Five years ago, Alex Anderson was renting studio space at Sound Gallery in Minneapolis and looking to start a new band.
As luck would have it, the "six degrees of separation" style of the Twin Cities music scene lead Anderson (voice) to meeting Alton Welter (bass) – which lead to meeting Tony Williams (guitar/voice/percussion) – which lead to meeting Chris Colaianni (guitar/voice) – which lead to meeting Dane Tuders (drums/percussion) – and metal/rock band Staija was forged; a band that would find itself to be one of the luckiest bands in the Twin Cities.
Many bands use a music distribution and promotions company to get radio play with the hope it'll lead to their big break. Staija found its success through an unusual twist of networking.
In 2004, a high school friend of Williams, Greg Sheldon, was leaving work when he saw someone struggling to change a flat tire; he pulled over to help. Turns out that someone was an assistant engineer to Steve Hodge at Flyte Tyme Studios. Sheldon was not only invited to tour Flyte Tyme, he was invited to join Hodge at a Timberwolves game.
Prior to attending the game, Sheldon called Williams to share what happened; Williams asked Sheldon to bring a Staija press kit along. Hodge reviewed it during halftime and the next day, called Williams to say he was impressed and wanted to work with Staija.
Staija recorded two songs at Flyte Tyme before the studio relocated to Los Angeles. The band then moved to IPR Master Mix Studio and recorded two more songs. A year later, Staija released their first EP, "A New Energy," using one song recorded at Flyte Tyme and two recorded at IPR.
Staija's luck didn't end there.
In November 2004, 93X called Staija and asked if they'd open for Marilyn Manson the next day at the The Dam in Fargo; the band jumped at the opportunity. But their tour van broke down four times on the way to the show and they ended up stranded in Fergus Falls.
A 93X DJ sent an SOS call to The Dam and members of Saab and Stucker came to the rescue with a trailer and an Oldsmobile; the van was towed. Eight people sat in the vehicle, while the other four kept the gear in the trailer company for the hour and a half ride to Fargo; Staija arrived just as the doors were opening.
"Thank God we fucking got there," Anderson laughed. The sold-out crowd of 3,300 ate up their act and all 13 copies of their EP were gone before they finished the first song. In retrospect, the band wishes they'd brought more copies to sell.
After their set, they spanned out into the crowd to meet their new fans and sign autographs.
"Amazing doesn't even begin to describe how it felt," Welter said.
The band opened for Manson again the next day, this time at the Orpheum in Minneapolis.
"There's no formula to getting these shows," says Anderson reflecting about the acts they've opened for.
"We've been very fortunate," Welter added.
The band did have some advice to offer though: Don't use a minivan for touring.
Staija has built a growing fan base not only among concert attendees, but also with local people in "the business."
"We have a solid reputation for not fucking anyone over," Tuders said.
Staija's creating a stronger, more visible street team and is putting the finishing touches on their first full-length album due out later this year. They're picking a label and are focusing on an extensive out-out-state Midwest tour for later this summer.
"We're still rocking," Williams adds. "And this new record is making us stronger than ever."
www.myspace.com/staija
www.staija.com
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