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We had the opportunity to interview hard-hitting alternative rock band Astro Ever After. Emerging from our favorite Chicago music scene, the band includes Ryan Von Adler (guitar & lead vocals), Niki Dunnwright (guitar), Justice Lesperance (bass), and Max Hall (drums).
Despite launching their music career at the onset of COVID-19, Astro Ever After persevered and released their debut 3 song EP “C.H.I.M.P.,” as well as their single “Open Your Eyes.” The band wrote this single in response to protests during the summer of 2020, a call to action to eliminate abuse of power by police in the US. Astro Ever After went on to release another single, “Epidemic,” which reached 1,000 Spotify streams in the first six days.
Most recently, the band released their latest single “Runaway,” a nostalgia-infused punk rock hit. Astro Ever After’s sound calls on the golden age of 90s alternative rock. “Runaway” encourages listeners to kick angst to the curb in the face of hardship and channel dreams from your youth.
This interview features responses from Ryan and Niki, who discuss everything from their process creating music, favorite Chicago venues, and dream tour lineups.
1. You launched Astro Ever After right before the pandemic began. What sort of challenges did you face as a band during the height of COVID-19? What got you over those hurdles?
Looking back on it, it really feels like we hit every challenge we could have possibly hit. We were in the studio recording our demo (what became C.H.I.M.P.) when covid started being tackled about and our first show was supposed to be the week the lockdown started. We didn’t really take any time off and the two of us lived together so we wrote, tracked demos and recorded all of our own material at home with our previous drummer, Dan Orlowski. Then once shows started happening again, it was tough trying to find venues that wanted original music, a lot of them were sticking with cover bands because they can draw more consistent crowds. Then trying to get people out in public when the vaccines were just starting to roll out was another hurdle. - Niki
2. How would you describe your current sound? Which of your songs would you
recommend to first time listeners?
I always kind of joke that we’re what you get if you throw Guns n Roses, Green Day and Metallica into a blender. We’re guitar driven music that has a groove and cojones to it, catchy choruses and just enough humor to keep things fun. It’s pop music for crazy people.
I’d probably recommend Open Your Eyes, Shitbag Friends and Runaway. I think those three really sum us up as far as style and world view. - Ryan
3. What does your process look like when writing/creating music?
Every song is a little different, but they usually start with a guitar riff that pops up out of nowhere, like while we’re jamming or watching TV. And we’ll pass it around, see how everybody feels about it, and if it sticks around for a few days then we really start putting some work into it. Then I usually go through my notes and see if there are any lines that I’ve jotted down that seem like they’d fit the personality of the riff. Then from there it’s just about figuring out where we want to go with it and telling a story. - Ryan
4. Tell us about your latest release Runaway. What inspired this song? Was there anything unique about the creative process?
That was a really fun one to work out. It started with me sitting out on our front porch while it was raining and the first few lines of the song just kind of came out. After I worked a verse or two out, I went upstairs while Niki was playing Playstation, grabbed a guitar off his wall and just started playing around with the chords, trying to get things to line up. It just stayed in parts for a little while because we couldn't figure out the transitions until Dan had the idea to just kinda swell into it.
The song really at its core is about me moving up to Chicago from Kansas City to start Astro and give music one more go. Moved up here with what I could fit in my car, slept on the floor for a few weeks until I could afford to buy a mattress and live my version of the “move to the city to make it” experience. The chorus of the song was kind of like I was singing it to myself. Like a motivational warning to not give in or budge on my dreams, otherwise I’ll just spend my whole life wondering what if. - Ryan
5. What was the most memorable show you’ve played, and what was great about it?
That’s a toss up between playing Cobra Lounge and Liars Club back in December of 2022. Cobra Lounge was an amazing show because we had the chance to play on the same stage we saw our namesake (the Dirty Nil) perform on before the pandemic. And then Cobra Lounge always makes us feel at home. It’s everything you want a punk club to be and the last time we played there was our first live show with our new lineup. The energy on stage was killer that night and cemented this lineup and our belief in each other. And we gave our mouthfuls of Jack Daniels to everybody in the front row during Shitbag Friends. Who doesn't love free booze?
6. Do you have any pre-show rituals?
Everybody kind of does their own thing. Ryan drinks a beer or two, a scoop of pre workout and shares a joint with the rest of the guys. I listen to Fall to Pieces by Velvet Revolver. We all get together right before we go onstage to just hype up, go over any last minute things and then just kick into it. - Niki
7. If you could get any artists to tour with you dead or alive, who would be on the bill?
Mastodon, Metallica and Rammstein - Niki
Guns n Roses, Green Day and Metallica - Ryan
Wish we could just do all 6, let’s make it a festival!
8. What artists got you through high school? Do they influence your music today?
Metallica, Green Day, Guns n Roses, Led Zeppelin, Alkaline Trio and Motörhead are probably the top ones. We definitely still draw a lot of influence from all of them. We really just expand, never really shifting.
9. What is your favorite Chicago venue and why? Which Chicago venue do you hope to play one day?
Favorite venue we’ve played so far would be Liars Club. It’s just iconic and it feels like what you want a music club to feel like. It’s what I imagine the Whiskey and the Troubadour were like back in the 80s. Our goal for 2023 is to play the Metro. So many of our favorite bands have played there through the years and it’s kind of seen as the venue Chicago bands play when they’re about to “make it.” It’s our lighthouse and our main focus right now.
10. What can we expect from you in the future?
I think you can expect to see some really genuine music come from 4 guys that have each spent a lot of time trying to find a group that actually functions well as a unit and has goals that align. As soon as we can, we want to put this freakshow on the road, add fire and make it the best traveling party people didn’t know they needed. - Ryan
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