out of it. Dryden played guitar in Dragonfly, so he wasn't used to being a frontman, but it came to him quickly. We played a bunch of shows in the area, then we met Papa Roach, and they brought us up north to play. We became friends and then brought them down south to play."

This was how I had met Mike. Papa Roach is from my hometown, so it was through this connection that I met AAF. I can still remember the first show I saw, and the instant attachment I felt to the music.
The crowd has become progressively larger, and Mike has gone to battle the mob that is surrounding the bar. Christmas lights hang off the plastic vines, and as I wait for him to return, I can't help but savor the atmosphere of the room. It reminds me of the first time I heard the name Alien Ant Farm. It was definitely strange, but it had a thought out meaning; aliens put us here, so therefore, we live in an alien ant farm. Mike returns with a beer, and I ask him the inevitable question: "Since Papa Roach was the band that presented you to DreamWorks, and signed you to their label, New Noize Records, do you feel that you are living in their shadow?" It is the question he has heard a thousand times, and one that he expects at any interview. Mike answers eloquently:

"No, not at all, we became friends and since we were both hard working bands, we embraced each other's music. Bands network, you know, and we saw each other's talent. We made a deal that whoever got signed first would help the other one out. It was totally about friendship and respect."

For a minute we discuss the concert, and then the new album. The songs are amazing musically, and the album as a whole is just beautiful, creative and emotional music, which I try my best to convey to Mike. He is delighted to hear the praise, but is hopeful that new fans will feel the same way. Music creates different feelings in different people, but judging from the response I've seen to AAF, they shouldn't have anything to worry about. They are already one of the most requested bands on Los Angeles' KROQ radio, a major stepping-stone for hitting the mainstream.
It is getting late, and the tour continues. Soon the band must drive to the next city, and win over a new crowd of potential fans. We talk about change, and if he would alter the route that the band took to get where they are; he responds after a short pause, with striking honesty, "no, I think I'd do it all the same." In a month they are slated to play larger venues, soon they will play arenas, and who knows what will come next. I for one will miss the club shows, and the intimacy of talking at the bar with my friend. I ask Mike his feelings on leaving the small time for the bigger concerts, and he again surprises me with his answer:

"We want to play more shows, let more people hear our music, and attract more fans. Bigger shows are ok, because we don't want to isolate anyone, and overall it's about making connections with our fans. You know, building friendships. We don't want to go back to having day jobs, like we just want to do it all on a bigger and bigger scale, so we can play to more fans, and get more people to dig the music."

We shake hands and exchange goodbyes, but it won't be for long. I will be at other shows, and we will still be friends. Mike has affected my life through his music, and I'm sure that AAF will continue to change people as they grow more popular. I leave the bar and walk out into the brisk air, remembering all the times I've had with the band. Soon millions of other people may feel what I feel, and love the band and their music like I do. And it's all right.