Afterhours (IT)

Afterhours are THE seminal Italian alternative rock band. After turning down an international deal with Interscope at the outset of their career, they set about building the infrastructure for an alternative rock scene in Italy. Much like their American indie counterparts, they booked themselves into now defunct clubs (Helter Skelter), put out DIY record releases through an indie store/label (VoxPop), and even self-funded a showcase jaunt to New York City's bygone New Music Seminar, all the while trying to keep together a lo-fi scene of like-minded musicians, writers and artists in a fast paced high-fashion metropolis. Nowadays they’ve become a national institution, headlining the large concert halls, sharing festival bills with the likes of Patti Smith and R.E.M., making one-off deals with the major record labels as they please but still striving to support the up and coming talents in their homeland. Afterhours has also won the respect of their peers around the world. Their album I Milanesi Ammazzano il Sabato (2008) was co-produced by PJ Harvey collaborator John Parish and features guest performances by Greg Dulli (Afghan Whigs, Twilight Singers) among others. Other guests are Parish, Stef Kamil Carlens (Deus, Zita Swoon) and Brian Ritchie (Violent Femmes). Lead singer Manuel Agnelli and Afterhours' creative collaboration with American cult rocker Greg Dulli began when the Twilight Singers joined Afterhours to co-headline an Italian tour in 2004 – the genesis of a relationship which has seen the two bands contribute repeatedly to each others' work. Dulli went on to produce Afterhours' previous effort 2005's Ballate per piccole iene (“Ballads for Little Hyenas), an English language version of which was released in 2006 by the One Little Indian label in the US and UK and co-write several of its songs. Agnelli, in turn co-wrote several songs for the Twilight Singer’s Powder Burns. Afterhours shared the stage with the Twilight Singers for a 25 date North American tour in 2006, the most extensive by an Italian rock band and returned to tour the U.S. every year since then. Spin Magazine has put Afterhours in the list of "The 100 Greatest Bands You've Never Heard Of", the best bands unknown to the mainstream audience, deserving a listen. Afterhours have released their latest, entirely self-produced album Padania in April 2012, awarded with the prestigious “Premio Tenco 2012” as best album, “Best Italian Independent Album”, and shortlisted for the for 2012 European Independent Album of the Year Award. Pagina Facebook ufficiale degli Afterhours - OFFICIAL Facebook page