JJT: Music on the Spot: ALLIES

“The concept of Allies is really just to coexist with everyone and come together.”

Joe Villafane – piano, keyboards, vocals

Ryan Higbie – guitars, vocals
Alex Kaufman – drums, percussion
Sean Banicki – bass guitar

Allies is an epic rock group, consisting of four small-town young men from Long Island, New York, working and aiming to hit it big. Even though they may be considered a “rock” group, they cross many boundaries with the music they create. Their songs are inspired by a variety of genres such as alternative rock, hip-hop, soul, Motown, funk, and R&B. One fan or “ally” claims the band’s sound combines hip-hop and Pink Floyd, and another claims the band’s music sounds similar to Radiohead, Incubus, and Rage Against The Machine. The lead vocalist, Joe Villafane, has a voice that resembles Justin Timberlake and Anthony Kiedis (lead singer of Red Hot Chili Peppers). The band is one big team effort; if one falls, the rest fall. The band relies on each member to help bring the energy, inspiration, and excitement to write and construct songs. Every member has a contribution; for example, Joe will bring in melody and lyrical ideas, Alex will give each song its groove, and Sean will write the verse structures. While not recording, the band plays shows at many Long Island venues; one in particular is the popular concert hall, The Paramount, in Huntington, NY, where many big artists play.

In addition, Allies may be just a band name, but it has several meanings behind what these musicians are trying to accomplish. Villafane claims the band is promoting a concept with the name “Allies”. He had this to say:

"Anyone can really be an ally in this day-and-age where so many people are cruel to one another. The concept of Allies is really just to coexist with everyone and come together."

In other words, the whole concept of Allies is unity. Referring to all of humanity, we coexist together no matter if we are different or if we agree or disagree with each other. Villafane also states the band is called Allies because of their close connections with a variety of people; therefore, they have made “allies”. The band is looking forward to making new “allies” outside of New York in the future.

Allies is working on their first record entitled “The Lobby”, a concept album. The universal concept behind the album deals with life transitions and outlook on the future. This concept started from the feelings the band members felt as they were seeing friends move away, beginning new life experiences, while the band members were at home waiting for the opportunity to go off and start their new experiences together. The “lobby” refers to the place where people wait for something and watch people go and arrive, and the outside of the “lobby” describes the outside world.

Written By: John Dirscherl