EBBTIDE
MARCH 12 – SPRING, 1999
Shoreline Community College
By Michelle Scraman
First Album for Second Coming
With a new self-titled album, Seattle based hard rock band Second Coming is hoping to conquer the world.
Johnny Bacolas, former SCC student and one of the original members of the band Alice in Chains, plays bass guitar for Second Coming and feels their name encompasses their sound. "Second Coming was a name that James, the drummer, and I had used in a prior band and we thought it was a great name, a really powerful name. It really has nothing to do with religion," said Bacolas. While trying to finance their band, Dudley Taft (guitar, programming), James Bergstrom (drummer), Travis Bracht (vocals), and Bacolas performed cover music under the cover music band acronym "FTA" which stands for "Financing the Album." We would do our original shows in Seattle as "Second Coming" and do the cover music on the outskirts. We never let anybody in Seattle know we did cover music. That was our little secret," Bacolas explained. The band is planning to tour for a solid year and is looking forward to their music video for their song "Vintage Eyes" due out in May (and will be shown 3 times a night on the big-screens of Ozz Fest this year between bands). "It’s going to happen this year. We really think this is the year we’re going to blow-up and just keep making records," said Bacolas.
Bacolas feels the band has reached the "Musicians’ American Dream" and admits it was hard work rather than luck that got them there. "It’s a big deal when you’ve been working for years and years and all the sudden you get it and you can’t believe it." Bacolas feels more comfortable being a musician since the band’s recent success and is glad that he no longer has to worry about paying bills. "If anything it’s a big sigh of relief, like, right on." Bacolas believes Second Coming is a lot like a fairy-tale story. The band had been working towards their goal of being signed to a major record label like their current one, Capitol Records, for five years and finally got their big break in 1998. "I’d wake up in the morning after getting these business cards from Gary Gersh CEO/President (at the time) and people that we’d meet…..the first thing I’d do is look at my desk to see if the cards were still there or if it was a dream."
Even though Second Coming has been compared to bands like Tool and Korn, Bacolas feels their band is more melodic because the use a lot of electronics and strong melody lines. We’re a heavy band so you can put us in that genre. If you like those bands you’re definitely going to like our CD," said Bacolas who says Tool and Korn are good bands and doesn’t mind the comparison. Bacolas says people are hungry for a heavy rock band and feels Second Coming is what they’re looking for. "Without being arrogant or anything like that, I think this is the best rock band right now." Bacolas has some major plans for the band. "Our mission right now is to conquer and spread the word and just kick ass."
