When wiL Francis spoke soon after playing Baltimore’s 2007 Virgin Fest, he sounded like the happiest guy in the world.
And why not? Not only was his Seattle-based band signed with Victory Records, but it was on its way to stardom, headlining its first tour and “having a great time,” he said. Then suddenly there were reports that Francis’ recently released solo album “William Control” was recorded as a way to escape his inner demons. What happened in those 12 months?
“I guess it just comes in waves and so forth, waves of grief,” said Francis, lead singer of Aiden. “When I wrote “Conviction” (the band’s 2007 breakout album) I had traveled the world, met heroes, met a girl and was in love … and it just felt like everything fell apart.”
Rather than return to the destructive lifestyle that made him a pot smoker at age 10, and a full-fledged acid and heroin addict soon thereafter, Francis escaped into music. After all, such an escape is what he credits with changing his life just prior to his 18th birthday when he was in police custody and officers bragged that once he was an adult they would lock him away for “a long, long time.”
Francis has little doubt that if he hadn’t pleaded with the judge for mercy and treatment, he’d be dead.
So consider his solo effort his own way of giving himself mercy and treatment via music. Francis has planned to write and record a solo album at some point, but his frustration level prompted him to do so more quickly than planned. And along with the album — an expectedly dark, almost eerie synth sound with plenty of spoken, painful lyrics — Francis reinvented his basic punk look into something much more jagged.
The changes don’t stop with Francis or his solo work. Aiden is now a four-piece and since shedding one member it’s taken on a whole new, positive persona that’s boosted Francis’ creativity enough that he’s written 25 new Aiden songs. Despite his protests that the band, like himself, is on an upswing, he stills sound remarkably grim and agitated.
“All the songs are an extension of myself,” said Francis. “It’s feel great letting [the emotions] out.”
If You Go:
Aiden with Civet, God or Julie, The Side Affects
» Venue: Sonar, 407 E. Saratoga St., Baltimore
» When: 6 tonight
» Details: $14
» Info.: 401-547-SEAT; www.ticketmaster.com
