The band Acceptance isn't looking to make a ton of money, per se, said guitarist Christian McAlhaney.
"That would be nice, though," he said. "But we just want to be able to play in this band, pay our bills and make a living."
McAlhaney called from a laundromat in Chicago to discuss some of the things that have happened to his band in the past three years.
Acceptance — McAlhaney, drummer Nick Radovanovic, vocalist Jason Vena, bassist Ryan Swiefelhofer and guitarist Kaylan Cloyd — is on tour with Copeland and Lovedrug.
"We're just an opening band right now," said McAlhaney. "So we've only got a set amount of time for our set. But we've been moving some songs around, and we've found a nice, little list that we're comfortable with."
Acceptance formed a little more than six years ago. With a few lineup changes and an extended play CD called "Black Lines to Battlefields" under its belt, it signed with Columbia Records. The band's full-length album "Phantoms" was recorded last summer. It is slated for release next month.
"When we went into the studio to record the new album, we had been writing for most of our lives," said McAlhaney with a laugh. "We had 30 songs to choose from, and we worked with (producer) Aaron Sprinkle."
Sprinkle has also produced albums by MxPx, Pedro the Lion and Anberli.
"We were excited to finish the album and are waiting for what everyone thinks about it," said McAlhaney, whose favorite band is Metallica.
Meanwhile, Acceptance is trying to assess what it means to be signed to a major record label.
"Our singer has likened this venture to baseball," said McAlhaney. "There's the Farm League, the Triple A, the Minor League and the Major League. Each time you go from one league to the next, you basically start at the bottom and work your way up.
"After starting at the bottom in the Northwest, we gained a loyal following in the local scene. Once we signed to Columbia, we knew we were starting at the bottom. We have to prove ourselves to different people. And we can't just sit back, because there are hundreds of bands signed to major labels. And we've got to show we can last."
If you go . . .
What: Copeland, Acceptance, Lovedrug
Where: Lo-Fi Cafe
When: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.
How much: $10
Phone: 467-8499 or 1-800-888-8499
Web: www.smithstix.com
E-mail: scott@desnews.com