THE BEST BAND YOU NEVER HEARD...YET

***this article recently appeared in a northeast Pennsylvania college newspaper.

By Paul Shaw

Imagine the opportunity of a lifetime, you have gotten a recording contract with one of the most recognized record labels in the industry. You have worked tirelessly on recording your first album. Your single is added to a major blockbuster movies' soundtrack. You are on tour and about to make it big, suddenly you almost lose it all.

Second Coming, a hard rock band from Seattle WA, has weathered agonizing years of touring without a break, a legal battle with their former record label, and loosing one of their original members only to try it all over again.

Second Coming is a quartet of pure rock talent. Travis Bracht, the lead singer has one of the most powerful voices in rock. Backed by Yanni (Johnny) Bacolas, bassist, Eric Snyder on guitar and James Bergstrom on drums. Second Coming presents the listener with hard rock guitar riffs and drumbeats with powerful lyrics from their own original music.

From paying for the costs of recording their first album as a cover band called F.T.A. (Funding The Album), to loosing one of their original and most integral members of the band, Second Coming has managed to stay focused on what they love…the music.

I recently had the opportunity to talk with Johnny Bacolas; bassist for Second Coming to talk about the amazing story of struggle and love for music that has followed the band.

In the beginning they played small clubs and bars like most struggling bands. "We played 6 nights a week, 320 days a year for almost two years", said Bacolas. He stated they were always refining their sound, sometimes writing songs right on stage. The band did mostly covers and squeezed in an original now and then. All this work was to pay for recording costs of their first album.

They recorded the album in the basement of then guitarist/producer Dudley Taft. The band made an eight song demo and began shopping for labels. The eventually landed a contract with Capital Records.

They began a grueling tour to promote their freshman album. "The road is heaven and hell", said Bacolas, "Killing time is the name of the game." he was happy for the hour or hour and a half the band was on stage performing. "That leaves twenty-three hours to find something to do", he said. The band mostly wrote songs or just sat at their computers. "The road has its great moments but a lot of it sucks", he said.

The band enjoys breaking open a bottle of Jack Daniel's or Crown Royal before a show. "We go into the bus about 15 minutes before the show and have a few shots between the guys", said Bacolas. They also enjoy cranking a bit of Monster Magnet to get them pumped up before they go on.

Second Coming toured across the United States and even had a song on The Sixth Sense soundtrack. Then things began to fall through with their label. "Its all about contracts at that point", said Bacolas. The band became involved in a two-year litigation with Capital Records. "It sucks!" he said. "They had our hands tied", said Bacolas. The band could not do anything and fell out of the public eye to gain their musical freedom back.

March 18, 2001 was their independence day. "I'll never forget that day," said Bacolas. That was the day it had all ended and they were free to do whatever they wanted.

As talk about making their next album and returning to the road surfaced, Dudley, guitarist for the band made it very clear he did not want to go back on tour. Dudley's interests had changed. "His priorities had changed having just had a baby girl", said Bacolas. It soon came evident that Taft was no longer interested in the band and he soon left.

It then came time to start shopping for a new guitarist. "I didn't want some glitzy guitar player from LA that wore make-up and shit. I'd rather have somebody in the band from Seattle that has our vibe and grew up with this vibe", said Bacolas.

A drummer from another band had given Bocalas a demo tape asking for some help. When he began listening to it he immediately recognized the talent…in their guitarist. He let Travis, the lead singer, listen to the demo. They brought Eric Snyder in to jam and practice with them, "After jammin' with him and hearing his stuff we didn't look any further…That was it, done deal", Bacolas said. The band never bothered looking for a second choice. They made the decision to ask if he wanted to be part of the band. Snyder was then in two different bands and wanted to think about it for a couple days before agreeing. "Your band is about to get really good looking", said Snyder after calling Bracht and Bacolas back two days later.

Now with their new guitarist, freedom of their music, and good relationships between members, Second Coming has returned to the studio to record their next album.

When asked how the vibe was in the studio Bacolas replied, "The vibe is great, its like we got rid of the cancer". Bacolas stated the music is stronger and more aggressive, "We're doing it more how we wanted to do it", he said. "This album is our baby, our pride and joy", he said.

I asked how the relationship between the band members is now and Bacolas said that everyone is getting along well. During their litigation with Capital Records Bacolas thought many times that they might lose it all but was quick to say "When that thought comes into your head you just shoot it down". "If you put your head down and quit your gonna be a failure", he said. The band has matured and grown closer together and they feel like they are ready to try again. "This is the music business", Bacolas said. There is no guarantee everything will be perfect this time around but now with the freedom to do what they want to their music they are happy just to be right where they are now.

At the moment the band is talking to four different labels and that is only with a five-song demo. Many bands struggle to find just one label to talk to. Second Coming is ready to make a return to the spotlight and bring with them their music the way they wanted to.