Before Alter’s performance, another band from Legnica, "Jack in the box," took the stage. The band had existed for just three months. Its name—A Doll Jumping Out of a Box—is a perfect match for the music it plays. Indeed, its songs are difficult to classify as any particular form of rock. After "Jack in the box," it was time for the evening’s headline act.
Alter was a finalist in last year’s Rock Blok at BOK competition. The group stood out from the other bands taking part—the music they perform combines rock and hip hop.
On Friday evening, Alter played several songs. The performance was so well received that the musicians had to play an encore.
B.org: How do you assess the atmosphere at the concert?
Alter: Very positively. Overall, we were surprised by such a warm reception from the audience. Usually, when we play at concerts like these, attended by rock fans, things can be different.
Exactly. How do you respond to all the criticism directed at you by your detractors for appearing at rock competitions?
We are used to it. However, this is not strictly hip-hop music. Hip-hop fans describe us as a rock band, while rock fans call us a hip-hop band. Let’s say it is hip rock. When we went on stage during the competition in September, people whistled at first. But when we performed the first song, they saw that we played quite hard and shouted from the stands, "we love hip hop." That was nice.
You reached the final of Rock Blok at BOK, which caused quite a stir among the audience.
We play for everyone, not just for a few detractors. The funniest thing is that people who listen to rock should be tolerant, but from what we can see, they are the biggest musical fascists. All it takes is saying that we play hip hop, and they cannot accept it, even though they do not know how or what we play. As Wojtek Pilichowski, one of the judges, said, the only things he remembered from the entire Rock Blok at BOK were Alter and Brown Cube, another finalist in the competition and also a hip-hop band.
How long have you existed?
We have been performing in this lineup for about two years, I think. The band itself was formed earlier, in 2000. In 2003, after suspending its activities for a year, the band reunited with a slightly different lineup. And that is how we have continued to play to this day.
Where did the band’s name come from?
At first, we had two lyricists: Alice and Skater. The name was created by combining these two nicknames, and it remained despite the lineup change. Besides, when you travel to various competitions, you generally know in advance what each band will play. With us, it is a little different. That is why the name suits our group perfectly.
Thank you for the interview. We invite you to return to Bolesławiec.
Thanks. We will definitely come. We have grown fond of the city.